Jack Loesing was born November 11, 1905 in Kings County, NY. The 1910 U.S. Census, his first, placed him at age 4 living in Brooklyn, NY with his father Leo John Loesing, Jr. (30), mother Alva (29) and sister Mildred (4). His father's occupation was a "Driver" for a "Bakery."

San Bernardino Sun (CA), December 11,
1933 (Source: newspapers.com)

Brooklyn Daily Eagle, December 22, 1932 (Source: newspapers.com)

In 1920, the Census placed Loesing's family in Brooklyn, and his father was now coded as a "Carpenter" for a "Builder." The 1930 Census placed him at age 24 living with his parents at 3017 Avenue T, Brooklyn, NY. His occupation was coded as "Taxi driver," as was his father's. Unfortunately, his mother passed away in December, 1932 and her obituary is at right. She was as the Avenue T address.

Now Jack Loesing was signed in the Floyd Bennett Field Register on an unknown date (estimated sometime in the early 1930s). He flew the Fairchild KR-34C NC997H, S/N 375. He entered no information in the Register about his destination or purpose for his flight.

News articles of the time suggested Loesing was a flight instructor. He performed at various air shows in the northeastern states. One example from Pennsylvania appeared in the Altoona Tribune (PA), June 29, 1935, below.

Altoona Tribune, June 29, 1935 (Source: newspapers.com)

Many news articles appeared ca. December, 1933 in conjunction with Loesing's support of a refueled endurance flight. The flight was to be attempted by Viola Gentry and Frances Harrell Marsalis and described in the San Bernardino Sun, December 11, 1933, left. According to this REFERENCE, page 109, this attempt was not successful. The principals involved in this attempt are pictured below from the Oshkosh Daily Northwestern (WI), December 12, 1933. Loesing stands at left. Their airplane was the Curtiss Thrush NR7568 named the "Outdoor Girl" (not a Register airplane).

Oshkosh Daily Northwestern, December 12, 1933 (Source: newspapers.com)

Sandusky Register (OH), December 22, 1933 (Source: newspapers.com)

Probably because of his flight instruction and refueling activites, Loesing was a frequent guest at dinners and teas offered by the Women's International Association of Aeronautics (WIAA).

Using the same airplane, Marsalis and Helen Richey attempted a refueled record of their own in Florida. The Sandusky Register (OH), December 22, 1933 reported on the first 24 hours of their flight, left. This flight, made in the "Outdoor Girl" sponsored by Outdoor Girl Cosmetics, lasted for 237 hours and 42 minutes, December 20-30, 1933. At the time it was the American and world record for a refueled endurance flight.

The New York Times, August 11, 1935 (Source: NYT)

This record was supported by Jack Loesing and Fred Fetterman flying a Curtiss Robin NR6H (not a Register airplane). Between 1:03PM on December 20th and 10:46AM December 30th, Loesing and Fetterman made 83 fuel contacts with Richey and Marsalis. These contacts transferred 2,667 gallons of fuel as well as food and drinks, engine oil, reading materials and cosmetics.

In August, 1935, The New York Times (NYT) reported inauguration of an air-taxi service between Floyd Bennett Field and Saratoga Springs, NY, above, right. I am not sure how long this service lasted.

On November 27, 1937 Loesing was an inbound passenger from Havana, Cuba to Miami, FL. The U.S. Immigration form is below. Their airplane was the Sikorsky S-40 NC752V, S/N 2002, operated by Pan American Airways as their "Southern Clipper."

U.S. Immigration Form, November 27, 1937 (Source: ancestry.com)

Below is the "Southern Clipper," courtesy of the Ed Coates Collection. Only 24 of the possible 40 passenger capacity were on board. There is a moving picture clip online at the link that shows NC752V in the air.

Sikorsky S-40, NC752V (Source: Link)

In 1939, Loesing participated in the New York to Miami race of private aircraft to the All-American Air Maneuvers in Miami, FL. None of the other competitors were Register pilots. Tony LeVier and Bessie Owen were no-shows, but they were Register pilots. Although he didn't place in the cross-country race, Loesing took first place in a precision landing contest, according to The New York Times, January 12, 1935.

Franklin News-Herald (PA) January 7, 1939 (Source: newspapers.com)

The 1940 Census found Loesing at age 34 living in a $50 per month apartment in Brooklyn, NY with his wife, Amanda (30) and their three-month old son, John. His occupation was coded as "Commercial pilot." Amanda was a "Housewife."

Loesing flew West on October 26, 1951at the young age of 45. He is buried at Hempstead, NY.

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