Biography

Williams, Alford Joseph, 1896-1958
Major Alford Williams Syndicated Aviation Column, [ca. 1930s-1940s]
Phy. Description: 0.45 cubic feet (9 folders)
Bio / His Notes: Alford Joseph Williams
Nicknamed Al, he was born in New York City on July 26, 1896. In 1917, he learned to fly with the U.S. Navy and in 1923, he won a Pulitzer Trophy for the Navy by establishing the world's speed record, at 266,51 miles an hour. Williams was promoted to a Lieutenant in the U.S. Navy and played an active role as a research and test pilot. In 1935, Williams was promoted to a Major in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve. During the late 1930s and early 1940s, Williams inspected European Air Forces and reported on the European situation during World War II and his accurate and absorbing syndicated columns for Scripps-Howard had an impact on American thought and perception regarding aviation's role in World War II. Besides his work as an aviation writer, Williams was also involved in business aviation as he was a manager at Aviation Department of Gulf Oil Corporation beginning in 1933.
Other Claims To Fame
1. Invented the inverted Loop
2. Father of Dive-bombing
3. Harness / seatbelt design concept for cars
4. Electric Razor protection-designed a trap for facial hair to protect eyes
5. Designed, patents for numerous aeronautical tools
6. Distinguished Flying Cross
7. World Speed Records
8. Test flew 1st Hollow Steel Propeller
9. Author of numerous books and articles on flight
10. Inspected Luftwaffe and predicted America's entrance into WWII
11. Test flew first wooden laminated propeller
12. Author of Scripps Award syndicated column articles on Airpower
13. Author of book, Airpower
14. Author of Congressional Record "Hands Over the Heart"
15. Strong supporter of building a separate Airforce
A Tribute from Col. Ole Griffith
Alford Joseph "Al" Williams, 1896-1958 Major USMCR
Major Al Williams had few, if any, peers as an aviation pioneer, prophet, and patriot. He was an inspirational
role model for many thousands of young Americans growing up in the 1930s and 40s. Born on July 26,
1896, he was a graduate of Fordham University and Georgetown University Law School. Giving up a
promising career as a baseball pitcher, he enlisted in the US Navy in 1917, soloed at Pensacola after only 4
hours, and became an instructor. He believed that many accidents could have been prevented has the
pilots understood proper techniques for recovery from unusual flight attitudes and hazardous situations. At
great personal risk, he developed many such techniques, which have become standard procedure fo
military pilots. In 1925, he became Chief test pilot for the Navy. Before parachutes became common
equipment, he flew many new airplanes virtually to the point of destruction to discover weaknesses, needed
improvements, and capabilities. He developed or perfected many aerobatic maneuvers and was considered
one of the world’s foremost aerobatic pilots.
During the early 1920s, when the Army and Navy viewed air racing as a key aspect of aeronautical
development and public support, he was a member of the Navy racing team. In 1923, he won the Pulitzer
Trophy and set a world speed record of 223 mph. His outstanding technical analysis and reporting of flight
tests and air races were the basis for many significant airplane design and construction improvements. In
1929, he was awarded one of the first Distinguished Flying Crosses for his extraordinarily heroic and
significant contributions as an engineering flight test pilot. He conceived and developed the technique of
dive-bombing. In 1930, he resigned his Naval commission in order to facilitate his strong advocacy of
independent airpower and needed advances in aviation technology.
As Manager of the Aviation Department of the Gulf Oil Co, he strongly support sport aviation by providing
free fuel and oil for private pilots participating in cross-country flights to the All American Air Maneuvers.
From 1930 to 1937, he thrilled thousands of airshow spectators with the dazzling performance of his Curtiss
Gulfhawk. He continued with the Grumman Gulfhawk 2 until 1948. Just prior to WWII, he and the Gulfhawk
toured Europe. He then resigned from the Marine Corps so that he could more effectively advocate closing
the numerical and qualitative gaps between our military air arms and those of our potential enemies. During
the War, at the request of General Arnold and at his own expense, he demonstrated precision flying at Army
and Navy flight training bases. A prolific and skillful writer, he authored numerous technical papers and
popular articles, as well as a syndicated newspaper column and radio show. He headed the Junior Aviators,
an organization devoted to fostering air-mindedness among the young of America. His final Gulfhawk, a
Grumman F8F, was destroyed in a landing accident in January 1949. In 1951, he retired to his farm, The
Eyrie, near Elizabeth City, North Carolina, where he died in 1958. He is buried in at Arlington National
Cemetary.
Al, you are remembered with love by Alice, Jack, Lynda, Michael and Monica, with respect and admiration by Col. Ole Griffith, to whom you were boyhood hero, mentor, and friend.And by my late father Jack Williams who took time to document your life work and achievements.
Williams, Alford Joseph, 1896-1958
Major Alford Williams Syndicated Aviation Column, [ca. 1930s-1940s]
Phy. Description: 0.45 cubic feet (9 folders)
Bio / His Notes: Alford Joseph Williams
Nicknamed Al, he was born in New York City on July 26, 1896. In 1917, he learned to fly with the U.S. Navy and in 1923, he won a Pulitzer Trophy for the Navy by establishing the world's speed record, at 266,51 miles an hour. Williams was promoted to a Lieutenant in the U.S. Navy and played an active role as a research and test pilot. In 1935, Williams was promoted to a Major in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve. During the late 1930s and early 1940s, Williams inspected European Air Forces and reported on the European situation during World War II and his accurate and absorbing syndicated columns for Scripps-Howard had an impact on American thought and perception regarding aviation's role in World War II. Besides his work as an aviation writer, Williams was also involved in business aviation as he was a manager at Aviation Department of Gulf Oil Corporation beginning in 1933.
Other Claims To Fame
1. Invented the inverted Loop
2. Father of Dive-bombing
3. Harness / seatbelt design concept for cars
4. Electric Razor protection-designed a trap for facial hair to protect eyes
5. Designed, patents for numerous aeronautical tools
6. Distinguished Flying Cross
7. World Speed Records
8. Test flew 1st Hollow Steel Propeller
9. Author of numerous books and articles on flight
10. Inspected Luftwaffe and predicted America's entrance into WWII
11. Test flew first wooden laminated propeller
12. Author of Scripps Award syndicated column articles on Airpower
13. Author of book, Airpower
14. Author of Congressional Record "Hands Over the Heart"
15. Strong supporter of building a separate Airforce
A Tribute from Col. Ole Griffith
Alford Joseph "Al" Williams, 1896-1958 Major USMCR
Major Al Williams had few, if any, peers as an aviation pioneer, prophet, and patriot. He was an inspirational
role model for many thousands of young Americans growing up in the 1930s and 40s. Born on July 26,
1896, he was a graduate of Fordham University and Georgetown University Law School. Giving up a
promising career as a baseball pitcher, he enlisted in the US Navy in 1917, soloed at Pensacola after only 4
hours, and became an instructor. He believed that many accidents could have been prevented has the
pilots understood proper techniques for recovery from unusual flight attitudes and hazardous situations. At
great personal risk, he developed many such techniques, which have become standard procedure fo
military pilots. In 1925, he became Chief test pilot for the Navy. Before parachutes became common
equipment, he flew many new airplanes virtually to the point of destruction to discover weaknesses, needed
improvements, and capabilities. He developed or perfected many aerobatic maneuvers and was considered
one of the world’s foremost aerobatic pilots.
During the early 1920s, when the Army and Navy viewed air racing as a key aspect of aeronautical
development and public support, he was a member of the Navy racing team. In 1923, he won the Pulitzer
Trophy and set a world speed record of 223 mph. His outstanding technical analysis and reporting of flight
tests and air races were the basis for many significant airplane design and construction improvements. In
1929, he was awarded one of the first Distinguished Flying Crosses for his extraordinarily heroic and
significant contributions as an engineering flight test pilot. He conceived and developed the technique of
dive-bombing. In 1930, he resigned his Naval commission in order to facilitate his strong advocacy of
independent airpower and needed advances in aviation technology.
As Manager of the Aviation Department of the Gulf Oil Co, he strongly support sport aviation by providing
free fuel and oil for private pilots participating in cross-country flights to the All American Air Maneuvers.
From 1930 to 1937, he thrilled thousands of airshow spectators with the dazzling performance of his Curtiss
Gulfhawk. He continued with the Grumman Gulfhawk 2 until 1948. Just prior to WWII, he and the Gulfhawk
toured Europe. He then resigned from the Marine Corps so that he could more effectively advocate closing
the numerical and qualitative gaps between our military air arms and those of our potential enemies. During
the War, at the request of General Arnold and at his own expense, he demonstrated precision flying at Army
and Navy flight training bases. A prolific and skillful writer, he authored numerous technical papers and
popular articles, as well as a syndicated newspaper column and radio show. He headed the Junior Aviators,
an organization devoted to fostering air-mindedness among the young of America. His final Gulfhawk, a
Grumman F8F, was destroyed in a landing accident in January 1949. In 1951, he retired to his farm, The
Eyrie, near Elizabeth City, North Carolina, where he died in 1958. He is buried in at Arlington National
Cemetary.
Al, you are remembered with love by Alice, Jack, Lynda, Michael and Monica, with respect and admiration by Col. Ole Griffith, to whom you were boyhood hero, mentor, and friend.And by my late father Jack Williams who took time to document your life work and achievements.