Bert Hall

I need information on Bert Hall, who was with the Foreign Legion, then with the Lafayette until asked to leave. Does anyone have information on his whereabouts for the twenty odd years between his serving time at McNeil Island Federal Pen. and his death in 1948 in a car wreck outside Detroit?

Bert Hall was released from McNeil Island Federal Penitentiary in May 1936 and lived in Seattle for a few months before heading to Hollywood to work for Twentieth Century Fox studios. Weary of Hollywood, in 1940 he moved to Dayton, Ohio and in 1944 settled in Castalia, Ohio where he started the Sturdy Toy Factory. On December 6, 1948 he died of a masive heart attack while driving down the highway near Fremont, Ohio. His ashes were scattered over his hometown of Higginsville, Missouri on January 20, 1950.

Cliff Presley

What was he in prison for?

He obtained $20,000 or so from the Chinese Government with the assurance that he would buy surplus planes from the U.S. Government and return to China to set up an air service for them. He spent the money on other things and was charged and sent to prison by the U.S.
Thank you for the information. It is exactly what I needed to know.

I know that he flew in Romania for a while with the French mission there. I thought that no one even knew where he was born because he also claimed Kentucky!

Keith,

Hall was born on a farm near Higginsville, Missouri on November 7, 1885. His full name was Weston Birce Hall.

Well, I was only a few miles from him from 1929 to 1936, anyway. Obviously, the man I knew was a different person. The coincidences are eerie.
Mr.Presley and you other gentlemen,thank you for your kindness and patience.

Watashi-no-tamanachi: Dennis Gordon wrrote a book called "Autobiographies of the Lafayette Escadrille" published by the Doughboy Historical Society (Do they have a link?) POB 3912 Missoula, MT 59806. Biography 13 tells the story of Weston Birch Hall, known as Bert Hall. According to this book, Bert Hall was a four-flusher, a liar, and a deserter. He did get four confirmed kills in the LS and several medals and was the sqdn adjutant. But he was a liar and a good poker player who could read his opponents. and usually cleaned the table. In civilian life he was a con man, and you'll enjoy his capers...Good Luck and let me know what you do with the story. Billy H/EOM/9/06/99.