At the turn of the 20^th century horse drawn vehicles and railroads were an integral part of man’s transportation needs. Concurrently they were joined by the dawning of new technologies that allowed man to navigate the oceans of air and build machines to roll across continents. The automobile was becoming more commonplace as the birth of manned flight began. Thomas Edison harnessed electricity, Alexander Graham Bell gave us the telephone, and Henry Ford manufactured thousands of autos to replace the horse and buggy. And then the Wright Brothers, who with scores of others including O. E. Williams, developed the stepping stones leading from the Old World into the one we live in today.

The presentation of MEN, WIND AND COURAGE is a retrospective of many transportation venues to include the various professions and occupations when these pioneers were afflicted with aviation fever. Vocations that included mechanical engineering related to a large number of motors used in autos, railways, and aircraft; steam engineering; electrical generation; and the beginnings of the snowmobile as we know it today as well as motorized heavy equipment.

To appeal to many interests this book focuses on description for events and experiences rather than technicalities. This book includes topics beyond aviation and is abundantly supplied with references to others who had interactions with those featured within the text.

MEN, WIND and COURAGE offers many photos and text of the various Williams aircraft, flight schools, manufacturing facilities, hangars, flight-speedometer, patents, and the personal side of this remarkable man. During 1915 and 1916 Mr. Williams was the stellar attraction of the Patterson Aviators who were in popular demand throughout the mid-western states and lower Canada. The Patterson Aviators were the unique creation of John T. Patterson of Detroit, Michigan. The Patterson Aviators were sworn in as temporary mail carriers and participated in numerous of the very first airplane aeroplane airmail flights.

The details within this book were painstakingly obtained from source documents by the author, Nancy Mess. These facts are new materials that will offer the perfect complement for one's records about these pioneer aviators, and to which is not available on any Internet access or web site.

The career of O.E. Williams is revealed along with those who were affected by his passion for aviation. Mr. Williams, a talented engineer who changed his vocation to focus on aviation, was a strong advocate for safety with innovative results. Williams’s activities took place at Scranton, Pennsylvania; Fenton, Michigan; and Mobile, Alabama.

Many of these men lived beyond Mr. Williams’s lifetime such as Elwood J. Junkin and Clayton J. Brukner who evolved the WACO airplanes. This book offers a number of exclusive interior photos of the WACO factory. Lt. Cyrus Bettis established many military aviation firsts. Others, such as Russell B. North, never lost the passion for aviation. And contracted pilots Elling O. Weeks, C. Ray Benedict, and Al Boshek all had their trials and tribulations with their exhibition flights in the Williams Aeroplanes.

      Format: Paperback: Historical, Reference / Transportation, Aviation
      ISBN: 9780615309019
      Publisher: WILLIAM MARTIN PRESS
      Pages: 406

Facts presented on this site, and within the above-mentioned book, have been carefully researched for authenticity. Although every effort has been made to provide accurate information in this publication, we would appreciate readers calling our attention to any errors by writing us at:

      Nancy Mess, author
      William Martin Press
      P.O. Box 3984
      Ithaca, NY 14852-3984 
      Email: oewlms@gmail.com

nancylynnmess.com is the official website providing information for the career of O. E. Williams (a.k.a. Osbert E. Williams); facts regarding the Williams Aeroplane Co. and Williams Flying School of Fenton, Michigan, and other regions where similar activities took place.

 Click on “Additional Information” for those featured in MEN, WIND & COURAGE 
 Click on "Announcements" to learn where this book is available for purchase.

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