| Born
Ashland, OR December 29, 1892. Died October 25, 1936.
As a 1st lieutenant, Howard landed at Tucson three times.
On 10/17/1930 and 5/11/1931 he flew Curtiss B-2 Condor bombers.
On 3/10/1931, he did not identify his aircraft type.
He noted in the Remarks column of the Register the purpose
of his last visit: "In on May 11th 1931, Enroute to Dayton,
Ohio for Air Corps Exercises". On May 11th he was accompanied
by at least eleven other Curtiss B-2 Condor bombers and at
least 16 Douglas O-38 aircraft flying as a group.
About six-months after he visited Tucson, Lt. Howard made
a flight that won for him the Mackay Trophy for the "most
meritorious flight of 1932" undertaken for the relief
of snow-trapped Navajo Indians. That flight, which consumed
the better part of a week, is summarized as follows in the
“Aircraft Year Book” (1934, p. 99):
| “The Mackay Trophy for the most meritorious flight
in the Air Corps for the year 1932 was awarded on May
26 to Lt. Charles H. Howard, commanding officer of the
11th Bombardment Squadron, March Field, Calif., in behalf
of his organization which he led on a hazardous mission
to the Navajo Indian reservation in January, 1932, to
drop food supplies to a band of Indians snowbound and
helpless in one of the worst storms on record. The food
supplies dropped by the bombers averted what might have
developed into a tragedy.” |
Photo caption (op. cit.): “Its shadow on the snow below,
a giant bomber prepares to drop food to starving snow-bound
Arizona Indians.”
News photo of Howard and crew in front of Condor bomber (May,
1933; source unknown).
The Air Corps Newsletter of November 1, 1936 reports his
passing and summarizes his flying career:
“An airplane accident on the night of October
25th, near Bryan’s Mill, Texas, cost the lives
of Captain Charles H. Howard and Corporal Edward N.
Gibson, Air Corps, both of whom were stationed at Langley
Field, VA.
“Captain Howard, who enlisted in the Aviation
Section, Signal Corps, during the World War, was an
efficient and capable officer, an expert pilot, and
was particularly well versed in the field of radio communications.
“…after serving for a brief period with
Company C, 322nd Field Signal Battalion, Fort Lewis,
Washington, he was transferred to Kelly Field, Texas,
where he served with the 84th Aero Squadron….
“During the next four years, Captain Howard’s
duties related mainly to radio communications….
“In January 1926, Captain Howard was transferred
to the Panama Canal Department, where he served for
three years, being on duty with the 7th Observation
Squadron at France Field for two years, and with the
25th Bombardment Squadron in the remaining year.
“From Panama, Captain Howard was transferred
to Rockwell Field, Calif., when he was assigned to the
11th Bombardment Squadron. He also served as Communications
Officer of the 7th Bombardment Group. Later, when the
Squadron was transferred to March Field, Calif., he
was placed in command thereof.”
It was during this time that he and his crew won the
Mackay Trophy.
“During the summer of 1934, Captain Howard piloted
one of the B-10 Bombardment planes in the Army Alaskan
Flight, from Washington, D.C., to Fairbanks, Alaska,
and return. This aerial expedition of ten B-10 airplanes
was commanded by Brigadier General Henry H. Arnold.
The flight was completed according to a prearranged
schedule in exactly one month. In addition to his duties
as pilot, Captain Howard served as Assistant Communications
Officer of the expedition….
“Captain Howard had to his credit over 4,000
hours flying time. He was the author of various articles
dealing most interestingly and convincingly with subjects
in which he particularly specialized – Bombardment
Aviation and Radio Communications.”
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UPLOADED: 09/15/05 REVISED:
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