"Harry Ira Downes"

                                  In Days Of Glory

                                    &

                                    Early Aviation

 
 
My father was a man of few words, but he believed in getting the job done and doing it right the first time. As a young man his dream was to become a Pilot and fly all over the world. Few of us ever get to see our dreams come true and to do everything we ever wanted to do, but I truly believe that he did. During 1937 and 1938 while loaned out by the Lockheed Company as private pilot for Lord Beaverbrook, the British Industrialist, publisher, and cabinet member of Ministry of Aircraft Production, before World War II, he flew all over Europe. 

 

 

I know that he had a high security clearence in the Military and did some flying that he never talked about. He did tell me once that he used to carry a group of men out into the desert (here in the U.S.) where they were doing some testing, and on the return flights he would have to search the aircraft and pick up all scraps of paper after everyone got off and before anyone ealse could come on board. The time was during the early 1940's, the men were Scientist and were very careless about writing down notes and then wadding up the paper and throwing it on the floor of the plane. It all started on 17 Jan 1925 when he enlisted in the Army in order to get his Wings and to become an Aviator. He lost his Army Flight Instructor and had to enlist in the Marine Corps on 22 May 1926 in order to complete his flight training. He got his wings on 1 Nov 1926. Dad was an Enlisted man while in the Marines, not an Officer, and when he became a Flight Instructor at Penscaola, Florida during the year of 1929 that fact gave him a lot of problems with some of his students that were Officers.

 

(This is Dad's class of 1929. He is the one all the way to your right with his hands in his pockets. The aircraft is a F4B.)

 

 

(N. A. S. Pensacola mid to late 1920's, Marine Pilots.)

 

 

(Boeing F4B)

 

Before becoming a Flight Instructor he served as a Pilot with the Marine Expeditionary Force at Camp MacMurray, Hsin Ho, China during 1927-1928. These were the first Marine Pilots to fly in China. At first their flights were not well accepted, and very restricted by the Chinese. By giving air dimonstrations, air shows, and rides to certian Chinese Officials the Marines were soon able to show that that they were not a threat to the people and could be of help to the Warlords should the need arise. This gave the Marines more freedom in the skies over China.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(This is a Loening Amphibian.)

 

(In the first 12 months of deployment, Marine planes flew 2,343.2 hours during a total of 3,731 flights. There were 5 crashes but with no injuries to the crews. On 10 Nov 1927, the Marine Corps' birthday, the 3rd Brigade arranged for a special review. Fourteen planes were flown from Camp MacMurray to put on an air show for the Chinese at Tientsin. One incident that occurred during the air show has long been remembered by thoes who witnessed it. During an exhibition of stunt flying, Captian James T. "Nuts" Moore made a low pass over the crowd and then went into a breathtaking roll, lost the wings from his aircraft, bailed out,and parachuted into a moat in front of the stands. Most spectators, unaware that it had not been planned, thought it was the best show they ever saw. What you are looking at above could be the remains of the aircraft that James T. Moore flew at the air show.)

 

(Aircraft maintenance and pre-flight 1927-28 China. The aircraft  is a F8C-3 Helldiver. The next aircraft over is a Loening OL-6 Amphibian. Invaluable experience in connection with reconnaissance and observation missions was gained in China in 1927 and 1928 when Marine squadrons attached to the 3rd Marine Brigade covered more than 8,000 square miles on daily recon flights. In 18 months of operations, about 3,800 flights were made.)

 

 

(Some terrible things were going on in China during this time. In the photo above a chinese friend allows 3 Marines to demonstrate how a public execution would be done. "If a Prisoner was lucky enough to just have his head cut off it was like an act of mercy. Many of the Prisoners were dismembered while still alive. There are pictures that I won't put on this site." My father who is one of the Marines in the picture was witness to many such executions. Chinese civil war began with the Shanghai Massacre (Apr 12 1927). Kouminang army forces led by Chaing Kai-Sheck attacked their Communist allies in Shanghai and several other cities, executing 5,000 to 6,000 of those captured.)

 

 

(Troop Train, China 1927.)

 

 

(China's answer to the War Wagon 1927)

 

 

(There was always a little time for some R & R in China.)
                                                                                                     PERSONAL HISTORY (As written by my father)
 
Harry Ira Downes, born 24 Jul 1905 at Marion, Illinois. Graduated Frankfort Community High School, West Frankfort, Ill.,  June 1923. Enlisted U.S. Army 17 Jan 1925. Graduated as "Aerial Photographer" from Air Services Tech. School at Chanute Field, Ill. in July 1925.

  

 Was a Flying Chadet in U.S. Army Air Services at Brooks Field, Texas, from Sept. 1925 to Feb 1926 receiving about 60 hrs solo flying. Was washed out of class because Instructor become injured and there were no provisions to allow a cadet to join a succeeding class. Was discharged from U.S. Army as Flying Cadet on 9 Feb 1926. Enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps 22 May 1926. 
 
 

(Fighting Squadron #10 was assigned to Camp MacMurray at Hsin Ho, between Tientsin and Shanghai, China.)

 

(Marine Pilots. My guess as to the aircraft type would be a Boeing FB-1. This picture was also taken at Hsin Ho, China 1927-28. From the formation standing in front of the aircraft I would say that it was July 1927, the day Brigadier General Smedley Darlington Butler, holder of two Medals of Honor, chose to inspect the new base. Butler was in charge of the Marine Expeditionary Force in China.)

 

 

 

 

(Hull 1927, just before he graduated from flight training school at Pensacola, Florida along with my father. At an airshow at Flagstaff, Arizona.Hull was one of three Navy pilots who performed at the Flagstaff airport during the opening ceremonies in 1927. The airport was so ill sited near a mountain, it later closed.