The Post's New Yorker

The Post's New Yorker

The State Department which has held up the passports of Capt. Eddie Schneider, former holder of the junior transcontinental flying record - on the grounds that he isn't a citizen - now admits it was joking.

Source: Washington Post; October 21, 1937

Eddie August Schneider (1911-1940) Associated Press photo used on December 23, 1940

Eddie August Schneider (1911-1940) Associated Press photo used by the New York Times on December 23, 1940

Eddie Schneider, 26 (above), a flying instructor, was killed December 23, when the light plan in which he was flying was in collision with a Navy plane over Floyd Bennett Field in New York City. George Herzog, 22, a pilot taking a refresher course with Schneider also was killed when the plane plummeted into Jamaica Bay

Source: Associated Press photo 16895, December 23, 1940; Joseph Drew; New York City. Copyright: 1940. Note: A crop of this photo was used in the New York Times on December 23, 1940. Note: The photo appears to be from 1930-1931.

Emil August Schneider (1886-1955) passport application for April 22, 1914

Emil August Schneider (1886-1955) passport application for April 22, 1914

• Name: Emil A. Schneider
• Birth Date: 15 Mar 1886
• Birth Place: Bielefeld, Germany
• Gender: Male
• Residence: N Y City, New York
• Passport Issue Date: 22 Apr 1914
• Spouse Name: Inga Schneider
• Child: Eddie August Henry Schneider
• Child: Alice Paula Schneider
  
• Passport Includes a Photo: N

Source: Passport Applications, January 2, 1906 - March 31, 1925 (M1490) Note: This makes Eddie August Schneider's full name, "Eddie August Henry Schneider", and shows his sister was "Alice Paula Schneider".

Emil August Schneider (1886-1955) passport application for January 17, 1911

Emil August Schneider (1886-1955) passport application for January 17, 1911

• Name: Emil Schneider
• Birth Date: 15 Mar 1886
• Birth Place: Bielefeld, Germany
• Residence: New York, New York
• Passport Issue Date: 17 Jan 1911
• Passport Includes a Photo: N

Source: Passport Applications, January 2, 1906 - March 31, 1925 (M1490)

Fire in Asbury Park

Fire in Asbury Park

Twenty Families Burned Out

Asbury Park, New Jersey, August 12, 1900. Three Cottages Destroyed ... Emil Schneider ...

Source: The Sun; New York City, New York; August 13, 1900, Page 5. Note: This is not our Emil Schneider, he would have been just 15 years old. The fire our Emil went through was near Rumson around 1926 or 1927.

Emil A. Schneider buys 7708 Bergenline Avenue

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation ... to Emil A. Schneider.

Source: New York Times; March 2, 1943, Tuesday

Forty Planes In Air Derby

Forty Planes In Air Derby

Half of Pilots in National Races Will Be Women, Is Report

Cleveland, August 13, 1931 (Associated Press) More than 40 high speed airplanes are to participate in the ... national sweepstakes ... derby of the national air races, August 23, officials of the race announced here last night. Nearly half of the pilots will be women.

Men's Division

Eddie A. Schneider, Jersey City, New Jersey

Source: Oakland Tribune; Oakland, California; August 13, 1931

Seeks Air Record on Cross Country Trip

Seeks Air Record on Cross Country Trip

Associated Press Photo

Eddie Schneider

Eighteen-year-old Jersey City, New Jersey flier, arrived at Wichita Saturday night in his attempt to establish a new transcontinental junior flight record.

Source: The Lincoln Star; Lincoln, Nebraska; August 17, 1930

Edward Schneider, 18-year-old Jersey City, New Jersey, high school student ...

Edward Schneider, 18-year-old Jersey City, New Jersey, high school student set a new junior transcontinental speed record of 27 hours, 19 minutes between Los Angeles and Roosevelt Field, New York. He broke the former record of Frank Goldsborough by an ...

Source: Airway Age (1931)

Edward Schneider, 18-year-old Jersey City boy ...

Westfield Airport, New Jersey, August 14, 1930 (International News Service) Edward Schneider, 18-year-old Jersey City boy hopped off from here for Los Angeles at 5:55 o'clock Eastern Standard Time in his Cessna 110-horsepower cabin monoplane. He hopes to lower the junior transcontinental record established by the late Frank Goldsborough.

Source: Van Wert Times Bulletin; Van Wert, Ohio; August 14, 1930

Eddie August Schneider (1911-1940) circa 1930-1940

Eddie August Schneider (1911-1940) circa 1930-1940

The original paper image is archived with Susan Penny Van Deusen in New Jersey. Scanned copies are archived with Richard Arthur Norton (1958- ). This is the highest resolution version to date, of the image. The discovery of this image in a scrapbook belonging to Naida Muriel Freudenberg (1915-1998), and the identification of the person as Eddie August Schneider (1911-1940) was made by Selma Louise Freudenberg (1921- ). Selma wasn't sure if he was related to the family. She only knew that Eddie's sister Alice was a friend of Naida. When I traveled to Chicago for a family reunion, I was asked if I knew who "Eddie Schneider" was and was told that he came to Chicago in 1930 and took family members for rides. I was in Chicago from June 18, 2004 till June 21, 2004. It was then that I did a Google search and found the Dallas archive and ordered the one page biography that was written by Gretchen Hahnen. I also searched the New York Times index and found his obituary. I then searched the microfilmed copies of the Jersey Journal for the death date in the New York Times, and found the obituary there. In 2007 I nominated him for admission into the Aviation Hall of Fame of New Jersey.

Source: Richard Arthur Norton (1958- )

Boy Air Champ

Boy Air Champ

New bot king of the air is Eddie Schneider, 18-year-old Jersey City, New Jersey, high school student. The youthful aviator is pictured above as he landed at Roosevelt Field, Long Island, with three new junior flying records in his grasp. His time of 29 hours and 41 minutes for a New York to Los Angeles flight, 27 hours and 19 minutes for the round trip beats the marke set by the late Frank Goldsborough.

Source: Port Arthur News; Port Arthur, Texas; August 31, 1930

Flier Delayed

Flier Delayed

Youthful Record Seeker Lands at Wichita

Wichita, Kansas, August 16, 1930 (Associated Press) Eddie Schneider, 18-year-old Westfield, New Jersey youth, attempting to establish a new junior transcontinental flight record, arrived here tonight at 7:45, He had left St. Louis at 1:25 pm Schneider was delayed in the arrival here by a severe wind and rain storm which visited this section late this afternoon.

Source: Port Arthur News; Port Arthur, Texas; August 17, 1930

Manitowoc Man Flies For Spain

Manitowoc Man Flies For Spain

Manitowoc, Wisconsin. Major Frederick Lord, a native of Manitowoc, has been flying for the Spanish loyalists in Spain and will return to fight for them. ... with Bert Acosta and Eddie Schneider, and Gordon Berry last November when they were recruited by the Madrid government in New York.

Source: Sheboygan Press; Sheboygan, Wisconsin; February 6; 1937

Noted Flyers Ready for U.S. Tour

Noted Flyers Ready for U.S. Tour

Two famous flyers who will compete in the National Air Tour starting from Detroit July 4, are Eddie Schneider, left, 19-year-old former holder of the junior transcontinental flight record, and Mae Haizlip, right, the only woman to enter the reliability race over the 6,500-mile course for a second time. She first entered in 1929.

Source: The Zanesville Signal; Zanesville, Ohio; June 30, 1931

18-Year-Old After Record

18-Year-Old After Record

Jersey City Boy Hopes To Lower Record Held By Late Frank Goldsborough.

Westfield Airport, New Jersey, August 14, 1930. Eddie Schneider, 18-year-old ... Schneider has flown 275 hours, including a nine hour flight from Wichita to New York.

Source: The Circleville Herald; Circleville, Ohio; August 14, 1930

Jersey City Schoolboy Breaks Goldsborough's Trans-Continental Mark

Jersey City Schoolboy Breaks Goldsborough's Trans-Continental Mark

Source: Coshocton Tribune; Coshocton, Ohio; August 19, 1930

Fog and Rain in Pennsylvania Halt Jersey Youth's Flight to Oakland

Forced Down

Eddie Schneider, 18, Jersey City schoolboy who hopped off today for Oakland to lower the the junior transcontinental record. He was forced down in Pennsylvania by fog and rain.

Fog and Rain in Pennsylvania Halt Jersey Youth's Flight to Oakland

Water Street, Pennsylvania, August 14, 1930 (Associated Press) After being forced own by fog and rain at Huntington today while en route to Columbus in an attempt to break the junior transcontinental flight record. Eddie Schneider, 18, of Westfield, New Jersey resumed his flight this afternoon only to be forced down again here 15 minutes later.

Westfield, New Jersey, August 14, 1930 (Associated Press) Eddie Schneider, 18-year-old flier who took off early today on a transcontinental flight, reported by telegraph that fog and rain had forced him down at Huntington, Pennsylvania, but he would continue as soon as the weather permitted. No word has been received at the local airport at 11 am (Eastern Standard Time). ... Schneider took off at 4:55 am (Eastern Standard Time) in a cabin monoplane, The Kangaroo. The youth who has ... He has hoped to lower the record established by the late Frank Goldsborough.

Source: Oakland Tribune ; Oakland, California; August 14, 1930

Official Results Seventh National Air Tour for the Edsel B. Ford Reliability Trophy and Great Lakes Light Plane Trophy

Official Results Seventh National Air Tour for the Edsel B. Ford Reliability Trophy and Great Lakes Light Plane Trophy in 1931

• # 1. Harry L. Russell
• # 2. J. H. Smart
  
• # 3. Eddie August Schneider (youngest entrant)
• # 4. Lowel R. Bayles (Great Lakes Trophy)

Eddie August Schneider came in 3rd overall and won $17,500. He was the youngest entrant. He cam in 1st for light planes. Lowel Bayles won the Great Lakes Trophy which came with an additional $500. Harry L. Russell came in first place, and was awarded $2,500. $1,750 is equivalent to $20,500 in 2007.

Source: The Ford Air Tours:1935-1931; Lesley Forden

Official Results Sixth National Air Tour for the Edsel B. Ford Reliability Trophy and Great Lakes Light Plane Trophy

Official Results Sixth National Air Tour for the Edsel B. Ford Reliability Trophy and Great Lakes Light Plane Trophy in 1930

• # 1. Harry L. Russell
• # 2. John H. Livingston
• # 3. Arthur J. Davis
• # 4. Myron E. Zeller
• # 5. George W. Haldeman
• # 6. Walter H. Beech
• # 7. J. Wesley Smith
• # 8. Eddie August Schneider

Eddie August Schneider came in 8th overall and won $500. He also won the Great Lakes Trophy which came with an additional $500. Harry L. Russell came in first place, and was awarded $2,500. $1,000 is equivalent to $12,000 in 2007.

Source: The Ford Air Tours:1935-1931; Lesley Forden

Eddie Schneider poses in narrow front doorway of Cessna C9092, shakes hands with unidentified admirer

Eddie Schneider poses in narrow front doorway of Cessna C9092, shakes hands with unidentified admirer. 1930.

Source: John W. Underwood. Reprinted in The Ford Air Tours:1935-1931.

Eddie Schneider's Cessna C9092 in 1930

Eddie Schneider's Cessna C9092 in 1930

Source: The Ford Archive. Reprinted in The Ford Air Tours:1935-1931.

Schneider Reaches Ohio

Schneider Reaches Ohio.

He Lands at Columbus From Wichita on Junior Record Attempt

Columbus, Ohio, August 23, 1930 (Associated Press) Eddie Schneider, 18-year-old Jersey City aviator, who is attempting to establish a new West-to-East transcontinental ... Schneider required 7 hours and 45 minutes for the trip from Wichita to Port Columbus, a distance of about 800 miles. His total elapsed time to this city is 21 hours 35 minutes. He is attempting to shatter the junior record of 28 hours 55 minutes from Pacific to the Atlantic. The young flier established a new junior East-to-West transcontinental mark last week.

Source: New York Times; August 24, 1930

Inga Karoline Eldora Pedersen (1882-1927)

Inga Karoline Eldora Pedersen (1882-1927) aka Inga Karoline Eldora Pedersdatter; Immigrant from Farsund, Norway to USA on June 27, 1903 (b. October 20, 1883, Farsund, Vest-Agder, Norway - d. December 26, 1927, 10:20 pm, Christ Hospital, Jersey City, Hudson County, New Jersey, USA)

Birth:
Inga was born on October 02, 1882 to Peder Andreas Pedersen (1830-?) and Serine Larsdatter (1840-?) aka Severina Larsdatter. Her death certificate lists her birthday as "October 20, 1885". All the references to her in Norway list her year of birth as "1883". In the listing for her confirmation she is listed as "October 2, 1882" and this will be considered canonical.

Baptism:
She was baptized on November 05, 1882.

Siblings:
Peder Elias Pedersen (1863-?); Lars Pedersen (1865); Lars Emanuel Pedersen (1869-?); Mathilde Sophie Amalia Pedersen (1872-1949) aka Sophie Pedersen who married Hans Andreas Carlsen Schultz (1867-1896) in 1894 and after his death married Martin Andreassen (c1865-c1910) and after his death emigrated to the US with her children, Klara Helene Shultz (1895-1973) and Sigrid Marie Andreassen (1905-1940); Peder Severin Pedersen (1876-?); and Anton M. Pedersen (1879-?).

Confirmation:
She was confirmed on August 22, 1888.

Norway:
Our Inga may be the "Inga Pedersen" in the 1900 Norway Census working as a "barnepige" at 8 Gyldenløvsgade in Kristiansand, Vest-Agder, Norway. The census lists her birth year as "1883" and her birth place as "Farsund".

Emigration:
She left Kristiansand, Vest-Agder, Norway on June 12, 1903 and listed her birth year as 1883 and her occupation as "tjenestepige", or maid. She was aboard the ship "Thingvalla" and she arrived in New York on June 27, 1903, entering in New York City under the name "Inga Pedersen". The trip took 16 days to cross from Kristiansand, Vest-Agder, Norway to New York City in the United States.

Trip Abroad:
She returned from a trip to Norway on September 12, 1906 and listed her residence as "Jersey City".

Marriage:
She married Emil August Schneider (1884-1955) in Manhattan, in New York City, on February 13, 1908. Emil was the son of August Schneider (c1860-?) and Henriette Horlomann (c1860-?) of Bielefeld, Germany. Emil worked as an investment banker. Their marriage certificate number was "4017".

Children:
They had two children: Eddie August Schneider (1911-1940), the aviator, who married Gretchen Hahnen (1902-1986); and Alice Violetta Schneider (1913-2002) who married John Harms (1905-1985).

Trip Abroad:
Inga returned from a trip to Germany, via Southampton, Southamptonshire, England, on July 16, 1908 aboard the ship "Deutschland". She listed her homeland as Farsund, Norway and both her and her husband's height as 5 feet and 8 inches and their eyes were blue.

Manhattan, New York:
Their address was 108 4th Avenue in New York City and she said that she previously entered the US in the year 1900.

Trip Abroad:
She returned from Hamburg, Germany on August 18, 1911 aboard the ship "Pennsylvania". The family returned from Hamburg, Germany to their home in New York City on August 05, 1914, aboard the ship "President Lincoln". They were living at 80 6th Avenue at the time.

Postcard:
Sopie Marie Olsdatter (1852-aft1910) wrote a postcard between 1910 and 1914 to her sister, Salmine Sophia Severine Pedersen (1862-1914) and it reads as follows: "A little parcel to you from sister, stay well. Our most beloved dear Salmine and family, now when Sofie shall travel on Saturday, she will be kind and go to you and bring regards from your dear father and sister, I have no address, as I get the letters in return, got a letter from Lina 8 days ago, she is good and sound and has visited you, sister, and she said you were in good mood and happy, yes God helps you and your people, so that you still may come to see your old father he is pretty well and was glad he heard that Lina think about a trip home, together with you if everything goes well, with the help of God, we live well, have no suffer. Marie Klungeland is a candidate for confirmation October 6th. You John get regards from Malla Bekkevig Liva mm (with more). Dear, be careful so that you once again can see old Norway. Lina wrote that she had a good time by Inga it was so nice, we have had a cold summer so we have had [the] fire in the stove all the time, you shall get letters when I get [back]. Love from father [and] sister."

Jersey City:
By 1920 Inga and Emil were living at 2728 Hudson Boulevard and Emil owned a delicatessen in Union City, New Jersey. Living with them were Klara Helene Shultz (1895-1973), her niece via Sophia Pedersen, who had emigrated in 1910 from Norway; and Lena Aadnesson (1882-?), a cousin, who emigrated from Norway in 1916. Klara Helene Shultz (1895-1973) would eventually run the delicatessen and marry Edward A. Thompson I (1895-1935), and later John Muhlbruch (1905-1979).

Hospitalization:
Inga was living at 171 Manhattan Avenue in Jersey City when she was hospitalized on December 19, 1927.

Death:
She died of "double bronchiopneumonia" with "cirrhosis of the liver". She had been a heavy drinker.

Obituary:
Inga's obituary was published in the Jersey Journal of Jersey City on December 28, 1927.

Burial:
She was buried in Fairview Cemetery on December 29, 1927 in Fairview, New Jersey. Her tombstone incorrectly lists her birth in the year "1885".

Widow Remarried:
After Inga's death, Emil remarried and had one more child.

Eddie Schneider:
Her son, Eddie, set the transcontinental air speed record in his age category in 1930, three years after her death.

Relationship:
Inga Pedersen (1883-1928) was the first cousin, three times removed of Richard Arthur Norton (1958- ).

Uncompleted Task:
In the 1920 Census in Jersey City living with Inga and Emil was Lena Andreassen who is listed as a cousin.

Emil August Schneider (1886-1955)

Emil August Schneider (1886-1955) Delicatessen owner, and later Banker. He emigrated from Germany in 1905 (b. March 15, 1886, Bielefeld, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany - d. January 15, 1955, Arlington, New Jersey, USA)

Parents:
He was the son of August Schneider (c1860-1888) and Henriette Horlomann (c1860-1890) of Bielefeld, Germany.

Siblings:
He had the following siblings: Gustav Schneider (1874-1925) who married Wilhemina Molle (1877-1933); Heinrich Schneider (c1876-1947) aka Henry Schneider, who married Catherine (c1880-1942); Pauline Schneider (c1878-1932) who married Henry Engelmann (1878-1950); and Theodore Schneider (c1880-c1939) who never married and lived in Germany.

Emigration:
Emil had emigrated in 1905 from Bielefeld, Germany and lived in Manhattan.

First Marriage:
Emil married Inga Pedersen (1885-1927) on February 13, 1908 in Manhattan, New York County, New York. Inga was born in Farsund, Vest-Agder, Norway.

Children:
Emil and Inga had the following children: Eddie August Schneider (1911-1940) who was born in Manhattan and married Gretchen Hahnen (1902-1986); and Alice Violetta Schneider (1913-2002) who married John Harms (1905-1985). Emil recieved his citizenship papers on April 22, 1914 and the certificate number was "27426".

Travel to Germany:
The family returned from Hamburg, Germany to their home in New York City on August 05, 1914, aboard the ship "President Lincoln". They left Hamburg on July 25, 1914. They were living at 80 6th Avenue at the time.

New Jersey:
After 1914 Emil moved the family from Manhattan in New York to Red Bank, Monmouth County, New Jersey and then to Jersey City, Hudson County, New Jersey where Eddie attended high school. By 1920 Inga and Emil were living at 2728 Hudson Boulevard and Emil owned a delicatessen. Living with them were Clara Schutz (1895-?), Inga's neice via Sophia. Inga emigrated in 1910 from Norway. Also in the house was Lena Aadnesson (1882-?), a cousin, who emigrated from Norway in 1916.

House Fire:
There was a house fire at his home at Locust Point, near Rumson on the Shrewsbury River in the 1920s. All his family papers and family photographs were lost.

Death of Wife:
Inga died on December 29, 1927 and Emil took the children to Germany and Norway to visit family after her death. Inga died of cirrhosis of the liver, she was a heavy drinker.

Second Marriage:
Emil remarried in 1928. His second wife was Margaret Jacobsen (1895-1989) who had emigrated from Farsund, Norway in 1912. Margaret was the daughter of Jurgen Jacobsen (1853-1927) and Olena Paulsen (1855-1914). Together Emil and Margaret had a child: Eleanor Schneider (1931- ). In 1930 the family was living at 114 Carlton Avenue in Jersey City, New Jersey. Emil was listed as "Emil Schnider" in the Census and he was working as a stock broker.

Arlington, New Jersey:
In 1940 he lived at 6 Livingston Avenue, Arlington, New Jersey at the time of his son's death.

Death:
Emil died in 1955 and was buried in Fairview Cemetery in Fairfield, New Jersey.

Memories of Emil August Schneider (1886-1955):
June Tandberg Baker on May 12, 2006: I remember going to Long Island with my sister Adelma and eating dinner at the Schneider's home. They had servants that brought the food to the table. They were very well off. I remember Gretchen who was Eddie's wife. My father went on a ride on Eddie's plane.

Gretchen Francis Hahnen (1902-1986)

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.

Name:
Her last name is pronounced "hine-anne".

Parents:
Her father was Herme Francis Hahnen (c1880-c1910), and he was born in Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa. Her mother was Zora Montgomery Courtney (1882-1962) and she was born in Galesburg, Knox County, Illinois. Herme and Zora married on June 26, 1901 in Galesburg, Knox County, Illinois.

Birth:
Gretchen was born on March 11, 1902 in Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa.

Sibling:
She had a brother: Robert Courtney Hahnen I (1906-1999) who married Elizabeth Young (1908-1992). Robert died in Saint Paul, Minnesota.

Iowa to New Jersey:
The family lived in Des Moine, Polk County, Iowa and then by 1930, Gretchen moved to Jersey City, Hudson County, New Jersey.

Jersey City:
She was indexed as "Gretchen Haman" in the 1930 US Census living in a rooming house on Fairmont Avenue in Jersey City. She was working as a clerk at the YWCA and paying $28 a month in rent.

First marriage:
Gretchen married Eddie August Schneider (1911-1940) in New York City on June 02, 1934. Eddie was an aviator and he was killed in a plane crash in 1940. She was director of the Aviation Club of the Jersey Journal Junior Club Magazine, which is where she met Eddie Schneider.

Second marriage:
After his death Gretchen married Herb Gray, a pilot for American Airlines, and he had a breakdown and was institutionalized.

Third marriage:
After they divorced she married Grant A. Black (1913-1976) an Air Force airman, and they lived in Goldsboro, North Carolina; and Fort Worth, Texas.

Death:
She died in December of 1986 in Goldsboro, North Carolina. She died under the name of "Gretchen Black".

Cremation:
She was cremated and the ashes were scattered.

1938 Driver's License

• Name: Eddie A. Schneider
  
• Year: 1938
• Height: 5 foot, 8 inches
• Weight: 160 pounds.
  
• Body mass index (calculated): 24.3.
  
• Description: blue eyes and blond hair
  
• Address: 38 Broadway, Manhattan, New York City
  

Emil Schneider (1885-1955); and Inga Petersen (1883-1928) circa 1915-1920

From left to right are: Emil Schneider (1885-1955); and Inga Petersen (1883-1928) circa 1915-1920 in Red Bank, New Jersey or Jersey City, New Jersey.

Source: Ralph Freudenberg (1903-1980) collection. Note the Harms have images from this same set.

Champion Boy Flyer Stops at Columbus On Way to New York

Champion Boy Flyer Stops at Columbus On Way to New York

Columbus, Ohio, August 23, 1930. Eddie Schneider 18-year-old New Jersey youth ... from Wichita, Kanasas, his second stopping point. When he hopped from Wichita, Schneider said he hoped to make New York without stopping. His reason for landing here could not be learned. He could not be reached for a statement.

Source: Coshocton Tribune; Coshocton, Ohio; August 24, 1930

Boy Flyer Hops Again For Columbus

Boy Flyer Hops Again For Columbus

Stultz Field, Williamsburg, Pennsylvania; August 15, 1930 (International News Service) Eddie Schneider, 18-year-old Jersey City aviator, took off from here for Columbus, Ohio, at 12:30 p.m. today. Schneider, attempting to lower the junior transcontinental flying record set by the late Frank Goldsborough, was forced down here after rain and low clouds had forced him to descend at Huntington and Water Street, Pennsylvania, yesterday. Schneider refueled his 110 horsepower Cessna monoplane here and said he would stop to refuel again at Columbus. Flying conditions west were reported favorable.

Source: Coshocton Tribune, Coshocton, Ohio; August 15, 1930

Gretchen Black Collection

Gretchen Black Collection
History of Aviation Collection

Box 1

• (1) Miscellaneous newspaper clippings (scrap book)
• Beret worn by Eddie Schneider in the Spanish Civil War 1936-1937
• (2) Miscellaneous correspondence 1940-1953
• (3) Miscellaneous correspondence 1932-1953
• (4) Newspaper articles - Spanish Civil War 1937
• (5) Photographs

Box 2

• Plaque - Gretchen Black
• Eddie Schneider's Diary 1929-1932
• (2) Eddie Schneider's Diary 1936-1937
• Photograph Eddie Schneider at Jersey City Airport 1935
• Photographs and memorabilia - Eddie Schneider
• (2) Pilot log books - Eddie Schneider
• (3) Certificates - Gretchen Black
• Newspaper clippings - Gretchen Black
• Photographs - Gretchen Black

Box 3

• 1-3 Newspaper clippings
• 4 Correspondence
• 5-6 Miscellaneous

Box 4

• 1 Gretchen Hahnen, Schneider, Gray, Black Miscellaneous
• 2 OX-5 Club - Gretchen Black
• 3 Photographs
• 4 Gretchen Hahnen, Schneider, Gray, Black (Radio)
• 5 Jersey Journal Aero Club clippings

Source: Gretchen Frances Hahnen (1902-1986) at the George H. Williams, World War I Aviation Library at the University of Texas at Dallas.

Junior Flying Champ

Junior Flying Champ

Eddie Schneider, photographed at Roosevelt Field, Long Island, just after setting a new record for junior west-east transcontinental flights. Schneider, 18, now holds both junior cross-country records. His time from California was 29 hours and 21 minutes.

Source: Decatur Evening Herald, Decatur, Illinois; September 23, 1930

At the 1930 National Air Races

At The 1930 National Air Races

More Victories ...
in Non-Stop, all Derbies and Closed Course Events
Than All Other Gasolines Combined!

68 Important Victories and Records in Three Weeks!

...the new junior transcontinental record made by Eddie Schneider ...

On Land ... In Air ... On Water
Richfield
-wins Again and Again!

Source: Oakland Tribune, Oakland, California; September 9, 1930

18-Year-Old Flier Hops from Altoona On Flight to Coast

18-Year-Old Flier Hops from Altoona On Flight to Coast

Altoona, Pennsylvania, August 15, 1930 (United Press) Eddie Schneider ... run into clearer weather.

Source: Syracuse Herald; Syracuse, New York; August 15, 1930

Boy Flier Off on Last Lap

Boy Flier Off on Last Lap

Schneider Leaves Wichita for New York

Schneider Off On Non-Stop Flight. Wichita, Kansas, August 23, 1930 (Associated Press) Eddie Schneider, eighteen-year-old Jersey City youth seeking a junior west-to-east transcontinental record, left here at 6:15 am (Central Standard Time) this morning. He hopes to reach New York today and set a new mark. The young flier planned to reach New York without stopping en route if possible Schneider left Los Angeles Thursday and stopped overnight in Albuquerque, New Mexico on his way here. His total elapsed time to Wichita was 13 hours and 40 minutes, well under the time required by the late Frank Goldsborough, whose junior west-east record of 28 hours and 55 minutes Schneider hopes to eclipse.

Source: Syracuse Herald; Syracuse, New York; August 23, 1930

Boy Flier Starts West to East Hop

Boy Flier Starts West to East Hop

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. (Eastern Standard Time) today in an effort to establish a new West-East junior transcontinental air record. He planned to make his first stop in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Source: Syracuse Herald; Syracuse, New York; August 21, 1930

Schneider Off On Non-Stop Flight

Schneider Off On Non-Stop Flight. Wichita, Kansas, August 23, 1930 (Associated Press) Eddie Schneider, eighteen-year-old Jersey City youth ... junior fliers last week.

Source: Decatur Daily Review; Decatur, Illinois; Saturday, August 23, 1930

National Air Tour Comes to Knoxville's McGhee

National Air Tour Comes to Knoxville's McGhee.

Tyson Biggest Aviation Event since Airport Opening National Air Tour Due Here. Crack Fliers, Ships Visit Knoxville on July 9. Stop Overnight. Land at Muny Port.

Knoxville Journal, June 23, 1931, Approximately 40 airplanes participating in the National Air Tour which will start from Detroit July 4, will land at McGhee Tyson municipal airport for an overnight stop on July 9, instead of July 7, as reported yesterday. This announcement was received Monday by Walter Self, manager of McGhee Tyson airport, in a telegram from Ray Collins, of Detroit, manager of the National Air tour. Mr. Self had been negotiating with Mr. Collins for some time regarding the tour. First Time Knoxville has not been on the itinerary of the National Air tour in previous years. Scheduling of an over-night stop means that Knoxville will be visited by the nation's outstanding airmen and the newest creations in aircraft. Among the notables in the tour party will be: Jimmy Doolittle, former crack army pilot; Frank Hawks, America's aerial speed demon; Walter Lees, endurance flier; Eddie Schneider, sensational 19-year-old pilot; Lee Gehlbach, winner of the All-American air derby last year; Lowell Bayles, second place winner in the air derby; Mrs. Mae Haizlip, outstanding woman pilot; and George Halderman, trans-Atlantic flier. The visit of this tour to Knoxville will give this city nation wide attention and publicity. In view of the fact that the planes will be at the municipal airport overnight, the various news-gathering organizations will send out their official reports from Knoxville on the progress of the tour. City Manager George Dempster asked the young Men's Division of the Chamber of Commerce yesterday to take charge of the arrangements as to such matters as reception, entertainment, publicity, etc. Charles T. King, chairman of the Young Men's Division, accepted, and at the same time asked for the assistance of the aviation committee of the senior Chamber. A joint meeting with the Young Men's committee will be held Wednesday at 11 a.m. Tour Itinerary Leaving Detroit, the tour will journey through Canada to New York state and then southward through Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, Kentucky, and then into Tennessee. Touring westward, the planes will go as far as Texas and then move into the central states. The planes will compete for the Edsel B. Ford reliability trophy and the Great Lakes trophy. The main purpose of the tour is to test the reliability of the various kinds of planes in cross-country flying. Frank Hawks is now in Europe, but he will return in time to take part in the tour. Jimmy Doolittle is the tour's referee, and Walter Lees is the chief timer. E. W. "Pop" Cleveland, a veteran of the aviation industry, is the chief starter.

Source: Knoxville Journal, June 23, 1931. Transcribed by Bob Davis. Transcription originally hosted by Ralph Cooper.

The second day of the 1931 National Air Tour ...

The second day of the 1931 National Air Tour for the "Edsel B. Ford Trophy" today, was to find the 14 competing planes and a dozen accompanying planes en route from Le Roy, New York, to Binghamton, New York. From Binghamton, the tour is to fly south and west as far as San Antonio, Texas, returning to Ford Airport July 25, 1931. A holiday crowd of about 5,000 persons witnessed the start of the tour from the Ford Airport Saturday morning. Colonel Clarence M. Young, assistant Secretary of Commerce for Aeronautics, came from Cleveland, Ohio to witness the start. Fifteen Army planes from Selfridge Field stunted over the field just before the takeoff and accompanied the tour planes as far as Walker Airport, Walkerville, Ontario at Walker Airport, where the tour planes stopped for a long luncheon hour, they joined the large number of planes participating in the Trans-Canada Air Pageant there. Most of the racers got off to a bad start from Ford Airport. Only flying a Mercury Chic, Captain William Lancaster, flying a Bird and Eddie Schneider, flying a Cessna, got away on time. Leonard Flo, flying a Bird cabin plane, was delayed more than a half hour when he broke a tail skid just before the takeoff and the two Ford entries were 15 minutes late. The racers were timed from the minute they were supposed to take off. Other entries are Charles F. Sugg, Captain Walter Henderson and Jack Story, flying Buhl entries; James H. Smart and Harry Russell, flying Ford trimotors; Joseph Meehan, flying a Great Lakes; Lowell Bayles, flying a Gee Bee; Eddie Stinson, flying a Stinson and George Dickson, flying an Aeronca. Among the well-known pilots flying accompanying planes are Major James H. Doolittle, referee of the tour, who is accompanied by Mrs. Doolittle and Mrs. Ray W. Brown, wife of the assistant tour starter; Capt. Lewis A. Yancey, who flew with Roger Q. Willliams across the Atlantic in 1928, who is piloting an autogiro in the tour; Walter E. Lees, Detroit pilot who holds the world's non-refueling endurance record, and George Haldeman, who attempted to fly the Atlantic with Ruth Elder. Major Thomas G. Lanphier, former commandant at Selfridge Field, is accompanying the tour as far as Binghamton as a passenger. Night stops after tonight will be as follows: Monday, Bradford, Pennsylvania; Tuesday, Wheeling, West Virginia; Wednesday, Huntington, West Virginia; Thursday, Knoxville, Tennessee; Friday, Memphis, Tennessee; Saturday, Birmingham, Alabama; July 12, Montgomery, Alabama; July 13, New Orleans; July 14, Shreveport, Louisiana; July 15, Houston, Texas; July 16, San Antonio, Texas; July 17 and 18, Fort Worth, Texas; July 19, Ponca City, Oklahoma; July 20, Kansas City; July 21, Lincoln, Nebraska; July 22, Omaha, Nebraska; July 23, Davenport, Ia.; July 24, Kalamazoo, Michigan; July 25, Detroit, Michigan. The tour will cover more than 6,000 miles, visiting 18 states. The Ford Trophy will go to the pilot whose plane performs most efficiently, as judged by the scoring formula, over the entire distance. A separate trophy, the Great Lakes Light Plane Trophy, will go to the pilot of the plane of less than 510 cubic inches engine displacement which makes the best score.

Source: unknown paper circa July 5, 1931. Transcription originally hosted by Ralph Cooper.

Schneider plans flying here today

Schneider plans flying here today.

Wichita, Kansas, August 22, 1930 (Associated Press) Eddie Schneider, 18-year-old New Jersey youth seeking to establish a junior transcontinental flight record from West to East, landed here at 3:13 P. M., Central Time, today from Albuquerque, New Mexico. He plans to take off at daybreak tomorrow on a nonstop hop to New York.

Source: New York Times; August 23, 1930; page 28

U.S. Socialists Sift Volunteers To Fight Rebels

U.S. Socialists Sift Volunteers To Fight Rebels

Federal Inquiry Gaining Impetus. Ambulance Unit Sails.

New York, January 16, 1937 (Associated Press) A personnel committee began sifting applicants who want to fight for the Spanish loyalist government today, while Federal officials continued their investigation into possible law violations in recruiting Americans for military service in Spain.

Source: The Washington Post; January 17, 1937; page 5

Aviator Says New York Attorney Is Leftist Agent

Aviator Says New York Attorney Is Leftist Agent

Several Indictments Are Planned in Enlistment of Fliers for Spain.

New York, January 15, 1937 (Associated Press) Back from a month of dropping bombs on behalf of the Spanish loyalist government, Eddie Schneider, Jersey City, New Jersey, aviator, said today he was signed up by a New York lawyer to serve in the Spanish war at $1,500 a month. Schneider was questioned by Assistant United States Attorney John F. Dailey, Jr. who announced he would seek indictments from the Federal grand jury next week against several New Yorkers in connection with their enlistment of American aviators for Spanish service. Interviewed as entered Dailey's office, Schneider said the lawyer negotiated with him for his services and handed him his steamship ticket for transportation to Spain. The flier said he quit the war to comply with President Roosevelt's neutrality policy, and that the Spanish Embassy in Paris advanced him his fare home pending payment of his salary. Schneider said he participated in daily bombing raids in Spain for three weeks, flying remodeled sports planes and dropping bombs through a hole in the cockpit floor. He has a record of more than 2,000 air hours since 1928, and has set several transcontinental flying records, he said. He left here six weeks ago with Major Fred Lord, who is still in Spain. Dailey said it was unlikely the grand jury would hear testimony from Bert Acosta and Major Gordon Berry, free-lance fliers who returned yesterday from Spain and, whom Dailey questioned, but that agencies hiring Americans for Spanish service would be prosecuted "to the limit." The district attorney said Federal agents were investigating the stories told by Acosta and Berry.

Source: The Washington Post; January 16, 1937; page 7

2 Die After Planes Collide in Mid-Air

2 Die After Planes Collide in Mid-Air

Brooklyn, December 23, 1940 (International News Service) Two civilian fliers, one an American veteran of the Spanish Civil War, were killed today, in a mid-air collision between their plans and a naval reserve plane. The victims of the crash were Edward Schneider, who flew for the Loyalists in Spain, and George W. Herzog, a student. Their monoplane scraped wings with a Naval Reserve plane piloted by Ensign Kenneth Kuehner, who pulled his ship out of a spin and landed safely with Franklin Newcomber, a seaman who was a passenger in the service plane.

Source: Washington Post; December 24, 1940

Coverage in Christian Science Monitor

• Christian Science Monitor; August 19, 1930; “Junior Flight Record Set by 18-Year-Old Boy. Los Angeles (Associated Press) A slight, 18 year-old Jersey City youth, Eddie Schneider, today held the junior record for the fastest westward crossing of the United States. Landing at the municipal airport at dusk yesterday, the young flier completed his transcontinental crossing in a total flying time of 29 hours, 41 minutes, just 4 hours, 22 minutes less than required by the former holder, the late Frank Goldsborough, of New York. Schneider left Westfield, New Jersey August 14, 1930, flying only during the daytime. He said he experienced much stormy weather along the route and damaged his plane slightly once when he struck a tree in landing at Altoona, Pennsylvania.”
• Christian Science Monitor; Friday, August 22, 1930; “Junior Pilot Flies Over San Bernardinos. Albquerque, New Mexico (Associated Press) Eddie Schneider took off at 7:55 a.m. August 22 for Wichita, Kansas, on the second lap of his attempt to lower the junior ...”
• Christian Science Monitor; July 8, 1931; “Ford Tour Pilots Reach Columbus. Columbus, Ohio, July 8, 1930 (Associated Press) Pilots in the Edsel B. Ford Reliability Tour checked in at Port Columbus here today in the following order: ...”
• Christian Science Monitor; November 23, 1936; “Wings Over Neutrality. A cable to relatives in New York announces that three crack American aviators have arrived at Valencia to aid the Spanish Government. One is Bert Acosta, who flew the Atlantic with Rear Admiral Byrd in 1927. He is ranked in the trade as a "natural" at flying, one of the most deft and intuitive flyers that ...”

Coverage in other periodicals

• Newark Advocate; Newark, Ohio; Thursday, August 14, 1930; “Youth is after junior record. Westfield, New Jersey, August 14, 1930 (Associated Press) Eddie Schneider, 18 year old pilot took off at 5:55 am (Eastern Daylight Time) today in an attempt to set a new junior transcontinental flight record. The present record was established by the late Frank Goldsborough, who made the trip in 33 hours, 35 minutes. He plans to make his first stop at Columbus, for fuel and a second refueling stop at St. Louis. At Wichita, Kansas, he plans to spend the night while a 250 gallon tank is fitted into his plane. The last stage of the flight will be to Alhambra, California, which he hopes to reach by tomorrow night.”
• San Mateo Times; San Mateo, California; Thursday, August 14, 1930; “Edward Schneider, 18-year-old Jersey City High school graduate, took off at ... today in his Cessna cabin monoplane in an attempt to lower ...”
• Coshocton Tribune; Coshocton, Ohio; Friday, August 15, 1930; “For the third time, after a ten mile hop from Water Street, where rain and clouds sent his Cessna monoplane to the ground late yesterday, Edward Schneider ... ”
• Van Wert Daily Bulletin; Van Wert, Ohio; Friday, August 15, 1930; “Schneider, 18-year-old Jersey City youth, was planning to take off ... ”
• Clearfield Progress; Clearfield, Pennsylvania; Friday, August 15, 1930; “Boy aviator forced to land, but arises again. Stultz Field, Williamsburg, Pennsylvania; August 15, 1930 (International News Service) Eddie Schneider, 18-year-old Jersey City aviator, took off from here for Columbus, Ohio, at 12:30 p.m. today. Schneider, attempting to lower the junior transcontinental flying record set by the late Frank Goldsborough, was forced down here after rain and low clouds had forced him to descend at Huntington and Water Street, Pennsylvania, yesterday. Schneider refueled his 110 horsepower Cessna monoplane here and said he would stop to refuel again at Columbus. Flying conditions west were reported favorable.”
• Decatur Daily Review; Decatur, Illinois; Sunday, August 17, 1930; “Youthful flyer lands in Wichita. Wichita, Kansas; August 16, 1930 (Associated Press) Eddie Schneider, eighteen-year-old Westfield, New Jersey youth, attempting to establish a new junior transcontinental flight record, arrived here tonight at 7:45, He had left St. Louis at 1:25 pm Schneider was delayed in the arrival here by a severe wind and rain storm which visited this section late this afternoon. It was thought for a time he had been forced down somewhere between here and St. Louis. He was delayed in taking off from St. Louis by low visibility and threatening storms. The junior flyer's elapsed time from Westfield to Wichita was 14 hours and 58 minutes.”
• Decatur Daily Review; Decatur, Illinois; Monday, August 18, 1930; “Schneider On Last Stage of Flight. Albuquerque, New Mexico; August 18, 1930 (Associated Press) Eddie Schneider, 18-year-old pilot attempting to set a new junior transcontinental flight record, left Albuquerque at 7:40 a.m. (Mountain Standard Time) today for Los Angeles, expecting to finish his flight from New York without another stop. The young flyer landed here at 5:55 am from Anton Chico, New Mexico where he was forced to stop last night because of bad weather. The weather between Albuquerque and Los Angeles was favorable for Schneider's final hop. He hoped to reach Los Angeles by 1 pm (Pacific Standard Time).”
• Van Wert Daily Bulletin; Van Wert, Ohio; Monday, August 18, 1930; “Albuquerque, New Mexico. August 18, 1930 (International News Service) Eddie Schneider, the 18-year-old who is attempting to set a new junior transcontinental speed flight record, took off from Albuquerque, New Mexico at 8:05 o'clock this morning for Los Angeles, his final destination. He hopes to make the final leg of the flight without a stopover. Schneider was forced down yesterday evening in Santa Rosa, East of here by a storm and spent the night there. He landed her at 5:30 am today, breakfasted leisurely, went over his plane, refueled and then took in quest of the new record. He claims to be several hours ahead of the old record.”
• Newark Advocate; Newark, Ohio; Monday, August 18, 1930; “Boy pilot in air. Albuquerque, New Mexico; August 18, 1930. (Associated Press) Eddie Schneider 18 year old pilot attempting to set a new transcontinental flight record left Albuquerque at 7:40 am (Mountain Standard Time) today for Los Angeles expecting to finish his flight from New York without another stop.”
• Newark Advocate; Newark, Ohio; Tuesday, August 19, 1930; “Junior record for long hop. Los Angeles, California, August 19, 1930 (Associated Press) A slight, 18-year-old Jersey City youth, Eddie Schneider, today held the junior record for the fastest westward crossing of the United States. Landing at the municipal airport at dusk yesterday, the young flier completed his transcontinental crossing in a total flying time of 29 hours, 41 minutes, just 4 hours, 22 minutes less than required by the former holder, the late Frank Goldsborough, of New York. Schneider left Westfield, New Jersey August 14, 1930, flying only during the daytime. He said he experienced much stormy weather along the route and damaged his plane slightly once when he struck a tree in landing at Altoona, Pennsylvania.”
• Coshocton Tribune; Coshocton, Ohio; Tuesday, August 19, 1930; “Edward Schneider, 18-year-old Jersey city school boy, was receiving ... landed his Cessna cabin plane at The Long Beach, got his bearings and 20 tack ... ”
• Newark Advocate; Newark, Ohio; Thursday, August 21, 1930; “Schneider is after record.” via Associated Press
• Decatur Daily Review; Decatur, Illinois; Friday, August 22, 1930; “Schneider Off On Trip To Wichita. Albuquerque, New Mexico, August 22, 1930 (Associated Press) Eddie Schneider, eighteen year old pilot, left at 7:55 a.m. today (Mountain Standard Time) today for Wichita, Kansas, on the second lap of his attempt to lower the junior west-east flight record of twenty-eight hours and thirty-five minutes, established by the late Frank Goldsborough. Schneider will stop at Wichita tonight and expects to reach New York tomorrow. His elapsed time from Los Angeles to Albuquerque was seven hours, twenty-eight minutes. He lost half an hour in circling to get over the San Bernardino mountains because of his heavy load of gasoline. His magneto compass also failed him and he was forced to fly by dead reckoning.”
• Decatur Daily Review; Decatur, Illinois; Saturday, August 23, 1930; “Schneider off on non-stop flight.”
• Decatur Evening Herald; Decatur, Illinois; Monday, August 25, 1930; “Sets junior transcontinental record, formerly held by Frank Goldsborough, boy ace who died in a crash recently, was lowered by Eddie Schneider, 18 year old flier, who made east to west crossing in elapsed flying time of 29 hours, and 41 minutes. Goldsborough's time was 34 hours and 3 minutes. Eddie is here seen being congratulated upon arrival at Los Angeles airport by Colonel Richard Barnitz, manager of the field.
• Coshocton Tribune; Coshocton, Ohio, Monday, August 25, 1930; “Boy makes new round trip mark. Eddie Schneider now holds coast-to-coast round trip junior flight record. Beats Goldsborough's. Cuts one hour, 36 minutes from time of young flyer recently killed in Vermont. Roosevelt Field, New York, August 25, 1930 (Associated Press) 'Hello, Pop, I made it.' That was the greeting to his father by happy Eddie Schneider, who today holds the coast-to-coast round trip junior flight record, as he ended this final leg of his trip. The 18-year old pilot landed here Sunday shortly after 4 p.m. as a crowd of 2,000 cheered. He completed the flight from Los Angeles in 27 hours, 19 minutes and made a round trip record of 57 hours and 41 minutes. His record broke by one hour and 36 minutes the round-trip time of Frank Goldborough, the boy flyer who was killed when his plane crashed in Vermont. Bucking strong winds, Schneider flew from Columbus to New York in a single day. He was not tired, he said, but hungry, having gone without food on the entire last leg of his trip. He plans to fly today to Chicago, where he will compete in the national air races. Young Schneider said he was impressed with the vast wastes in the west where he flew for more than 100 miles without sighting signs of habitation. He also was surprised, he said, at the large number of air hitchhikers. He refused rides to scores. The young pilot brought with him a letter from the Mayor of Los Angeles to Mayor Walker of New York and one to Mayor Hague of Jersey City, Schneider's home town.”
• Times Recorder; Zanesville,Ohio; Monday, August 25, 1930; “Eddie Schneider Sets Junior Flying Records Roosevelt Field, New York, August 24, 1930. Eighteen-year-old Eddie Schneider of Jersey City, New Jersey landed here from Columbus, Ohio, (Eastern Standard Time) today with three Junior transcontinental records in his possession. Beating the three records set by the late Frank Goldsborough, who was killed recently In a crash, he chalked up the following marks: east-west, 29 hours and 41 minutes; west-east, 27 hours and 19 minutes; round trip, 57 hours. The Goldsborough records were: west-east, 34 hours. 3 minutes; west-east. 28 hours, 55 minutes and round trip, 62 hours, 58 minutes. Battling a storm part of the way, the smiling Junior flier came from Columbus to Roosevelt Field in one hop today, slicing one hour and 36 minutes from Goldsborough's mark for the coast-to-coast crossing.”
• Van Wert Daily Bulletin; Van Wert, Ohio; Wednesday, August 27, 1930; “Waving a cheery hello, Eddie Schneider, 18-year-old Jersey City youth quits his Cessna monoplane on completion of his record flight from Los Angeles, California. Schneider's time of 26 hours and 38 1/2 minutes for the eastward coast-to-coast trip broke the late Frank Goldsborough's junior record by 1 hour and 29 1/2 minutes. Schneider now holds both junior records. His time for the westward flight is 29 hours and 21 minutes. (International Newsreels)”
• Newark Advocate; Newark, Ohio; September 16, 1930; “Girl and boy of 19 are interesting pair in this year's Ford airplane tour”
• Decatur Daily Review; Decatur, Illinois; Saturday, September 27, 1930; “Boy flyer set to try at transcontinental record.” Robert Nietzel Buck seeks Eddie's record.
• Decatur Daily Review; Decatur, Illinois; Monday, September 29, 1930; “Boy aviator in quest of record.” Robert Nietzel Buck seeks Eddie's record.
• Decatur Daily Review; Decatur, Illinois; October 1, 1930; “Boy flier hops off second time.” Robert Nietzel Buck beats Eddie's record.
• Decatur Daily Review; Decatur, Illinois; Sunday, October 5, 1930; “Boy flier plans return air trip.” Robert Nietzel Buck beats Eddie's record.
• The Helena Independent; Helena, Montana; Sunday, October 19, 1930; “New transcontinental air speed marks were established today, one by a boy of 16 and the other by a young woman who already held records for barrel rolling and looping. The first in was Miss Laura Ingalls. who landed at Roosevelt field with a flying time of 25 hours and 35 minutes from Los Angeles. A little later Robert Buck dropped down at the Newark airport after 20? hours and 4? minutes in the air since leaving Los Angeles. Buck beat the Junior record made recently by his friend, Eddie Schneider. Miss Ingalls didn't beat any record because no woman had ever made an oficially recorded flight from the west coast before, but she established a mark for other women to shoot at. Buck brought back with him junior record for both west and east directions and Miss Ingalls would have had two records too, If she had not had such keen competition. She flew out in 30 hours and 27 minutes, but before she ... to turn around ... start back Mr. Keith Miller cut the record 21 hours and 44 [minutes].”
• Coshocton Tribune; July 9, 1931; “Reliability air tourists over West Viginia, Kentucky, and Tennessee. ... The point standing is as follows: ... Eddie Schneider 13.156.8 ...”
• Lima News; Lima, Ohio; July 10, 1931; “Russell leads flyers in air tour. Murfreesboro, Tennessee, July 10, 1930 (INS) Harry Russell, in a trimotored plane led nine contestants in the national reliability air tour into Tennessee Sky Harbor today for a luncheon control stop. Flight officials had received no word from Eddie Schneider, 19-year-old pilot, who was forced down near Middlesboro, Kentucky yesterday.”
• Time magazine; August 03, 1931; “Ford's Reliability. For the second consecutive year shock-haired Pilot Harry L. Russell flew a trimotored Ford into Ford airport near Detroit last week to win the Edsel Bryant Ford Trophy for reliability in the National Air Tour. His easy victory over a field of 14 gave the Ford company its second leg of the current trophy (three consecutive victories gives permanent possession). Only once in the 6,590-mi. tour was Pilot Russell pressed for leading position, and then it was by Pilot James H. Smart flying another Ford, which finished second. Smart nearly caught up with Russell when the leader became lost over the mountains of Kentucky and failed to find Middlesboro. Later Russell had to fly back from Knoxville, Tennesee, and touch at Middlesboro to escape heavy penalties. Sensation of the meet was the youngster Eddie Schneider, 19, who fell into last place by a forced landing of his Cessna and a three-day delay in Kentucky, then fought his way back to finish third, ahead of all other light planes.”
• Richfield Reaper, Richfield, Utah; Thursday, March 21, 1935; “He Learns to Fly in 55 Minutes. After 55 minutes of instruction, Herbert Sargent, twenty-two, of Jersey City, made his first solo flight in a plane at the Jersey City airport and after completing the prescribed maneuvers set his plane down for a three point landing. Eddie A. Schneider, twenty-three, Sargent's youthful instructor, holder of the junior transcontinental flying record, said he allowed Sargent to go up alone because he handled a plane perfectly. Taking the air on such short instruction is believed to have brought to Sargent a new record.”
• The Daily Courier; Connellsville,Pennsylvania; Tuesday, November 24, 1936; “Bert Acosta Joins Loyalist Air Force. Valencia, Spain, November 23, 1936. Acosta, American trans-Atlantic aviator, Eddie Schneider, former manager of the Jersey City, New Jersey, airport, and Major Fred A. Lord of New York, British world war ace, left Saturday for Muraa to join the loyalist air force.”
• The Ironwood Daily Globe; Ironwood, Michigan; Friday, November 27, 1936; “Yank Against Yank. One of the amazing developments in the Spanish civil war which might conceivably involve the United States Is penned by an Eastern writer. He reveals that high over Madrid's maze of streets and wide boulevards American aviators are stalking each other in the high above the bull rings of Old Spain are engaging each other in mortal combat, and the price on each man's head is a thousand dollars. While it seems incongruous some of those fighting on opposite sides in the Spanish war were the best of friends before they decided to become brave bold knights of the sky. Several of them trained together at Fitld(?) in the east under the same instructor yet now, unknown to themselves, they are mortal enemies, seeking each others life. The American aviators were recruited in New York by agents of the two warring factions in Spain. They have no interest in the outcome, nor do they actually know what the fighting is about. All they know is that they have a chance to make 'big money' fighting for the honor of one side or the other. That big money is a salary of $500 a month and $1,000 for every plane each shoots down. One of these days Americans mav be shocked to learn that Bert Acosta, associate of Rear Admiral Byrd in the flight to France in 1927, has been killed in action. Or it mav be 26-year old Eddie Schneider of Jersey, holder of many flying records, or Gordon Berry, or it may be Major Fred Lord who served with the British flying service during the world war, shooting down 22 German planes. Those well known men are now piloting war planes high over Madrid because they were lured to Spain by the chance for big money.”
• Oshkosh Northwestern; Oshkosh, Wisconsin; January 6, 1937; “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 warplanes were said to be machines built in Russia through contracts giving the Soviet government permission to copy American models. The flyers said both the socialist and fascist air forces in Spain were staffed almost entirely by foreigners.”
• Syracuse Herald; Syracuse, New York; January 6, 1937; “Lord, Gordon Berry and Eddie [Schneider] Led The Spanish Socialist government's "Yankee Squadron" on The Basque front in the far north. ... ”
• Jersey Journal; Jersey City, New Jersey; December 24, 1940; “Local Pilot Killed. Eddie Schneider And Passenger Die in Crash. Eddie A. Schneider, 29, veteran pilot and former holder of the junior transcontinental speed record for airplanes, was instantly killed yesterday afternoon when a small monoplane in which he was giving a refresher course to another pilot was struck by U.S. Naval Reserve plane at Floyd Bennett Airport, Brooklyn. Schneider’s plane, one wing sheared off, plummeted in a tight spin into an inlet of Jamaica Bay, causing instant death to Schneider and his student, George W. Herzog, 37. Schneider, a native of New York City was a resident of Jersey City until a few years ago. He became interested in aviation while still a student at Dickenson High School, Jersey City, causing him to leave school when 15 to go to work as a plane mechanic at old Roosevelt Field Hempstead, Long Island. Schneider during his career in aviation broke the East-West, West-East and round trip junior transcontinental records in 1930 in his famous red Cessna monoplane, when only 18. He crossed the continent from Westfield Airport, New Jersey, to Los Angeles in 29 hours and 41 minutes, breaking the record of the late Frank Goldsborough. Eddie was at one time the youngest licensed commercial pilot and competed in air races and meets with men far more experienced and older than he was, after carrying off first honors. In the Ford National Reliability Tours of 1930 and 1931. Schneider with his red Cessna, carried off the Great Lakes Trophy one year, and then took first place the next year. In one of the air tours a defect in a propeller caused the engine of his plane to break loose while flying over a mountainous section of Kentucky, and Schneider made a forced landing in a corn patch on a side of the mountain. A new engine was rushed to him and after an extremely difficult takeoff, which experienced airmen, said was not possible, he went on to win first place in the tour. Schneider in 1934 became the manager of the old Jersey City Airport at Droyers Point, operating the filed for a period of a little more than a year. While at the airport he taught many Hudson County students how to fly. Schneider had a narrow escape in 1935 when a Travelair biplane in which he and a student were taking off from the airport landed in Newark Bay after the motor suddenly went dead at 100 feet of attitude. The plane was only slightly damaged in the forced water landing. Schneider and the student Al Clemmings, wading to shore. In 1936 Eddie with Bert Acosta and three other pilots, enlisted in the Yankee Escadrille of the Loyalist Air Corps in Spain. For several months Schneider was flying antiquated planes, which had been rigged up with racks, dropping bombs on military objectives of the Franco forces. Schneider finally became thoroughly disgusted with the Communist regime, which he said was directing the Loyalist forces, and after many difficulties, returned to this country. Since returning from Spain, Schneider, a licensed airplane mechanic since he was 15, worked for American Airlines, first at Newark Airport and then at La Guardia Airport, New York City, first as a mechanic, then as instrument inspector. About six months ago he resigned his post with American Airlines to take a position as student instructor with the Archie Baxter Flying Service teaching Civil Aeronautics Authority students to fly. Yesterday afternoon Schneider took Herzog, a resident of New Hyde Park, Long Island, up for a refresher course. Herzog, holder of a commercial license, had allowed the license to lapse, and was required to take dual flying time before his license would be renewed. Schneider was flying at about 600 feet altitude, coming in for a landing, when a United States Naval Reserve biplane piloted by Ensign Kenneth A, Kuehler, 25, of Rochester, Ohio, was observer, struck the tail assembly of Schneider’s tandem Piper Cub. The tails surfaces and left wing of Schneider’s plane were badly damaged and as the two planes separated after the mid-air collision, the small monoplane went in a tight spin, striking Deep Creek several hundred feet from Flatbush Avenue and sinking. The Naval Reserve plane was able to land at the airport. Airport emergency crews raced to the spot where Schneider’s plane had submerged and the bodies of Schneider and Herzog were taken from the plane within a very few minutes after the crash. Attempts were made to to revive the two, but a Kings County Hospital ambulance intern pronounced both dead on arrival at the scene. It is believed that both were killed by the impact of the plane with the water. The bodies were taken to Kings County Hospital and Schneider will be released today and brought to Jersey City for funeral services. Herzog is survived by a widow and two small children. Schneider lived in Jersey City at 114 Carlton Avenue in the Hudson City section when he established the transcontinental records.”