L.D. Weddington, Date & Location Unknown
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Depending upon the source you refer to, Leonard Weddington was born in 1895 or 1896 (anyone KNOW the exact date?). He was a prolific military visitor to the Davis-Monthan Airfield. He signed the Register thirteen times between February, 1926 and June, 1931. Only two other military pilots signed more frequently: T.V. Foster (35 times) and Ira Eaker (18 times).
Weddington flew during WWI, and, during the 1920s, learned aerial photography. You can see him in this role on this site at this link.
Aerial photography placed him in command of the First Photo Section at Ft. Bliss, TX during 1924. His name appears on an artifact of that base. A Christmas menu for that year lists him as the First Lieutenant in command. The menu is shared with us courtesy of the Gilpin Collection.
Weddington competed in the 1926 National Air Races held at Philadephia September 4-11. According to the Aircraft Yearbook for 1927 (each annual volume of the Yearbook reports on the previous year's aviation accomplishments), the Liberty Engine Builders Trophy was won that year by Capt. Ira Eaker flying a Curtiss O-1 Falcon
with a Curtiss D-12, 450HP engine. His winning speed was 142.46 MPH.
There is no mention in the Yearbook (pp. 184-189) of win, place or show by Lt. Weddington.
San Antonio Express, August 4, 1926
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Besides being a combat pilot during WWI and an air racer representing the military, Weddington made another mark on his early aviation record as a participant in the U.S. Army Pan-American Flight, which took place between December 21, 1926 and May 2, 1927.
Just a couple of months after his participation in the National Air Races at Philadelphia, he and a team of Army officer colleagues took off in five Loening OA-1A observation amphibian aircraft. The approximate route of flight was from the mainland U.S., down Central America and south along the west coast of South America, then return to the U.S. up the east coast of South America.
The five aircraft flew together. They were staffed with a Who's Who of Davis-Monthan Register people, including Ennis C. Whitehead, A.B. McDaniel, Ira Eaker, Bernard Thompson and our own Weddington. The flight is summarized here.
Below, courtesy of site contributor Andy Heins, is a signed photograph of Lt. Weddington. He signed it, "Leonard D. Weddington, Lieut. A.S., Pan-American Flight."
Leonard D. Weddington, Signed Photograph, Ca. May, 1927 (Source: Heins)
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San Antonio Light, December 1, 1926
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The Pan American flight was a big deal at the time, and it was celebrated with a private, but colorful dinner a couple of weeks before its start. This event was covered on the social page, right, of the San Antonio Light, December 1, 1926. Several of the guests and fellow crew members at the dinner, including Weddington, would go on to serve brilliantly during WWII.
Mexia, TX Daily News, December 21, 1926
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The article, left, from the Mexia, TX Daily News, December 21, 1926, captures the departure of the Pan American flight from Kelly Field, TX at 10:50AM on December 21st.
We learn that the Loening amphibians were named the New York (flown by Major Herbert A. Dargue and 1st Lieutenant Ennis C. Whitehead), San Antonio (flown by Arthur B. McDaniel & Charles Robinson), San Francisco (flown by Captain Ira C. Eaker and 1st Lieutenant Muir S. Fairchild. The Detroit (flown by Captain Clinton F. Woolsey and 1st Lieutenant John W. Benton, and the St. Louis (flown by 1st Lieutenant Bernard S. Thompson and 1st Lieutenant Leonard D. Weddington, see below).
The article was upbeat regarding the goals and hopes for the flight (leisurely pace; no mishaps). The approximate itinerary is listed.
Note also the color scheme is given for the airplanes: yellow and black, with red, white and blue service insignia. They must have made an impressive sight (and sound). Direct your browser to this link, and imagine the colors.
The article continues below.
Mexia, TX Daily News, December 21, 1926
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Alas, this flight was not to be without mishaps. Both Woolsey and Benton were killed on 26 February 1927 when their aircraft crashed after colliding with the New York near Palomar military airfield west of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Dargue and Whitehead safely parachuted from their doomed aircraft.
Below, the Loening St. Louis with crew. It is not possible to identify the members in this photograph. Note the central pontoon and the smaller pontoons under the lower wings.
Pan American Flight Loening Amphibian St. Louis, Langley Field, VA, Ca. 1927 (Source: Heins)
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Further to the Pan American flight, below appears a brief article quoted from the British journal Flight of March 3, 1927. The pilots were about in the middle of their flight at this date.
U.S. Army Pan-American Flight Disaster
III luck has been dogging the U.S. Army Pan-American flight, which, consisting of five Loening amphibians under the command of Maj. Dargue, left Kelly Field, San Antonio, on December 21 last for a tour round South America. Several mishaps have been encountered during their progress, and now comes news of a very tragic accident resulting in the death of two members of the expedition. Four of the machines had arrived safely at Buenos Aires harbour on February 26, and after being received by the Argentine authorities, the pilots set out for the Palomar aerodrome, just outside the city. When breaking formation to land, however, Major Dargue's machine " New York " collided with the " Detroit," and both machines fell to the ground, locked together, from about 1,400 ft. Major Dargue and Lieut. Whitehead, of the " New York," managed to save themselves by their parachutes, but Capt. Woolsey, pilot of the " Detroit," who also jumped, was unable to open his parachute and was killed. His companion, Lieut. Benton, was unable to get free of the machine, and was burned to death in the wreckage."
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Weddington the Hunter, 1929
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Weddington was a hunter of animals as evidenced in this article, right, from the Clovis, NM Evening News-Journal of Friday, November 22, 1929. He and three fellow officers were nabbed for hunting in the state of New Mexico without a valid state hunting license. The fine of $62 each was substantial at the time.
San Antonio Light July 8, 1945
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Weddington rose to the rank of Lt. Colonel before WWII. At the time of the Pearl Harbor attack, he commanded Bellow Field on Hawaii.
From the article, left, it sounds like he remained in Hawaii for the duration. I know little about his WWII service record. Can ANYONE fill in the blanks?
Leonard D. Weddington Obituary
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Leonard Weddington died May 26, 1961 of a heart attack. A small "get well" article appeared in the Kerrville (TX) Mountain Sun of December 22, 1960, so perhaps his heart ailment was of some long-term standing. Obituary, right, from the San Antonio Express and News, Saturday May 27, 1961.
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UPLOADED: 02/02/09 REVISED: 06/16/11, 09/09/11
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