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Some of this information comes from the biographical file for pilot Weyland, CW-420000-01, reviewed by me in the archives of the National Air & Space Museum (NASM), Washington, DC.

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Your copy of the Davis-Monthan Airfield Register with all the pilots' signatures and helpful cross-references to pilots and their aircraft is available at the link. Or use this FORM to order a copy signed by the author. ISBN 978-0-9843074-0-1.

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http://www.cafepress.com/content/global/img/spacer.gifThe Congress of Ghosts is an anniversary celebration for 2010.  It is an historical biography, that celebrates the 5th year online of www.dmairfield.org and the 10th year of effort on the project dedicated to analyze and exhibit the history embodied in the Register of the Davis-Monthan Airfield, Tucson, AZ. This book includes over thirty people, aircraft and events that swirled through Tucson between 1925 and 1936. It includes across 277 pages previously unpublished photographs and texts, and facsimiles of personal letters, diaries and military orders. Order your copy at the link, or use this FORM to order a copy signed by the author.  ISBN 978-0-9843074-4-9.

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OTTO PAUL "OPIE" WEYLAND

Portrait, O.P. Weyland, 1942 (Source: USAF via Flickr)
Portrait, O.P. Weyland, 1942 (Source: USAF)

O.P. Weyland landed at Tucson five times between 1926 and 1931. His first visit was Saturday, October 2, 1926. He arrived solo in the Douglas O-2C he identified as 26-402. Based at San Antonio, TX, Ft. Sam Houston, he arrived from San Diego, CA (probably Rockwell Field). He landed at 3:25PM and remained at Tucson overnight, departing the next morning at 7:30 traveling eastbound. He cited his destination as Ft. Sam Houston.

His next visit was on Tuesday, May 14, 1929 at 4:15PM. He was again solo eastbound, arriving from San Diego, Rockwell Field, and citing his home base as San Antonio, TX, Kelly Field. He flew the Douglas O-2K he identified as 29-211. He remained overnight again, continuing the next morning at 9:45 for San Antonio, TX, Brooks Field.

Weyland landed the third time on Saturday, May 2, 1931 at 2:10 PM. He arrived solo this day in a Douglas O-38 that he did not identify by number. Based again at San Antonio, he was eastbound from Rockwell Field back to San Antonio.

He landed once as a passenger on Thursday, October 8, 1931. He was among six passengers carried in an Army Ford identified as "194" flown by Lt. J.J. Mollison. They were westbound from El Paso, TX to Riverside, CA, March Field. Weyland's name is circled and with a red check next to it in the Register.

His October 11, 1931, and final, landing at DM was made two weeks prior to his marriage in San Antonio. This time he carried a Private Dalton in a Consolidated PT-3 that he identified as simply "411." They were based at Riverside, CA March Field, and were flying eastbound through Tucson to Shertz, TX Randolph Field. His airplane, Consolidated "411," is a mystery, since it does not show up at Joe Baugher's site, or among any list of P-numbers.

Portrait, O.P. Weyland, Date Unknown (Source: USAF)
Portrait, O.P. Weyland, Date Unknown (Source: USAF)

His official Air Force biography is at the link and that information includes his birth and death dates (1902-1979), his retirement date, his education and military service history. His second portrait, right, is from that source. In this later photo, his face has become fuller, and he has added three stars to his shoulder. This portrait was included with his obituary from the Washinton Post cited below.

During WWI, George Patton called him, "the best damn general in the Air Corps." The reason was that Weyland's XIX Tactical Air Command provided the air support for Patton's 3rd Army. He received the Bronze Star and Distinguished Service Medal for his work. By the end of the War he was commander of the 9th Air Force.

During the Korean conflict, Weyland was commander of the Far East Air Forces and head of United Nations air forces. He added a Silver Star and a second Distinguished Service Medal to his list of awards. He retired from service in 1959.

Weyland indroduced the 1955 film "The McConnell Story" starring Alan Ladd and June Allyson. You can view and hear his introduction (on YouTube) at the link. By the way, Joe McConnell, the Air Force officer memorialized in the film, is not Register pilot J.P. McConnell memorialized on this site. Our "J.P." stands for John Paul.

Weyland's biographical file at the Smithsonian contains only a few pages, two undated photographs of him in uniform, one probably from the 1930s, and the other from 1945 signed to Alexander de Seversky, and an obituary from the Washington Post of September 6, 1979. He died of a stroke at the Air Force Hospital in San Antonio. He was survived by his daughter and three grandchildren.

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Dossier 2.2.176

THIS PAGE UPLOADED: 04/18/12 REVISED: 06/22/12

 
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I'm looking for information and photographs of pilot Weyland and his airplanes to include on this page. If you have some you'd like to share, please click this FORM to contact me.

OTHER BOOKS FOR YOU

Military Aircraft of the Davis Monthan Register, 1925-1936 is available at the link. This book describes and illustrates with black & white photographs the majority of military aircraft that landed at the Davis-Monthan Airfield between 1925 and 1936. The book includes biographies of some of the pilots who flew the aircraft to Tucson as well as extensive listings of all the pilots and airplanes. Use this FORM to order a copy signed by the author. ISBN 978-0-9843074-2-5.

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