Clyde Edward Pangborn
| Clyde Edward Pangborn | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born |
October 28, 1895 Bridgeport, Washington |
| Died | March 29, 1958 (aged 63) |
| Spouse(s) | Swana Beaucaire |
| Parent(s) | Max Pangborn Opal Lamb |
Clyde Edward Pangborn (approximately October 28, 1895 – March 29, 1958) also known as "'Upside-Down Pangborn" was an American aviator and barnstormer who performed aerial stunts in the 1920s. Along with co-pilot Hugh Herndon, Jr., in 1931 Pangborn was the first person to fly non-stop across the Pacific Ocean.
Clyde Edward Pangborn, son of Max and Opal Lamb Pangborn, was born in Bridgeport, Washington, near Lake Chelan. His exact birth year is uncertain. He used 1893, 1894, 1895, and 1896, on various documents, changing his age to appear older or younger as needed. The 1900 United States Census listed Clyde Pangborn (b. October 1893) and his brother Percy (b. January 1891) living with their mother Ola [sic.] in Spokane, Washington. In 1910 Clyde (age 16) and Percy (age 19) were boarders with the Alfred Heimark family in St. Maries, Benawah County, Idaho. Census day was April 15; Clyde would not be 17 until October. "1895" was used on his World War I draft registration in Shoshone, Idaho. When he was two years old, his parents divorced and he moved to Idaho with his mother. He graduated high school in 1914 and enrolled in the University of Idaho, where he studied civil engineering for two and a half years. Pangborn was a first cousin of American composer George Frederick McKay (1899-1970) who grew up in Spokane, Washington, and used the penname Arthur Pangborn for the lyrics for some of his compositions.
Following college, Pangborn worked briefly as an engineer for a mining company before joining the Air Service during World War I. He completed flight training, and he was subsequently stationed as a flight instructor at Ellington Field in Houston, Texas. While teaching cadets how to fly the Curtiss JN-4 "Jenny" biplane, Pangborn learned to roll his plane onto its back and fly upside-down for extended periods, earning him the nickname "Upside-Down Pang".
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