Capt Carl E Recknagel UAL (deceased) *Signature Value : £45
| Born in 1909 in Springfield, Ohio, Carl E. 'Reek' Recknagel became a pilot when aviation itself was just getting off the ground. Carl took his first airplane ride in 1924 in a barnstorming Curtis Jenny. He studied chemistry in College but also joined the Air Corps Reserve. Upon his graduation he was drafted into the Army Air Corps at March Field in California. After only seven hours of flight training from Lt. 'Pop' Weddington, Recknagel made his first solo. Shortly thereafter the avid pilot was flying snap rolls, loops and his favorite, whipstalls in more advanced flying machines like the DeHaviland-4 and the Douglas-02. Carl's class was transferred to Kelly Field in Texas to complete their advanced combat training under the auspices of Lt. Lester Maitland. About 2/3rds of the class washed out or were casualties during training, but 44 did manage to earn their wings in the Air Cadet Class of 1930. Carl's first practical assignment was with the Third Attack Group where he practiced dive bombing, gunnery, and low-level formation flying. He took second place in the Patrick Trophy Race of 1931. Carl also participated in the massive 600 plane Air Corps demonstrations in New York, Baltimore, and in Chicago. These massive displays were publicity stunts necessary to fuel the public's support for the Air Corps. When his tour was over, Carl was released into civilian life during the height of the Great Depression. He was fortunate to find employment as airport manager and chief pilot for Johnson Flying Service in Dayton, Ohio. The Johnson fleet consisted of a Curtis Pusher, a Wright J-5 Waco, a J-5 Travelair., an OX-powered Swallow, an Aeronca, and a Kinner Bird. Recknagel was responsible for running the airport, flying cross-country flights, servicing transient aircraft, and participating in weekly air show demonstrations. Carl did take time off to fly in the 1933 American Air Races where he placed third in a modified one-wheeled Aeronca. That same year Carl, though the urging of a friend, applied for a copilot position at United Air Lines. At United Carl began flying the Cleveland-Newark run as a 'mate,' as copilots were called in those days. His duties included refueling, navigation, and serving meals. While not so glamorous, the job did pay $200 a month, which was a fantastic sum in 1934. Navigation was quite rudimentary in those days because no radar or radio navigation was available. Flying the early 247's and DC-3s was what Carl refers to as 'barnstorming on a schedule.' Recknagel made Captain, but during WW 11 he was transferred to Air Transport Command where he supervised B23 and C-47 flights in the Mediterranean theater. At war's end he flew back to the States in a war-weary B-17, and resumed his career with United. Recknagel remained with United until his retirement in 1966. He lived in Santa Barbara, California where he was active in the Goleta/Santa Barbara Air Heritage Museum. He passed away on 19th February 2002. |