Please help ID this airman

Joe Perkel · 20 November 2007, 07:28 PM

Gentlemen,

Perhaps someone can help solve a mystery for me.

My examiner for my first airman certificate was purportedly a veteran of WWI aviation. This was told to me by both him as well as my referring instructor among others. At the time (October 2, 1979), he was in his early eighties and in perfect health.

However, that day my primary interest was simply getting through the exam, so details have faded over the years. I believe he told me that he was late in the war and missed the opportunity for combat.

In any case, if possible I would like to identify him, any units attached to, and thus verify the authenticity of what is a truly unique link to this conflict for me personally.

Here is his entry in my logbook for that day.

From this one can easily see that his initials are JMH. The last name however is a bit hard to make out. Even so he was the FAA designated flight examiner at Corpus Christi Airport (CRP) Texas on 10/2/1979

I am hoping that someone here might know of databases somewhere that could help me.

Thanks

FOKKERJ · 20 November 2007, 09:46 PM

Hi Joe,

It looks like "PRIVATE I M HUN", just kidding! I couldn't help myself!

I wish you the best of luck in your search.

Best Regards, Jay

Could be J.M. HUN,HAM,HURR....

tcrean7828 · 20 November 2007, 10:52 PM

Mate,

The best I can suggest is to contact the FAA - they keep records on anyone that has been issued a pilot's licence and I believe it is in their centeral data base.

I know because some people need replacements for the Certs that are all beat to H--- and want a new one.

Thoughts from a former Air Traffic Controller in my younger days.

cul

tcrean7828

tom

drrivah · 21 November 2007, 03:24 AM

Hi Joe:
First, there is a certificate number above the name that may be unscrambled with a little effort. A cryptologist or handwriting expert may help. That number would lead you to the name of the instructor from the FAA database.

Second the book "Wings of Honor" (Schiffer) has a compilation of pilots and brief histories of all squadrons, both combat and otherwise, enlisted in WW1. Note-there are still some out there not on the list. If you have a clue whether he would have been Army, Naval or Marine, that would narrow it a bit.

Third. There were ~eight Signal Corps basic training schools in WW1, and good archival information is available if you know where to look. Student pilots were usually assigned the campus in their region. If Florida, chances are he attended GaTech School of Military Avation (SMA), and the archives are in Atlanta. Happy to provide address offline.

If your man had a regional accent, that would be a clue to which archives to check.

-pete

Joe Perkel · 21 November 2007, 03:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FOKKERJ

.................It looks like "PRIVATE I M HUN"

Could be J.M. HUN,HAM,HURR....

Jay,

That's hilarious, it had not occurred to me but, you're right...there it is!

I think you got it, I'm remembering maybe HURR or Herr!

TC, I'm hoping to have a full name prior to approaching the FAA but, you are right also, somewhere in OKC he is on a list.

Thanks!

Joe Perkel · 21 November 2007, 03:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drrivah

Second the book "Wings of Honor" (Schiffer) has a compilation of pilots and brief histories of all squadrons, both combat and otherwise, enlisted in WW1.

Student pilots were usually assigned the campus in their region. If Florida, chances are he attended GaTech School of Military Avation (SMA), and the archives are in Atlanta. Happy to provide address offline.

If your man had a regional accent, that would be a clue to which archives to check.

-pete

Pete,

Extremely helpful....thanks! I have to find this book.

I suspect he was a native Texan, I do remember that...very much so! I was stationed in NAS Kingsville at the time and examined in CRP.

If so would that still be the same SE regional school as Florida? A recent Over the Front issue had an article about advanced training in Arcadia...very interesting stuff!

Thanks a lot!

Kilian · 22 November 2007, 11:52 AM

Private I'm Hun thats funny

I would read it like Private J. Mattau

John Masters · 12 February 2008, 09:38 PM

It looks like 'Hull'....or 'J. McHull'...

JM

LegendaryLoewenhardt · 13 February 2008, 12:07 AM

It's either "Private I. M. Hurr" or "Private J. M. Hurr".

I think it's a "J", but I'm not sure. Oddest "I" I've ever seen if it is indeed one.

Joe Perkel · 14 February 2008, 04:42 AM

Thank you guys for the reply.

I've had to shelve this for the moment (too much on my plate) but, I will find out from FAA who was examiner there at that time. Then consult the references Pete stated.

As a side note, it would seem there is 1 vet left, 107 in Georgia I believe.