Monday, November 10, 2008

Eddie A. Schneider "grew up" at Roosevelt Field, where he was a flunkey, mechanic and student flyer

Eddie A. Schneider "grew up" at Roosevelt Field, where he was a flunkey, mechanic and student flyer. He flew in the last two air tours, and in August of 1930, flew his Cessna to a round-trip transcontinental record for pilots under twenty-one. He made the trip in 57 hours, 14 minutes, carried greetings both ways between Los Angeles Mayor Porter, and Jersey City’s Frank Hague. Eddie Schneider was publicized as a Jersey City boy with a bare 300 hours flight time. In the late nineteen-thirties, Schneider went to Spain to fly for the Loyalists in the Revolution. But whatever promises of salary and glory were made him; he was back in New York within a short time. And as though cursed by the tragedy of the Spanish Civil War, like so many other young men, Eddie Schneider was killed in a student training accident at Floyd Bennett Field just two days before Christmas, 1940. He was twenty-nine.

Source: National Air Tour

Eddie Schneider Sets 3 Records for Junior Fliers.


Eddie Schneider Sets 3 Records for Junior Fliers.

Roosevelt Field, New York, August 24, 1930 (Associated Press) Eighteen year-old Eddie Schneider of Jersey City, New Jersey landed here from Columbus, Ohio at 3:03 p.m. (Eastern Standard Time) ...

Source: Greeley Daily Tribune; Greeley, Colorado; August 25, 1930

Tuesday, November 4, 2008




The facts of the collision, which resulted in the deaths of Eddie A. Schneider and Mr. George W. Herzog, as disclosed by the records of the Navy Department, ...

Person: Lucille Herzog (1928-?), Eddie August Schneider (1911-1940), and George Wilson Herzog (1903-1940).

Source: United States Congressional Serial Set by United States Government Printing Office, 1942

Mrs. Gretchen Schneider, for the funeral of Eddie Schneider.





Mrs. Eddie A. Schneider. The Navy Department in a letter to my attorneys, advised that the Navy ... Mrs. Gretchen Schneider, for the funeral of Eddie Schneider. Professional services
$365. 00 embalming remains, casket, name plate, palms, use of chapel, ...

Source: United States Congressional Serial Set by United States Government Printing Office, 1941, page 9

Sunday, November 2, 2008

Yankee Air Squadron Quits Loyalists in Spanish Fight


Yankee Air Squadron Quits Loyalists in Spanish Fight

Paris, January 5, 1937 (United Press) When the Spanish Loyalists came near shooting Major Frederick Lord because a wing of his plane fell off, and Bert Acosta was thrown bodily out of air ministry at Valencia, America's four-man air squadron decided it was time to demobilize and retire from the civil war, their spokesman said here. ...

Source: The Charleston Daily Mail; Charleston, West Virginia; January 5, 1937

Friday, October 31, 2008

Hired Soldiers

Hired Soldiers. The American flying circus on the Spanish front is through. Led by Bert Acosta and Eddie Schneider, the American aviators who have been serving the Spanish government in the Pyrenees want their pay. They have $1,100 coming. Schneider complains that "we were given nothing but unarmed sports planes ..." It is fortunate for these gallant Americans that they can quit at their own pleasure without being declared deserters and lined up against a stone wall. But whatever their status and whatever their fate, the government of the United States should waste no time on them.

Source: Reno Evening Gazette; Reno, Nevada;January 8, 1937

Schneider Pushes Plane. Lands at Albuquerque, New Mexico Under Eight Hours From Los Angeles.


Schneider Pushes Plane.

Lands at Albuquerque, New Mexico Under Eight Hours From Los Angeles.

Albuquerque, New Mexico, August 22, 1930 (Associated Press). Eddie Schneider, who is attempting to set a West-to-East continental junior flight record, landed here today at 3:15 P.M., ...

Source: New York Times; August 22, 1930; page 13

Fliers Fully Paid, Spain's Agent Says


Fliers Fully Paid, Spain's Agent Says.

Declares Terms of Contracts Were Met and No Money is Now Due Them.
Denial By Their Lawyer He Asserts Acosta, Schneider and Berry Got Some Funds on Friday, but Not Enough.

While there were no developments yesterday in the United States Attorney's investigation of the procurement of Americans for service in Spain, the acting consul general for Spain and the attorney for American aviators who served the Loyalist cause issued conflicting statements regarding the pay they received. The consul general, Luis Careaga said: "The Spanish consulate general in New York feels impelled to acquaint the American public, so as to protect the good name of Spain and the government of the republic, that if contracts were entered into with a few American aviators in Spain all the clauses therein have been fulfilled with them, as per arrangements contained in the said clauses and, therefor, absolutely no moneys are due to the said aviators." "Spain is a nation that has always fulfilled her contracts, for it will be remembered that she is one of the few countries who has no pending debts with the United States." In behalf of Bert Acosta, Gorden Berry and Edward Schneider, who have been questioned under subpoena by John F. Dailey, Acting Chief Assistant United States Attorney, their attorney. Lewis M. Landes, said the fliers had received some money at the consulate Friday afternoon, but that it was not sufficient. Mr. Landes declined to reveal what the sums were adding "I have sent a communication to the Spanish consul general saying that unless the entire sum is paid in full I shall institute further legal action toward collecting it." Acosta and Berry are owed $1,500 each and Schneider $1,250 under their contract the lawyer says.

Source: New York Times; January 17, 1937; page 30

Monday, April 14, 2008

Eddie August Schneider (1911-1940) circa 1934-1940




Eddie August Schneider (1911-1940) circa 1934-1940

Source: Richard Young Hahnen (1946- ) collection

Zora Montgomery Courtney (1882-1962); Eddie August Schneider (1911-1940); and Gretchen Frances Hahnen (1902-1986) circa 1934-1940




From left to right are: Zora Montgomery Courtney (1882-1962); Eddie August Schneider (1911-1940); and Gretchen Frances Hahnen (1902-1986) circa 1935-1940. Eddie has a cigarette in his right hand and he is missing a tooth, possibly his left canine. He most likely lost it in his crash on May 16, 1935 when he was taking off from the Jersey City Airport and fell into Newark Bay, 200 feet off Droyer's Point, Jersey City.

Source: Richard Young Hahnen (1946- ) collection

Early Fliers Hail Women Aviators


Early Fliers Hail Women Aviators

Westhampton, Long Island, September 17, 1961. The widows of two early record-holding airmen were honored here today at the fourth annual meeting of the Early Fliers Club of Long Island. ... Mrs. Black was the wife of the late Eddie Schneider, holder of the junior transcontinental speed record for light planes in the late nineteen-twenties. He was killed in a mid-air collision at Floyd Bennett Field in 1940. ...

Source: New York Times; September 18, 1961

Saturday, April 12, 2008

American Aviators Through With Spain


American Aviators Through With Spain

Paris (Associated Press) Four disillusioned American aviators announced today they were through with Spain and, furthermore, they were through with civil wars. The Four - Bert Acosta, Frederick Lord, Gordon Berry and Eddie Schneider - had led the Spanish socialist government's "Yankee squadron" on the Basque front in the far north. But, they said, they were not paid, and money was their only reason for joining up. The flyers protested they were given nothing but unarmed sports planes with which to fight, while Russian pilots were assigned "regular American army planes." The American planes were said to be machines built in Russia through contracts giving the soviet government permission to copy American models. The flyers said both the socialists and the fascist air forces in Spain were staffed almost entirely by foreigners.

Source: Associated Press in Oshkosh Northwestern, Oshkosh, Wisconsin; January 06, 1937

Schneider Is After Record


Schneider Is After Record

Municipal Airport, Los Angeles, August 21, 1930 (Associated Press) Eddie Schneider, newly crowned east-west junior transcontinental speed king, took off at 6:17:30 a.m. (Pacific Standard Time) today in an effort to establish a new west-east junior transcontinental air record. He planned to make his first stop at Albuquerque, New Mexico. Despite a load of 140 gallons of gasoline, Schneider pulled his little monoplane into a fast climb and quickly was out of sight.

Source: Associated Press in Newark Advocate, Newark, Ohio; August 21, 1930

Thursday, April 3, 2008

Eddie August Schneider (1911-1940) and Gretchen Frances Hahnen (1902-1986) circa 1935-1940


Eddie August Schneider (1911-1940) and Gretchen Frances Hahnen (1902-1986) circa 1935-1940. Image from the collection of Richard Hahnen.

Wednesday, April 2, 2008

Zora Montgomery Courtney (1882-1962) and her children in 1907


People:
Gretchen Francis Hahnen (1902-1986) Housewife (b. March 11, 1902, Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa, USA - d. December 1986, Goldsboro, Wayne County, North Carolina, 27530, USA) Social Security Number 123019936.

Robert Courtney Hahnen I (1906-1999) Worker (b. September 23, 1906; Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa, USA - d. October 19, 1999; Saint Paul, Ramsey County, Minnesota, 55108, USA) Social Security Number 470426986.

Zora Montgomery Courtney (1882-1962) Housewife (b. January 27, 1882; Peoria, Peoria County, Illinois, USA - d. October 7, 1962; Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa, USA) Social Security Number 484055476.

Source:
Image from the collection of Richard Hahnen.

Tuesday, April 1, 2008

Gretchen Francis Hahnen (1902-1986) circa 1934-1940


Gretchen Francis Hahnen (1902-1986) circa 1934-1940. Image from the collection of Richard Hahnen.

Saturday, January 26, 2008