George W. Williams, Jr. - Temple, TX
N 31° 05.517 W 097° 23.308
14R E 653709 N 3440909
Near the northwest corner of the intersection of the HK Dodgen Loop and S General Bruce Dr is a bronze plaque at the former site of the Texas Aero Corporation factory, honoring George W. Williams, Jr. and his first solo flight in 1912.
Waymark Code: WM16A8R
Location: Texas, United States
Date Posted: 06/12/2022
Views: 0
When
road expansion began in this area, both the Texas Historical Marker and the original memorial were lost. They have since been recast and replaced. Attached to a short concrete base, the memorial is a small shield with the emblem of The Early Birds at the top, and the text reads:
Commemorating The First Solo Flight
of
George W. Williams, Jr.
Made on
October 9, 1912
Awarded by
The Early Birds
An organization of pioneer aviators who
flew solo before December 17, 1916
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The historical marker provides some complementary information:
Pioneer commercial aircraft developed by engineering genius George W. Williams, who with Roy Sanderford, George Carroll, and his brother E.K. Williams, formed Texas Aero Corporation in 1927. The firm obtained (June 23, 1928) Approved Type Certificate No. 45 of the U.S. Department of Commerce, to make and sell the Temple Monoplane. Primarily designed for airmail, this craft was equipped for night flight -- an innovation in that era. Despite successes, plant closed after 1929 Wall Street crash and death on Aug. 15, 1930, of George Williams in a student training disaster.