Viewing page 4 of 15

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

[[stamped]] FROM THE FLYING PIONEERS BIOGRAPHIES OF HAROLD E. MOREHOUSE [[/stamped]] 

In the spring of 1919 Diehl was issued civilian flying license N. 401 by the newly formed Joint Army and Navy Board of Aeronautical Cognizance at Washington, D.C. He was the first to establish a commercial flying service in the east, at Springfield Gardens, Long Island, on the Merrick Road, and is still credited with being the first person to carry passengers for hire there.  About this time he was also the FIRST to land his plane on the site that is now the Teterboro Airport, in New Jersey.  During the early summer Diehl flew from Central Park, Long Island to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, where he carried passengers for a time.  After returning to Springfield Gardens his services were engaged by the movie industry at various times and he made many of the spectacular flights in "Fraud" starring Irene Castle, for Fox movies of Fort Lee, New Jersey.  He also knew Pearl White in connection with some of her early movies.  

During 1919 Diehl was also engaged to do some flying for Pathe' News, carrying wing walker and stunt man, Morton St. Clair.  They took off from Teterboro in the Avro and were to fly around the Battery and up the East River under the Brooklyn and Williamsburg Bridges with St. Clair doing his stunts for the cameraman.  While flying under the bridges the LeRhone started to rapidly lose power.  Sensing real trouble Diehl headed for Teterboro the quickest and shortest way possible-up 42nd Street and across Manhattan, with St. Clair standing on the top wing waving to people in the skyscrapers.  His judgement was good for he landed safely at Teterboro before the engine quit.  On September 8th Diehl had the pleasure of a most noteworthy assignment for the New York Aerial Police when the city of New York welcomed the triumphal return of General John J. Pershing from overseas.  Diehl was engaged to fly over the parade of vessels as they came up the harbor, where he put on a great show, looping and rolling in honor of our returning hero.

Diehl continued to barnstorm well into the 1920's and made friends with many renowned figures in the aviation fraternity, including Frank Hawks and Mr. and Mrs. Walter Schirra, air pioneers themselves who are better known today as the 

3