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General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: Flench on August 15, 2014, 12:28:13 PM

Title: Help finding a family WWI pilot
Post by: Flench on August 15, 2014, 12:28:13 PM
My mother's father was a WWI pilot but the family has no info on him . Was told somewhere down the line his records burned up in the court house . Was told there was a pic of him in the Memphis paper of him standing in front of his plane . Wounder how I find it ? His name was Martin S Thomas Jr . No one knows or has a pic of him .

EDIT: He died when mother was five . I was told when he got out of service he drinked himself to a early grave .
Title: Re: Help finding a family WWI pilot
Post by: Badger85 on August 15, 2014, 04:39:01 PM
I did a few quick Google searches. The father of this Thomas S. Martin, Jr. didn't happen to be the Senator Thomas Staples Martin? This article ( http://scottsvillemuseum.com/portraits/homeTSM004.html ) mentions that the elder had a son, Thomas Staples Martin, Jr.

Edit: Disregard the above post. I just realized that the first/last names are all wrong with the guy I found. Oh Google...  :mad: :)
Title: Re: Help finding a family WWI pilot
Post by: Jack16 on August 16, 2014, 12:57:08 AM
Do you happen to know a year of birth/death and location in which he lived?
Title: Re: Help finding a family WWI pilot
Post by: earl1937 on August 16, 2014, 07:54:56 AM
My mother's father was a WWI pilot but the family has no info on him . Was told somewhere down the line his records burned up in the court house . Was told there was a pic of him in the Memphis paper of him standing in front of his plane . Wounder how I find it ? His name was Martin S Thomas Jr . No one knows or has a pic of him .

EDIT: He died when mother was five . I was told when he got out of service he drinked himself to a early grave .
:airplane:  Call Military Historical records in St. Louis, Mo. and if he was in the military of the United States, anytime from 1861 till present day, they will be able to help you. Not sure of phone number, but if you goggle it, you can get it. You might have to fill out some sort of form as a family member, but it shouldn't be a big deal to find out more info on him.
Title: Re: Help finding a family WWI pilot
Post by: Flench on August 16, 2014, 10:59:14 AM
Do you happen to know a year of birth/death and location in which he lived?
They were lost in a fire

earl1937 , I well try that . Thanks for the help . My mother tried to trace him back but was stopped when we were told his records burned up in the court house .

What year's did WWI run . I know I could look it up but you guy's probable know on the top of your head .
Title: Re: Help finding a family WWI pilot
Post by: Jack16 on August 16, 2014, 03:26:48 PM
Maybe?

(http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x311/archywood/Thomas_zpsfc3c5553.jpg)
Title: Re: Help finding a family WWI pilot
Post by: Flench on August 16, 2014, 05:09:20 PM
WOW , That's It . I can not believe this . This is GREAT !!! Thank you so very much Jack16 . My people be trying to find this for many many year's . Thank you again .
Mother is 83 and the last of that family
Title: Re: Help finding a family WWI pilot
Post by: Delirium on August 16, 2014, 05:17:13 PM
Just when I get tired of the AH community, one of you guys really come out of the woodwork and help redeem it.

Great stuff!  :aok
Title: Re: Help finding a family WWI pilot
Post by: Flench on August 16, 2014, 05:25:33 PM
Blew me away Delirium . You don't know how long we been looking for this and I get back to my PC and first thing I pull up is Jack16 has done found it .

EDIT: Look's like he was better pilot than I am ,  he seemed to made it through , lol . Now I GOT to find out more .

Now I got to try and find that pic of him in the Memphis paper .With him standing in front of the plane .
Title: Re: Help finding a family WWI pilot
Post by: Delirium on August 16, 2014, 05:38:14 PM
Which paper?
Title: Re: Help finding a family WWI pilot
Post by: Flench on August 16, 2014, 06:00:24 PM
Out of Memphis TN . All my people had that was lost in a fire was a pic of him in that paper with him standing in front of the plane . With the plane number on the tail .
Title: Re: Help finding a family WWI pilot
Post by: Flench on August 16, 2014, 06:49:04 PM
ok , just found out it was the Commercial appeal out of Memphis TN .
Title: Re: Help finding a family WWI pilot
Post by: Stampf on August 16, 2014, 06:51:03 PM
Just when I get tired of the AH community, one of you guys really come out of the woodwork and help redeem it.

Great stuff!  :aok

Werd up.

I tried hard to help Flench...too no avail.

Well done!

Title: Re: Help finding a family WWI pilot
Post by: Flench on August 16, 2014, 06:55:45 PM
Thank you Stampf <S> .
Title: Re: Help finding a family WWI pilot
Post by: MiloMorai on August 16, 2014, 07:05:29 PM
35 Squadron (Wiki)

The unit came into existence when a group of aviation pioneers, eager to prove the value of air power in World War I, formed the 36th Aero Squadron at Kelly Field, Texas, in June 1917. First Lieutenant Quentin Roosevelt, the son of President Theodore Roosevelt, was one of the squadron's first commanders, assuming command later that year. While the new squadron did not see combat as a unit when it moved to France, several of its members did while flying for other squadrons
Title: Re: Help finding a family WWI pilot
Post by: Flench on August 16, 2014, 07:32:23 PM
35 Squadron (Wiki)

The unit came into existence when a group of aviation pioneers, eager to prove the value of air power in World War I, formed the 36th Aero Squadron at Kelly Field, Texas, in June 1917. First Lieutenant Quentin Roosevelt, the son of President Theodore Roosevelt, was one of the squadron's first commanders, assuming command later that year. While the new squadron did not see combat as a unit when it moved to France, several of its members did while flying for other squadrons

That's great MiloMorai . Thank you .
Title: Re: Help finding a family WWI pilot
Post by: Flench on August 16, 2014, 07:45:36 PM
Look's like he must have flown the Bristol F.2 Fighter
Title: Re: Help finding a family WWI pilot
Post by: Delirium on August 16, 2014, 07:48:06 PM
ok , just found out it was the Commercial appeal out of Memphis TN .

Do you have the dates the picture was run in the paper?
Title: Re: Help finding a family WWI pilot
Post by: Flench on August 16, 2014, 07:57:36 PM
Do you have the dates the picture was run in the paper?
Not sure Delirium . It was suppose to have been when he got his wings I was told . So maybe 1917 ?
Title: Re: Help finding a family WWI pilot
Post by: Delirium on August 16, 2014, 08:35:56 PM
I did some digging... the Commercial Appeal only has archives up to 1990. I reached out to a librarian friend of mine to find out if the archives are located online. If they are not available online, I will find out where the archived papers are available within Tennessee (likely the Memphis public library).

If they are available online it would be a huge time savings, otherwise you'll be stuck searching newspapers one day at a time for a whole year wearing cotton gloves covered by vinyl gloves.. I should know more by Tuesday and I will let you know.
Title: Re: Help finding a family WWI pilot
Post by: Flench on August 16, 2014, 08:42:29 PM
I did some digging... the Commercial Appeal only has archives up to 1990. I reached out to a librarian friend of mine to find out if the archives are located online. If they are not available online, I will find out where the archived papers are available within Tennessee (likely the Memphis public library).

If they are available online it would be a huge time savings, otherwise you'll be stuck searching newspapers one day at a time for a whole year wearing cotton gloves covered by vinyl gloves.. I should know more by Tuesday and I will let you know.

That's great Delirium . Yeah , keep me posted as what you find . I well go through those paper's for a year if I have too .
Title: Re: Help finding a family WWI pilot
Post by: HawkerMKII on August 17, 2014, 09:34:05 AM
Just when I get tired of the AH community, one of you guys really come out of the woodwork and help redeem it.

Great stuff!  :aok

^^^This^^^^ :rock
Title: Re: Help finding a family WWI pilot
Post by: Jack16 on August 17, 2014, 11:24:35 AM
WOW , That's It . I can not believe this . This is GREAT !!! Thank you so very much Jack16 . My people be trying to find this for many many year's . Thank you again .
Mother is 83 and the last of that family

Great! Your very welcome.
Also found this, but I'm not sure. The serial#s don't fully match up. The head stone paper says his serial# is 2166 (not sure if that "0" is a part of it) and this new list of guys says the serial# is 1866. Could be an error? Not sure.

(http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x311/archywood/thomas2_zps48efd964.jpg)
Title: Re: Help finding a family WWI pilot
Post by: Flench on August 17, 2014, 11:28:44 AM
Great! Your very welcome.
Also found this, but I'm not sure. The serial#s don't fully match up. The head stone paper says his serial# is 2166 (not sure if that "0" is a part of it) and this new list of guys says the serial# is 1866. Could be an error? Not sure.

(http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x311/archywood/thomas2_zps48efd964.jpg)
I bet it is Jack16 . Nice work . You all ready done more and we could do In 50 years , Thank you .
See what Delirium comes up with and we well put this all together .
They were from Marks MS .
Title: Re: Help finding a family WWI pilot
Post by: Delirium on August 18, 2014, 06:57:52 PM
The bad news is that no one has the Commercial Appeal online going back to 1917.

The good news is that there is enough microfilm copies floating around Tennessee to make it fairly easy to obtain if you live in the area. Here is the e-mail I received;


Quote
We (the Memphis library) have microfilm of The Commercial Appeal from 1917 here at the Memphis Public Library. Other libraries in Tennessee with copies of it include the University of Memphis library, TN State Library and Archives in Nashville, and I think the University of Tennessee library in Knoxville.

If you're not in the area, I was also given a list of researchers that would do the digging for you at one of those libraries, for a fee. I can forward the list to you privately, if you're interested.

I hope that helps!




Title: Re: Help finding a family WWI pilot
Post by: Flench on August 18, 2014, 07:27:48 PM
The bad news is that no one has the Commercial Appeal online going back to 1917.

The good news is that there is enough microfilm copies floating around Tennessee to make it fairly easy to obtain if you live in the area. Here is the e-mail I received;


If you're not in the area, I was also given a list of researchers that would do the digging for you at one of those libraries, for a fee. I can forward the list to you privately, if you're interested.

I hope that helps!






Thanks Delirium , that's a big help . I know just where the Memphis Public Library is . Going to be right up there by it tomorrow at a doctor .
If I got time after I well stop by and check it out . Not , I well go back at the end of the week where I can stay all day .
Thanks again . I well post back what I find .
Title: Re: Help finding a family WWI pilot
Post by: SilverZ06 on August 18, 2014, 07:43:05 PM
This display of kind compassion and helpfulness has no place on these boards. Shame on you all. :old: :aok


ps. I'd love to see that pic if you can get it Flench  :cheers:
Title: Re: Help finding a family WWI pilot
Post by: Flench on August 18, 2014, 07:46:29 PM
This display of kind compassion and helpfulness has no place on these boards. Shame on you all. :old: :aok


ps. I'd love to see that pic if you can get it Flench  :cheers:

Oh I"m going to get it now I know where to look . I been looking for that pic myself for year's and give up .
Title: Re: Help finding a family WWI pilot
Post by: Delirium on August 18, 2014, 10:38:08 PM
Thanks Delirium , that's a big help . I know just where the Memphis Public Library is .

It is no problem at all, I just wish I could of found the newspaper online going back that far. At least you'll be able to scan the newspaper pretty easily on microfilm versus turning every single worn page by hand.

I enjoy the history and I hope you share what you find.  :aok
Title: Re: Help finding a family WWI pilot
Post by: Flench on August 18, 2014, 11:17:38 PM
It is no problem at all, I just wish I could of found the newspaper online going back that far. At least you'll be able to scan the newspaper pretty easily on microfilm versus turning every single worn page by hand.

I enjoy the history and I hope you share what you find.  :aok
Yes I well share just as soon as I find out more . Thanks again <S>
Hard to believe my Grandfather was a WWI pilot . I new I loved the game and old fighter's for some reason .
Title: Re: Help finding a family WWI pilot
Post by: MiloMorai on August 18, 2014, 11:46:46 PM
Flench, have you done any research on your Gfather with regards to his getting his wings? That is, was he private or military trained?

As for Jack16's 2cd graphic, I don't think it is relevant as it is dated 3-6-18 and your Gfather enlisted in 1917.
Title: Re: Help finding a family WWI pilot
Post by: Flench on August 19, 2014, 05:09:39 AM
Flench, have you done any research on your Gfather with regards to his getting his wings? That is, was he private or military trained?

As for Jack16's 2cd graphic, I don't think it is relevant as it is dated 3-6-18 and your Gfather enlisted in 1917.
No research yet but if I can find that pic it well tell me when he got his wings . I know he got them while he was in survice because he was a moon shiner before he went in I was told .
Title: Re: Help finding a family WWI pilot
Post by: Groth on August 20, 2014, 08:09:25 PM
 Did search of Hernando Memorial Cemetery records online did not find a Martin, last name. Doesn't mean he's not there, but if they sent a headstone I would expect his name to pop up.
 While I live in Miss may take me a while to get over there.
 I have done name/title searches before(got paid), but will happily look around gratis if I get that way, no promises, but glad to do it.
             Alot of these obscure back woods records are online IF you can find em.
              JGroth
          
Title: Re: Help finding a family WWI pilot
Post by: Groth on August 20, 2014, 08:15:22 PM
 Also tried USGenWeb tombstone search engine w/o results. But I'd bet he's in Hernando County.
 Having done some property/surveyor law searches in 1936 would not be out of line if he was buried on private property.

 Stupid of me..they list cemetery...let me poke about somemore.

Here he is http://files.usgwarchives.net/ms/desoto/cemeteries/eudora.txt (http://files.usgwarchives.net/ms/desoto/cemeteries/eudora.txt)
 They list his date of death as his birthday....
I would imagine there are some articles about him in local papers there, certainly obits.
  Bless him for his service, and his family.
  JGroth
Title: Re: Help finding a family WWI pilot
Post by: Groth on August 20, 2014, 08:31:08 PM
 Link to church...http://files.usgwarchives.net/ms/desoto/cemeteries/eudora.txt (http://files.usgwarchives.net/ms/desoto/cemeteries/eudora.txt)
 'Probably' church where he is buried..give em a call....
 JGroth
Title: Re: Help finding a family WWI pilot
Post by: Flench on August 21, 2014, 09:20:13 AM
That's good work Groth . I just walked in the door been AFK the last three day's so I well check this out in a minute . I went by the Memphis library and found where and what I got to do but it's going to be a all day or few day thing so I had to set up an appointment date on the 5th next month . See what I can find there .
Again Thanks for your help Groth and everyone else that is and have helped . Many Many thanks . You guy's have done more in a week than my hole family could not do in year's .
Title: Re: Help finding a family WWI pilot
Post by: Delirium on August 21, 2014, 11:35:16 PM
Doing research like this is terribly addicting, once you find what you've been searching for you'll know what I mean.  ;)
Title: Re: Help finding a family WWI pilot
Post by: Flench on August 22, 2014, 10:41:09 AM
Doing research like this is terribly addicting, once you find what you've been searching for you'll know what I mean.  ;)
I see . The more I find the more I want to find .
Title: Re: Help finding a family WWI pilot
Post by: Flench on August 27, 2014, 04:12:04 PM
This seems to be the plane he was flying . One like it anyway .

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1B9GJPXBqc