Russian Aviation Deaths Pre-WWI

Doc · 15 April 2006, 12:21 PM

August and Jempie, thanks again. I have not been trying to track balloon and glider deaths, though of course I know they happened. This project actually got started when I read a quote from an early pilot that stated that "80% of pilots who learned to fly before WWI died in crashes".... I knew that was not true, but wanted to see how many did die, so I started work on this collection of data a couple of years ago. I don't have access to any primary sources, so most of my information has been from various aviation magazines and books of the era, which are notorious for mispelling of names and having wrong dates. I greatly appreciate some of the corrections you have been able to provide.

August, you mentioned " Your 24.09.1913 - I have not record of a loss on that date and have no record of a pilot named "Gouchino." I would strongly question this. Source???". I think that one came from Flight Magazine, 1913. Unfortunately, since I started this collection as a personal project and not for any historical or publication purpose, I didn't try to keep full sources.... I know now I should have. He may not have been Russian, though I was guessing he was from the name. Guess I will have to keep looking. You asked to share my information-- I periodically post updates to this list at: http://www.earlyaviators.com/edavelam.pdf

Thanks again for all the help. Doc

agblume · 16 April 2006, 05:40 AM

Hello Doc, Thnaks for kind words. I visited your site and saw the tremendous amount of work you've put into your project. You should now be able to add needed corrections to the Russians as you have correct spellings for names. Please note on your # 10 and #20 that it is Sevastopol, also on #31 Krasnoe Selo is near St. Petersburg and not in Bulgaria. As time permits I'll do what I can to offer any other corrections. You should also be aware that not only Russia but those countries where the Orthodox Church was the state religion used the old style calendar, Greece, Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia. It can often be confusing. Good luck with your project. Cheers, August

Doc · 16 April 2006, 11:01 PM

August, good morning. Thanks for the kind words. I appreciate all the assistance. Don't know where that "Bulgaria" came from... you are obviously correct. Thanks again. Doc

agblume · 23 April 2006, 12:01 PM

Hello Doc, Your project caused me to find some old material printed in the New York Times on 23 July 1913 - Story Headline - Aviation Death Roll 300.

I found info making a correction necessary regarding Russian pilot Khariton Slasorossov. He was injured but not killed on 19 April 1913 at Turin, Italy. He was making a flight with an Italian passenger named Gallo when the benzine tank exploded. Gallo burned to death.

I plan to contact the NY Times and see if I can obtain a better quality copy of the entire list and another from 16 October 1912 that listed deaths from number 1 - 200. Mine were copied off microfilm at the unversity of virginia library some years ago.

I found these two that can be added to your list:
Goulard, Charles - 23 Jan 1913 - French - Rheims, France
Phansoux, Sgt. - 2 Apr 1913 - French - Amiens, France

Your 878 is Verminch, George - 7 Apr 1913 - French - Saigon was then a part of French Indo China (not Vietnam).

I really admire your first effort. Keep it going. I'll continue feeding back whenever I come across something. Cheers, August

Doc · 23 April 2006, 11:14 PM

August, good morning. As always, thanks for the corrections and new information. New York Times is a good source, but I have found their spelling of names (and occasionally the dates) not totally reliable. So I always try to double check their information from another source.

I'm glad you think the project is worthwhile-- I certainly appreciate your assistance. Doc