Raymond J. Little on right.
- Courtesy of the Air Mail Pioneers
While flying the mail from San Francisco east on July 16, 1921, Raymond Little was forced to land when his motor began overheating badly. It cooled down, and Little continued his flight. While flying near a mountain summit, the motor over heated again, and a very heavy vibration set in, followed by white smoke pouring out of the motor. With no place to land, Little "throttled motor down to 900 rpm, headed for Truckee. Landed in a field 2 miles northeast of town." Little was able to walk away from the crash, phoned the Reno field to let them know where he was and requested assistance.
Later that year, Little was recommended for meritorious mention for a trip he flew from Reno to San Francisco and back through a severe snow blizzard. Field manager John Jordon noted that Little "was compelled to fly a compass course in both directions and forced down by storm at Loyalton, California, in a soft field." Little was able to take off again and finished the flight.
Little resigned a little over a year after joining the service. Apparently the grass was not as green on the other side as he had hoped. He soon reapplied for his position, but was not rehired.
In this telegram, airmail pilot Raymond J. Little was informed of his suspension from duty without pay pending an investigation into his misuse of a postal aircraft. Little was chided for "chasing Air Mail Ship No. 67." The airmail pilots, an active and playful crew, were often receiving warnings for misusing their airplanes.
- Courtesy of the National Archives and Records Administration
