James Clark Edgerton

Born

February 2, 1896

Died

October 26, 1973 (aged 77)

James Clark Edgerton was a U.S. Army aviator and Air Mail pilot who as a young lieutenant flew the Philadelphia to Washington, D.C., leg on the first day of scheduled Air Mail service in the United States on May 15, 1918. Edgerton, who retired as a colonel, was also credited with being the first pilot ever to fly into a thunderstorm and with devising the first fire-extinguishing system installed for an aircraft engine. He also helped to organize a civilian pilot-training program and during World War II he served as executive officer for air operations of the War Department.

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