O.M. "Red" Mosier, July 1, 1962 (Source: New York Times)

Red Mosier landed once at Tucson. Based at San Antonio, TX, he carried two passengers, Mrs. G. Lloyd and W. Cortelyou. They visited Thursday, September 20, 1928 flying Ryan B-1 Brougham NC7203. They were eastbound from San Diego, CA to San Antonio. They remained on the ground for just over two hours. Please direct your browser to the airplane's page for ownership details. Mosier and Mrs. Lloyd were co-owners of NC7203.

Given his history in aviation, Mosier's NASM file is extremely sparse, holding only one news article from the New York Times of July 1, 1962 (photo, right). The article announced his retirement from American Airlines as executive vice president. His life work up to that time had been extremely eclectic.

Mosier was born in Pawnee, OK in 1897 and attended school there, moving later to Austin, TX. His aviation career began with the U.S. Army Signal Corps in 1917. After WWI, he engaged in exhibition flying and barnstorming, semi-professional baseball, and was a high-school football coach. He worked for A.G. Spaulding & Co., the sporting goods manufacturer, until 1927, when he became a test pilot in Colorado Springs, CO.

In 1933, Mosier had married Francys Cox Colcord. He was city manager of Oklahoma City, OK from 1933-1937. He also spent time in Washington, DC as secretary to Senator J.W. Harreld of Oklahoma.

He joined American Airlines in 1938, being coaxed away from his position as vice president and general manager at Braniff Airways in Dallas by then American president C.R. Smith. He moved through the executive ranks at American. In 1952 he was appointed vice president for operations, maintenance and engineering. He became a senior vice president in 1954 and executive vice president in 1958. He was involved in corporate planning until his retirement in 1962.

Up to 1962, Mosier was a company officer for twenty-five years. Based in New York City, he negotiated with New York mayor Fiorello LaGuardia for the first airline lease of terminal space at LaGuardia airport. He took an active part in American's decisions leading to the purchase and use of many of its aircraft.

Mosier passed away in 1967.

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Dossier 2.1.121

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