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

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)

Source:
International Newsreels in the Van Wert Daily Bulletin; Van Wert, Ohio; Wednesday, August 27, 1930

Person:
Eddie August Schneider (1911-1940) was a record holding aviator who fought for the Loyalists in the Spanish Civil War and died in a plane crash (b. October 20, 1911, 2nd Avenue and 17th Street, Manhattan, New York County, New York City, New York, USA - d. December 23, 1940, Deep Creek and Flatbush Avenue, Floyd Bennett Field, Brooklyn, Kings County, Long Island, New York City, New York, USA)

Flier says lawyer sent him to Spain

Eddie August Schneider in the New York Times on January 16, 1937.

"Flier says lawyer sent him to Spain. Schneider names New Yorker as giving him ticket to join loyalist army. Promised $1,500 a month, but he was never paid, so he quit, witness declares - tells story to U.S. officials. Eddie Schneider, 25-year-old aviator, who recently returned to the United States after serving a month in the so-called Yankee Squadron with the Spanish Loyalists, said yesterday that a New York lawyer had negotiated with him for his services abroad. Schneider, who began his career as a flier in 1928, appeared at the Federal Building, where he was questioned by John F. Dailey Jr., Chief Assistant United States Attorney. Mr. Dailey, who last Thursday questioned Bert Acosta and Gordon K. Berry, both of whom served in the same squadron, is conducting an investigation to determine if the service of the Yankee Squadron in Spain was a violation of a federal statute. That statute provides: 'Whoever, within the territory or jurisdiction of the United States, enlists or enters himself, or hires or retains another person to enlist or enter himself, or to go beyond the limits or jurisdiction of the United States with intent to be enlisted or entered in the service of any foreign prince, state colony, district or people as a soldier or as a marine, or seaman on board of any vessel of war, letter or marquee, or privateer, shall be fined not more than $1,000 and imprisoned not more than 4 years.' According to Schneider, the lawyer told him that he would be paid $1,500 a month for his services in the air force and would receive a bonus of $1,000 for every Rebel plane he shot down. The lawyer, he said, gave him his steamship ticket. Schneider, in an interview with newspapermen, said that he had quit Spain because the Loyalist Government had not carried out its obligations under a contract signed in Valencia. The only money he received, he said, came from the Spanish Embassy in Paris, which paid his fare back to the United States. Colonel Lewis Landes, attorney for Schneider, interrupted to say on behalf of his client that Schneider had really quit Spain because he wished to comply with President Roosevelt's neutrality program. Schneider said that Major Thomas Lamphier was still abroad flying for the Loyalists. He said that he himself had taken part in bombing raids daily for about three weeks. The bombers, he said were remodeled sport planes, and the bombs were dropped through floor openings."

Source: New York Times; January 16, 1937

Girl and Boy of 19 Are Interesting pair in This Year's Ford Airplane Tour

Eddie August Schneider (1911-1940) and Nancy Hopkins (1909–1987) in the Newark Advocate of Newark, Ohio on September 16, 1930.

Girl and Boy of 19 Are Interesting pair in This Year's Ford Airplane Tour.

Above are two of the most interesting pilots in the Ford Reliability tour, which got under way at Ford airport, Detroit, on a 4,000-mile trip with 15 planes competing. At the right is Nancy Hopkins, Washington society girl and niece of Lady Nancy Astor, the only woman contestant; with her is Eddie Schneider, 19, the youngest pilot in the race. Below is a closeup of Miss Hopkins.

Source:
Newark Advocate; Newark, Ohio; September 16, 1930

Person:
Eddie August Schneider (1911-1940) was a record holding aviator who fought for the Loyalists in the Spanish Civil War and died in a plane crash (b. October 20, 1911; 2nd Avenue and 17th Street, Manhattan, New York County, New York City, New York, USA - d. December 23, 1940; Deep Creek and Flatbush Avenue, Floyd Bennett Field, Brooklyn, Kings County, Long Island, New York City, New York, USA)

Person:
Nancy Hopkins (1909-1997) was the president of the International Women's Air and Space Museum and a member of United Flying Octogenarians (b. May 16, 1909; Washington, District of Columbia – d. January 15, 1997; Sharon, Connecticut)

Three Young Pilots At Chicago Are Gathering Air Laurels; One Glider, Others With Planes.

Eddie August Schneider (1911-1940) in an article by the Associated Press in The Day of Chicago, Illinois on August 28, 1930.

Three Young Pilots At Chicago Are Gathering Air Laurels; One Glider, Others With Planes.

Chicago, August 28, 1930 (Associated Press) Boys will be pilots, say Eddie and Walter and Eldon. Eddie Schneider is only 18, a curly headed, Jersey City, New Jersey blond who has been flying for two years and now holds the junior transcontinental records, both west to east and east to west. ... Flying his little red monoplane, with only 100 horsepower at his command. Eddie Schneider demonstrated to great throngs of fans yesterday that despite his youth he had what fliers term the "feel of the air". He maneuvered his ship around the filed with the nonchalant assurance of the great Marcel Doret of France, and as an added thrill he landed it and stopped it in a space of less than 600 feet. "father was against my flying." related Eddie," but he's convinced now. In fact he's helping to back all my flights. All I want to do is fly. "I don't expect to win any of them but I'll race for the fun of it," he said. "There will be too many ships with more power than mine in the races to win."

Source:
Associated Press in The Day; Chicago, Illinois; August 28, 1930

Rodgers Field Prepared For Air Tourists. Aerial Caravan Due To Arrive Here Tomorrow. Famous Flyers Coming.

Eddie August Schneider (1911-1940) in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on July 6, 1931.

Rodgers Field Prepared For Air Tourists. Aerial Caravan Due To Arrive Here Tomorrow. Famous Flyers Coming.

... Eddie Schneider, 19, former junior transcontinental flight record holder and present holder of the Great Lakes light plane trophy, will pilot a Cessna, Warner-powered, in the tour.

Source:

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; July 6, 1931

Person:

Eddie August Schneider (1911-1940)

Gretchen Francis Hahnen (1902-1986) letter of June 30, 1953 to Bertrand Blanchard Acosta (1895-1954)

Gretchen Francis Hahnen (1902-1986) letter of June 30, 1953 to Bertrand Blanchard Acosta (1895-1954).

June 30, 1953. My dear Bert: I was so glad to see this article in the paper, though I knew you were in Denver. A man, whose name I cannot remember, came into the office last spring, he's a flyer, and told me where you were, and that you were getting along fine. I feel terrible not to have written long before this and I am afraid you will think I am not a very good friend, but I have thought of you often and said many prayers for you and now they are being answered. I thought you might like to have this clipping. Do you remember that I had the original picture of you oficially receiving the Pulitzer Speed Trophy and wanted it? The reason I didn't give it to you was because I was afraid you would lose it. Several months ago, I sent that picture along with my complete aviation library of 127 books, to the National Air Museum at the Smithsonian Institution and that is where it is now. They sent me a copy of the picture and I am mailing it to you under seperate cover. The books are catalogs and now known as the "Eddie Schneider Memorial Library" and I am happy about that. When I came back to Fort Worth from New York in 1948, I gave all of Eddie's scrap books, international license signed by Orville Wright and other licenses to the Institute of Aeronautical Sciences in New York. I knew that if anything happened to me, there probably wouldn't be [anyone] who would care about them and that is why I sent all the stuff away. I am delighted to hear that you are going to start writing your memoirs. I have often thought of the opportunity I had when we were living with you and Gloria to have jotted down many of the things you told us to be used for just such a purpose, but now you have lots of time to look over the past and I hope you will. I seldom hear from anyone back East, let alone see them. I hear from Casey Jones once in a while, also Viola Gentry, who is working in New York. Saw Clarence Chamberlin on TV not long ago and he said he was completely out of aviation, though the last time I heard from him, he had been with Bellanca a couple of years ago. After my divorce from Herb Gray, I stopped over in [[Kansas City on my way to New York, to see Carl Schneider, remember him? His address is P.O. Box 23, Muncie, Kansas, in case you ever want to contact him. There was an article in the newspaper last week about Al Baumler, who the last time I saw him he was a Major in the Air Force and is now an Airman 1st Class and is in Yan ... though doing no flying. [Remember ...] the Americans Millie Lord and I met in France and later in Alicante, and it was through him, that she and I eventually got to Valencia where you and Dingle and Eddie were. Its funny, but I can remember every detail of that trip to Spain. I shall never forget the day you all sailed and when Eddie asked me to have a last drink with him, I started to bawl, you came over, knocked my chin up with your fist, "If your going to drink, smile when you do it." The impact knocked all my tears right and left, and it really helped me to tell him goodbye. I have loads of clippings left, and Eddie's diary on that Spanish deal, so if you need any refreshers, let me know. The enclosed picture is of my mom, who visited us in February for a month and my present husband, and I might add, my last, come what may. She is still full of life and vinegar and can drink me under the table despite the fact I am 20 years younger than she. Three years ago she ran for Republican committeewoman in her district, and won! She was 71 last January. We had a wonderful time when she was here, and she and Grant immediately became buddies. Though I have had two marriages end in tragedy, I am hoping this will last a long time. My husband is a great guy, has over 16 years in the Air Force, over nine of them as a Master Sergeant. He is a Yankee, thank God, no more Texans for me. Gray was a Texan and he told me once, that Texans considered their battle and women in the same category, and that strictly wasn't for me. However, he didn't go haywire mentally, until all of my $10,500 was gone, and now I am as poor as a churchmouse again, but at least I am very happy. ... and electronics specialist. You'd like him, Bert, and vice versa. They are shipping people out of here very fast, but we seem to stay on and watch everyone else leave, however, our turn will come along one of these days. My fervent hope is that it won't be Limestone, Maine; Rapid City, South Dakota; or Roswell, New Mexico. Of course our preference would be March Field near Los Angeles or that other one near San Francisco, but of course we will have no choice. I wouldn't mind being sent to Europe, France, Germany, Norway, England or even Casablanca. Why be in the Air Force and stay in one place? Fort Worth is a nice place, but I've got itchy feet. This is the third summer in a row now that we have suffered with intense heat, up around 104 degress every day, and I don't like it. Both of us would like Denver, it is a really swell place and who knows, you might see us there sometime. Bert, I won't keep on yaking, you must be half dead by now after reading all this stuff, but I want you to know I am pulling for you and am so happy you are on the road to recovery. If you are able, I would love to hear from you. Take care of yourself now and with lots of love, I'll close. Mrs. Grant A. Black (Gretchen Schneider) 6109 Halloway Street, Fort Worth, Texas.

Source:
Gretchen Francis Hahnen (1902-1986) on June 30, 1953. The letter came from a private collection and was provided by Norberto Cisneros.

Person:
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.

Marriage announced of Gretchen Hahnen. Jersey City Girl Wed to Eddie A. Schneider, Aviator, Here on June 2.

Marriage announced of Gretchen Hahnen. Jersey City Girl Wed to Eddie A. Schneider, Aviator, Here on June 2.

Jersey City, New Jersey, June 23, 1934. The marriage on June 2, 1934 of Gretchen Hahnen of Jersey City, New Jersey governor of the Women's International Aeronautic Association, and Eddie A. Schneider of Jersey City, who in 1928, at age of 16 was the youngest air pilot to hold a commercial license, was announced today. The couple was married at the New York Municipal Building. Miss Hahnen, daughter of Mrs. Zora M. Hahnen of Des Moines, Iowa, and Mr. Schneider met when Miss Hahnen was organizing the Jersey City Junior Aeronautical Association, of which Mr. Schneider was sponsor. In 1930 Mr. Schneider broke the transcontinental junior speed record by lowering the mark of the late Frank Goldsborough. Mr. Schneider won the Great Lakes Trophy in the Ford national reliability tour in 1930 and in the 1931 tour he won first place for single-motored planes. He was director of the aviation division of the Hoover Business League in 1932. After July 1 the couple will live in Jersey City. Mr. Schneider is the son of Emil A. Schneider of North Arlington.

Source:
New York Times; June 24, 1934; page N3

Person:
Eddie August Schneider (1911-1940) was a record holding aviator who fought for the Loyalists in the Spanish Civil War and died in a plane crash (b. October 20, 1911, 2nd Avenue and 17th Street, Manhattan, New York County, New York City, New York, USA - d. December 23, 1940, Deep Creek and Flatbush Avenue, Floyd Bennett Field, Brooklyn, Kings County, Long Island, New York City, New York, USA)

Person:
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.