Dale M. Myers, Tucson Citizen, February 28, 1935 (Source: AHS)

Dale Myers signed the Register three times at Tucson, although he probably landed and departed on many other occasions. Myers was a Tucson air service operator from 1928 (see below). His first visit was on Saturday, July 7, 1928 at 12:20 PM. He signed in as a military officer flying 28-272, a Consolidated O-17. A sister ship of Myers' airplane may be viewed at aerofiles.com. Joe Baugher's site identifies 28-272 as a Consolidated PT-3. Myers noted in the Register that his flight was a "Ferry."

His second visit was on Wednesday, January 23, 1929. He was a passenger this time with pilot J.H. Woods. They were traveling in the Swallow NC6057. Woods was the owner of the airplane.

Myers was born January 31, 1909 in Kansas. The 1930 U.S. Census listed Myers' age as 24(?), single, and living as a boarder in Hastings City, NB. His occupation was coded as a "Flyer" and "selling airplanes." The Census did not name his employer.

His third and final signature was on September 6, 1936, in an Arrow, NC16470, flown by John H.H. Pope. Passenger Myers identified himself as "co-pilot." Arriving from Lincoln, NB, they cited Tucson as their home base.

About four months earlier, Myers married Rita Nugent (1916-2000). Their marriage documents are below.

Myers/Nugent Marriage Certificate, May 10, 1936 (Source: ancestry.com)

Myers was a Tucson air service operator from 1928 through the 1930s. Interestingly, he was the first pilot to give an airplane ride to Lt.Col. (RET) Alan Thomas. Lt. Col. Thomas is a friend of dmairfield.org, having shared with us the MOTION PICTURES of Lindbergh at Tucson, as well as "color commentary" on some of the Register pilots and airplanes. He wrote to me in 2005, "Dale Myers conducted flight training, aircraft maintenance, passenger flights, etc. from the Tucson municipal hangar before the Al Hudgin period. My birthday present on 13 January 1933 was my first airplane ride. The pilot was Dale Myers; the airplane was a bright ... Stinson Detroiter."

In 1935, Myers had a brief "delay" in Mexico during February. He contracted to fly a fishing party from Tucson to Guaymas. While there, the was detained by the police for revolutionary activities in 1929 on behalf of the Escobar revolt. Through a site visitor I learned the following, "My father ... was taught to fly by Dale Myers, while my dad was a student at University of Arizona, Tucson. This was probably about 1936. ([Register pilot] Barry Goldwater, another young flyer in Arizona, was a friend).

"The story of Dale Myers' arrest relates to the fact that in 1929 Myers had become involved in a regional Mexican revolt. He was being pursued by two Mexican biplanes and he flew through a canyon to evade them. One of the Mexican pursuit planes crashed into the mountainside. That's all I remember -- except that Dale told my dad that he was 'wanted' in Mexico and that he was trying to avoid flying in Mexican airspace. The 1936 incident you describe was probably the time when he knew he would be in trouble."

The Tucson Star between February 24 and 28, 1935 headlined, "MYERS FACING REVOLT CHARGES," and reported that he was placed under "nominal" arrest and taken to a military garrison, quartered with Mexican officers until the investigation was completed. The paper reported, "What the nature of the investigation could be was also a mystery here as Myers was not one of the Americans who flew ships for the Escobar forces, as far as is known." His entire fishing party initially was held with him temporarily. All were released except Myers.

By the time of the 1940 Census, Myers and Rita had added two-year-old Mary to their family, and moved to Dallas, TX. He had enlisted in the air corps and was coded as an "aviator" in the "Army Air Corps."

Dale M. Myers Obituary, December 9, 1970 (Source: Woodling)

His detainment was short-lived. The Tucson Citizen of February 28 headlined "MYERS EN ROUTE FROM MEXICO," and reported, "Dale Myers, a popular Tucson pilot, who flew a party of Tucsonians to Guaymas, Mexico, over a week ago in his new Stinson cabin plane and was refused a clearance for his return flight on a charge that proved to be entirely unfounded, was authorized last evening by the Federal authorities at Mexico City to return with his plane to the United States. He hopped off from the Guaymas airport at 1:00 o'clock this afternoon and is expected to arrive here before nightfall. His many friends in Tucson will rejoice at this happy ending to a rather unpleasant adventure." Does anyone KNOW anything else about Myers' Mexico experience?

Dale M. Myers Grave Marker (Source: findagrave.com)

Myers flew West in December 6, 1970 at age 61. This agrees with his birth date. His obituary is above from the Johnson County Scout (KS). It appears he and Rita also had two sons. Rita passed away March 26, 2000 at age 83. I found no record of Eleanor. Myers enjoyed a lifelong committment to aviation, military, commercial and civil, retiring from TWA in 1968. His grave marker is at right. Note the pilot wings above his name.

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Dossier 2.1.24

THIS PAGE UPLOADED: 05/26/10 REVISED: 05/26/15, 07/27/19