James Whitted
James Albert Whitted | |
|---|---|
| <a href="http://s18.photobucket.com/albums/b135/chadaboy/?action=view¤t=jamesaluniform2.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b135/chadaboy/jamesaluniform2.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> James Albert Whitted, ca.1917-1918 |
Lt. James Albert Whitted (February 14, 1893 - August 19, 1923), was an American aviator and St. Petersburg's best-known pilot. Whitted became an instructor at the Naval flight school until he was killed in a plane crash near Pensacola in 1923. (1)
Early life
James Albert Whitted was born in St Petersburg, Florida on Valentines Day 1893. Albert's father, Thomas Albert Whitted traveled to the Pinellas area with his parents from Boone, Iowa in 1878. Albert's mother, formerly Julia Phillips was the daughter of the Long Key settler Zephaniah Phillips. After their marriage Thomas and Julia moved to what is now Gulfport in 1884. There they built a house and had nine children, four of which died at an early age. The third child born was James Albert Whitted.[1] At a young age Albert attended local schools in St Petersburg. He also spent a lot of time learning mechanics from his father who was a mechanic. Eric Whitted, Albert's nephew, considered his Uncle to be a mechanical genius. According to Eric, "when Albert was a teenager, he was a projectionist in the old Cameo Theatre. Back in those days, all movie projectors were hand-cranked; because he was constantly reading, Albert rigged up a way to run the projector with a bicycle wheel and motor so he could read. People were really pleased because the film was running much more smoothly. But when his boss came in and saw what he was doing, he fired him."[2] When Albert graduated from St. Petersburg High School with his two brothers George and Clarence, Albert was regarded as an expert mechanic himself and established St. Petersburg's first motorcycle shop.[3]
Aviation career
In 1910 Whitted moved to New Haven Connecticut for a brief period where he took up motorcycle racing before returning back to his motorcycle shop in St. Petersburg. While in New Haven Albert's interest in aviation had peaked and he acquired a part ownership in a Curtis land machine which he had helped to build.[4]
Military
Albert Whitted enlisted in the aviation corps of the regular army early in the war. He was sent to Pensacola in March, 1917. In August of the same year he qualified as a naval aviator and received his pilot’s number 179 and is classed as one of the first 250 pioneer pilots of the navy.[5] On September 25, 1918 Whitted was commissioned as a first lieutenant and just three days later he was made chief instructor in advanced flying. Before being awarded a commission he had risen to the responsible position as a flying instructor at Pensacola Naval Station. He held the distinction of being classed as one of the first 250 naval flyers and later was one of only six classed to fly the larger type of planes. The best flyers in the navy marveled at Albert’s flying ability and some of his pupils were on the famous trans-Atlantic voyage with Commander Read.[6]
Death
Marriage and children
Honors and tributes
References
- ^ http://fl-genweb.org/mpc/pinellas/biographies/james_albert_whitted.html
- ^ http://www.annefield.net/jamesandfrances.htm
- ^ http://www.annefield.net/jamesandfrances.htm
- ^ http://fl-genweb.org/mpc/pinellas/biographies/james_albert_whitted.html
- ^ http://fl-genweb.org/mpc/pinellas/biographies/james_albert_whitted.html
- ^ http://fl-genweb.org/mpc/pinellas/biographies/james_albert_whitted.html