LATE CAPTAIN MUSICK

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 May 1938, Page 9

LATE CAPTAIN MUSICK

LOSS OF PIONEER AIRMAN A MODEL FOR PILOTS OUTSTANDING FLYING CAREER An oil slick heaving gently on South Pacific swell fourteen miles northwest of Pago Pago, Samoa, last January 12 marked the grave of seven men ancf'of a superb aeroplane, the Pan-American Airways Samoan Clipper, the destruction of which apparently was the result of one of those infrequent aircraft accidents that happen despite all the forethough and preparation taken to prevent them, writes Wayne Thomis in the “Chicago Tribune.” It was a particularly cruel stroke of fate because it ended the flying career of Captain Edwin C. Musick, commander of the plane, who had become the symbol of every virtue of the perfect pilot. Musick, who was affectionately known as “Uncle Ed” to his close friends, was without doubt the world’s most experienced ocean pilot. He was the model to which PanAmerican Airways sought to mould its younger men. If any one pilot could be said to be largely instrumental in the conquering of oceans by air, Music was that man. Modest, precise in dress, action and thought, with a dry Scotch humour and the ability to think with crystal clarity in situations of stress, Musick had been pioneering ocean routes for PanAmerican Airways since 1927 and had behind him some twenty-two years of flying. THE HARMON TROPHY. When in 1935 he rightfully was given the Harmon Trophy, which is awarded to the individual adjudged by pilots of the world to have accomplished the most for aviation in the preceding twelve months, he was one of three Americans thus honoured in more than fifteen years of such awards. More significant, he was the pilot whom PanAmerican crews liked best to fly. It was considered a signal honour in the company to be chosen in his flight crew.

In spite of all his honours and world fame, Musick was not well known. He was a symbol—though he would have been the first to laugh at the idea. When not flying the man loved to spend his time with his wife, Cleo, whom he adored. They really enjoyed doing simple things together. They had no children but many friends. One of their favourite diversions was driving their coupe together—and Mrs Musick was usually at the wheel. One of the most startling habits of Musick was that of sprinkling his most casual remarks with what Mrs Musick called “conversational profanity.” This was enitrely unconscious on his part; he meant no disrespect for his listeners when he spoke thus. It was simply a part of him.

HIS CARE FOR DETAIL His passion for care in every detail was equally a part of him. His clothing must be arranged exactly to suit him, although .he was not in any sense a fop. Indeed, he hated to shave and often appeared in public with a two-day-old beard. But his mind demanded order in everything he touched. Mrs. Musick jested about his demand that their home should be run on as definite a schedule as was the air line. “Ed was so precise that when he came into a room he simply couldn’t take a comfortable chair,” said one man who knew him well. “Even if he had wanted to, he would end up by taking a straight chair. Mrs Musick used to tell a story that he had to have exactly the same number of matches in boxes around the house —but that, of course, was just a gag.” Musick’s idea of a vacation was to go to New York City and each day go to see a baseball game. He was a real fan. He also was fond of seeing other sports. When younger he had been an excellent squash player, but he had not been active in any sport for several years. He carefully nursed a small bad spot on the back of his head. This spot really started the “Uncle Ed" business. He was 43 when he died and a vigorous young man. However, he had been a captain so long that he had become accustomed to being referred to as “the old man.” Mrs Musick, who always was softly laughing at and with him, usually referred to him as “my old man.” They were that kind of couple.

BORN IN ST LOUIS. Musick was b<yn in St Louis, Missouri, on August 13, 1894, and attended grammar schools in that city. Going to Los Angeles with his family, he enrolled in Los Angeles Polytechnic School for three years, and two years thereafter attended this school at night, specialising in shop work, motors, machine work, and mechanical drawing. He was employed as an auto mechanic, but soon got a job with the Glen L. Martin Airchraft Company as mechanic. That was in 1914. A year later he had soloed and had begun a career as an exhibition pilot. With the entry of America into the Great War he became a civilian instructor at the Signal Corps School, San Diego. In September, 1917. he transferred to Call field, Wichita Falls, Texas, where he was regarded as specially proficient as an instructor of advanced flying. He resigned on August 28, 1918, to accept a commission as second lieutenant in the Marine Flying Corps at Miami, Florida. After leaving the marine service in 1921 Captain Musick joined the Aeromarine Airways and began his studies in navigation. Later he became affiliated with the Mitten

Air Transport, then flying between Philadelphia and Washington. WITH PAN-AMERICAN He joined Pan-American in 1927 at Miami and made the first flight over the ninety miles between Key West and Havana in a Fokker trimotor. He pioneered the Caribbean routes as PanAmerican expanded until the line had a 32,-000 mile airway around South America. Musick was chief pilot all the way. While flying there he made 1000 trips between Miami and Latin American ports. The Army Air Corps News Letter, commenting on Musick, says: “Credit also is generally given to Captain Musick for completing the education of the Pan-American Airways first line pilots. His reports indicated that he was more than an aeroplane pilot. He was an expert navigator, scientist, meteorologist, and most of all, an economist. One Pan-American official declared that Musick never once made an impracticable sugestion or recommendation. He aided in establishing a safety record for his air line claimed in some quarters to be unequalled by any other ail - line in the world.” Musick was pioneering when he met his death. He had made one preliminary voyage from Honolulu to Auckland, New Zealand, during the summer. He was on the second voyage with an express cargo aboard when the accident occurred.