Salt Lake Telegram | 1936-07-22 | Page 4 | First Airmail Pilot is Dead

FIRST AIRMAIL PILOT IS DEAD GLENDALE Ca Cal July 22 UP UP- UP Earle L. L Ovington listed in government government govern govern- ment mont annals aa as the first air mall mali pilot died last night In a sanitarium here of heart beart complications resultIng resulting resulting result result- ing from a long lanK on Illness and evera several operations Ho was 58 56 6 years old Never an aviator by profession Ovington saw the thrills and of ot flying shortly after aCter his graduation from Massachusetts Institute Institute In In- of ot Technology in 1004 He wont went to Pau France and enrolled enrolled enrolled en en- rolled In the School Aero Aero- In 1911 he returned to tei the United States and soon convinced the government It should allow him to make an experimental flight carryIng carrying carrying car car- mall mail Receiving the permission of ot Postmaster General Frank H H. Hitchcock he took his ship to Garden Garden Garden Gar Gar- den City N N. Y and on September 23 1911 flew Ie to Mineola L L. I I. 10 miles away with a sack of ot mail Ovington had no baggage compartment compartment com corn in his single seat plane and was forced to hold the sack of mall mali in his lap ap AS ns he he piloted his plane When he ho reached Mineola lR the mail malt sack jammed his controls and prevented a 8 landing He dumped the sack ack overboard and then descended Throughout his life Ovington maintained interest in flying al althouGh although although al- al though he was wu associated for many years with the New NewYork York Telephone company r Later ter he operated a company manufacturing gasoline engines During the World orld war entered the navy and was appoInted appointee a lieutenant commander command r handling aviation problems Ovington was acquainted with al althe all the leading fliers and is credited with organizing several aviators aviators' organizations including the Earh Bird the National Air Pilots Pilots' association as as- and others I Air Ail Pioneer Passes I 1 S S. S S r Iii N Y t 5 Earle L. L Carried the mail in lila his lap