Ernest Schmidt

SCHMIDT, STOTLER, CURTIS

Posted By: Sharon Elijah (email)
Date: 12/15/2018 at 09:00:58

12 December 1929 - West Branch Times
Ernest Schmidt Killed in Airplane Accident
Army Pilot Formerly Lived in Community of Springdale

page 1
The hazards of the air claimed another victim last Wednesday when Lieut. Ernest Schmidt, foster son of Mr. and Mrs. J. P. Stotler of Tipton, lost his life as he and three companions were leaping to safety when their large twin-motored plane from Langey Field, Va., exploded and plunged to earth in flames near Goodwater, Ala., shortly before noon. Lieut. Schmidt's parachute failed to open.

Lieut. Ernest Schmidt is one of the young men who made good. A part of his school career was spent at Springdale, where he lived in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Ed. Negus and attended school, distinguishing himself in athletics, especially football. He also attended high school at Tipton, and later attended college at Grinnell, where he starred in football. He was appointed to West Point Military Academy, and during his career there he continued to be prominent in football, being named on the All-American team while playing with the army eleven.

He was graduated from West Point, as second lieutenant, June 14, 1927. After a brief visit with the home folks at Tipton he reported as Brown's Field, San Antonio, Texas, on Sept. 13, 1927, where he entered the U.S. Air Service. Just previous to his departure for San Antonio, Lieut. Schmidt was united in marriage to Miss Loraine Curtis of Dunlap, Iowa, a graduate of Grinnell college, and an accomplished musician. It will be recalled that Ted Worral journeyed to the south to serve his friend, Lieut. Schmidt, as best man on the occasion of his marriage.

Surviving the death of this promising young army flier are his wife and one child, his foster parents, Mr. and Mrs. Stotler and a host of friends. Burial was made at Arlington cemetery in Washington, D.C.

page 6
The many friends of Lieut. Ernest Schmidt in this community were shocked to hear of his tragic death which occurred on Wednesday, Dec. 4th, near Goodwater, Alabama. With three other army officers he was flying in a Langley Field, Va., plane to Mexico City and while in Alabama one of the motors exploded and all of the men were forced to leap with parachutes, a distance of 500 feet. Mr. Schmidt's parachute failed to open and he was instantly killed. Ernest Schmidt came to the home of Mr. and Mrs. J. P. Stotler at the age of three and one-half years and with them he made his home until his marriage two years ago. While in the Stotler home he was given every advantage in life that an own son would be given, for which Ernest was always grateful and appreciative. He attended the schools at Pedee and Springdale until the family moved to Tipton and from there he graduated in 1920. He attended business college at Cedar Rapids a few months and then entered Cornell college and afterwards was assigned to West Point where he graduated in 1927 with high honors. At the military school he made a brilliant record and was a star on the football team for three years. Following his graduation, Lieut. Schmidt went to the Advanced Flying school at Kelley Field at San Antonio, Tex., and entered the U.S. Air Service. On Sept. 8th of that year he was united in marriage with Miss Lorraine Curtis from Dunlap, Iowa. In 1929 he went to Langly Field, Va., where he was stationed at the time of his death. He is survived by his wife and little daughter 4 months old and his foster parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. P. Stotler, other relatives living in the east and a host of friends who extend sympathy to all who are bereaved. He was buried in Arlington cemetery with military honors, and which is near their home.