Charles F. Willard

Charles Foster Willard (October 13, 1883 – February 1, 1977) was an American aviator, and engineer, who became known as the first barnstormer with his trick flights. In the history of aviation, Willard was also the first person to fly three passengers in the United States, and first to have his airplane shot out of the sky by a bullet— that of an annoyed farmer.[2][3][4][5]

Charles F. Willard
Willard in 1910
Born
Charles Foster Willard

(1883-10-13)October 13, 1883
Melrose, Massachusetts, U.S.[1]
DiedFebruary 1, 1977(1977-02-01) (aged 93)
Glendale, California, U.S.
OccupationAviator, engineer, explorer
Known for
  • First barnstormer (1909)
  • Fourth American pilot of an airplane (1909)
  • First person to fly three passengers in the United States (1910)
  • First person to be shot down in an airplane (1910)
Signature

References
  1. Buckner, Harold E. (1969). "The Flying Pioneers: Charles F. Willard". American Aviation Historical Society Journal: 125. OCLC 1479442. Willard was born at Melrose, Massachusetts, October 13, 1883, attended grade school at Hull, Massachusetts...
  2. "3 Passengers in Aeroplane; Charles F. Willard Establishes Record For America". The Sun. Baltimore, Md. August 15, 1910. p. 1. New York. Aug. 14 —Charles F. Willard in a Curtiss aeroplane, flew with three passengers and himself for 500 yards at Mineola, L. I. this evening. This is the first three passenger flight recorded in America. With his brother, W. H. Willard, R. F. Patterson and Archibald Albin aboard he ascended prettily and skimmed the distance at a height of 20 feet.
  3. "Charles F. Willard, Who is Trying to Perfect the Monoplane; Bullet Hit Airship of Boston Aviator; Charles F. Willard of Hull Has Become Prominent in Aeronautics". Boston Journal. Boston, Mass. June 2, 1910. p. 3. It was a Boston man who figured in the first case recorded of an aeroplane brought to earth by a bullet...Charles F. Willard, whose machine was wrecked in Joplin, Mo., during a cross-country flight
  4. AP News (February 2, 1977). "Charles F. Willard Is Dead". The New York Times. New York. p. 17.
  5. Willard, Charles F. (February 1956). Frank H. Ellis (ed.). Frail were my Wings. Flying Magazine. pp. 31, 70.

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