HELL’S ANGEL

NC2576  was the first S-29-A made by Sikorsky (S/N 1). The "A" stands for "America". It was manufactured, according to the official record, during September 1924 by the Sikorsky Manufacturing Corp. It was an eleven-place biplane weighing 11,016 pounds gross.

But, according to an unofficial account (Glines, page 65) it made its first flight on May 4, 1924, four months before the official record says it was made. Regardless, it left the factory with two Liberty engines of 400HP each. It was flown from Roosevelt Field first by Igor Sikorsky, but at some point it had had two Hisso engines installed and it was underpowered. Sikorsky struggled to get it airborne and crash landed at nearby Mitchel Field.

From the official record, its history between 1924 and 1927 is unclear. The complete record for NC2576 aquired from the FAA says it was remodeled by the manufacturer during December 1926 and sold to Roscoe Turner of Richmond, VA on May 19, 1927. 

However, Glines' book has Turner flying it earlier. The discrepancy between the dates of his use and the date of his acquisition probably has to do with a time-payment deal Turner worked out between himself, Sikorsky and a local businessman/friend Shelby H. Curlee of Corinth, MI. Curlee agreed to fund Turner's purchase, and Sikorsky, circa late 1925, accepted $1,000 down on a $10,000 total agreed purchase price. It took Turner until May 1927 to pay the full price and gain title to the airplane.

Now come the images below shared with us by Tim Kalina (cited, right sidebar). These images are circa 1925-1927 when Turner used (but did not own) the airplane under the sponsorship of S.H. Curlee. Curlee owned a clothing company in St. Louis, MO for which Turner agreed to make promotional flights. In the next eleven images we see NC2576 in Curlee Clothing livery.

NC2756, Roscoe Turner (L), C.Z. Pedrick (R)

Above, a young (and slim) Roscoe Turner on the left. The image caption on the back identifies the gentleman on the right as C.Z. Pedrick, who may be an official with the Curlee Clothing Company. The location on this and all the other images from Tim Kalina is given as St. Louis.

NC2756

Above, Roscoe Turner in the cockpit. The S-29-A was a large airplane. The fuselage was 50 feet long and the wingspan was 69 feet. It was flown from the open cockpit behind the wing.

NC2756

Above, another profile showing Turner aboard and the large fuselage passenger compartment. The airplane was rated for 14 passengers sitting in wicker chairs. This appears to be a demonstration of the airplane to the St. Louis populace. The weather was cool and breezy, considering the clothing.

NC2756

Above, C.Z. Pedrick giving instructions. The two Liberty engines moved this airplane at 116MPH. It could operate, and climb, on one engine. Cruise speed on one engine was 75MPH.

NC2756

Above, NC2756 gets an inspection by well-dressed men. The airplane's altitude ceiling was 12,500 feet.

NC2756

Above, this wide view gives a good sense of how really large this airplane was. The design was called a sesquiplane, as the lower wings were shorter than the upper. Note the lack of dihedral and the boat-shaped fuselage.

NC2756

Above, the St. Louis throng was typical of the interest shown such a large airplane. Turner exploited the attention to sell his own agenda regarding his air transport and charter interests, as well as the future of airports and airlines in the United States. He was an extraordinary marketer.

NC2756

Above, Turner in the cockpit of NC2756. By today's standards, this must have been an extremely uncomfortable ride for the pilot. The livery is shown well.

NC2756

Above, an exciting late 1920s portrait of aircraft technology and well-tailored fashions for men and women. Turner is in the cockpit; C.Z. Pedrick is under the blue arrow.

NC2756 Sponsor

Above, an image connected to our airplane only by the name "Curlee Clothes". The significance of "6121" is unknown, as is the identity of the man. Does anyone KNOW?

NC2756

Above, a nice image of the airplane either departing or landing. The field appears to have a downhill advantage, so this may be a takeoff.

NC2756

Above, our final image of this great airplane.

At the time NC2756 was "officially" purchased by Turner in 1927 it had accumulated about 300 total flight hours. According to the official record, it was delivered to Turner at Curtiss Field, LI, NY. Through another advertising deal negotiated by Turner, the airplane was then used as the “Flying Cigar Store” under contract with United Cigar Stores.

NC2756  landed at the Davis-Monthan Airfield on Thursday, February 23, 1928 at 6:30 AM.  It was flown by Roscoe Turner, who carried with him two mechanics identified as Eagan & Erwin, and Turner's wife.  They were westbound from Lordsburg, NM to Nogales, AZ. Below, the registration certificate for the airplane issued to Turner June 1, 1928.

NC2756 Registration Certificate 6/1/28 (Source: NASM)

According to the official bill of sale, as of April 3,1928 Turner transferred NC2756 to the Caddo Company, Inc., Hollywood, CA, Howard Hughes, President.  Curiously, this date of sale precedes the registration certificate, above, by a couple of months. It must have taken time for the system to catch up. Regardless, NC2756 was used by Hughes for motion picture photography in the Los Angeles, CA area. In a letter to the Director of Aeronautics, Turner states that Caddo Productions, " ... converted it from a passenger plane into a bomber...."

And therein lies the airplane’s fate.  It suffered an accident on March 22, 1929 at Pacoima, CA.  Pilot Al Wilson left by parachute and was slightly injured.  One passenger, Phil Jones, was killed.  The cause of the accident was listed as, “Acrobatic maneuvers being done for movie picture ‘Hell’s Angels’”.  The story of early motion picture flying, including pictures of NC2756 on the ground in "Hell's Angels" Gotha bomber livery, with two people hanging off the left propeller, can be found in  Wynne, page 63. The airplane was completely destroyed and the license was cancelled April 19, 1929.

---o0o---

The big Sikorsky flies again as a featured airplane in the April 24, 2008 Christie's auction catalog of important watches. Lot number 143 in the catalog (pp. 108-110, with fold-out) is a Patek Philippe chronograph wrist watch. The owner of this watch was the grandson of Shelby Curlee, who founded the clothing company and owned NC2756. Below are images from the Christie's catalog, used with permission.

Lot 143, Patek Philippe Chronograph Wrist Watch, p. 108

The "Property of a Gentleman"...

Lot 143, Patek Philippe Chronograph Wrist Watch, p. 109

Below, both sides of the fold-out page. The back of the watch is engraved "Shelby H. Curlee III".

Certificate of Provenance

Three Detail Images

Many thanks to Christie's for allowing us to exhibit these fine images from their catalog, and for their generous donation to Delta Mike Airfield, Inc.

---o0o---

Dossier 3.1.51.1

UPLOADED: 12/28/07 REVISED: 02/27/08, 03/29/08