Slauter, Frank

SLAUTER

Posted By: Ken Wright (email)
Date: 11/22/2007 at 19:25:48

Jackson Sentinel
January 12, 1932

Tragic Death of Maquoketa Boy Told in Detail
Frank J. Slauter Killed in Glider Crash At Long Beach, Calif.-
Pioneer of Motorless Sport

Frank J. Slauter, co-founder and past president of the Long Beach Glider club and pioneer in the glider flying movement. In Southern California for the last four years, crashed to his death from a height of 75 feet, when a new tail surface of his craft became detached while it was being towed by an automobile at the weekly Hollywood Riviera glider meet of Southern California pilots.

The glider had been rebuilt in Long Beach and the tail had been altered to make it lighter. While undergoing its first test in the air it crashed. Slauter was a licensed glider pilot and a skillful flier.

The body is being held at the Gladen-White mortuary at Hermosa Beach pending an inquest. The funeral will be in Long Beach, at a date to be determined.

A commercial artist and sign painter by profession, Slauter during the four years he has lived in Long Beach has been an enthusiastic glider fan, and was one of the leaders in introducing this aviation sport into Southern California. Since meets have been held at the Hollywood Riviera he has never missed one. The glider in which he crashed was the second one he has built.

He was one of the promoters of the Dale Drake glider tow two years ago from Reedly, Calif., to Long Beach, 200 miles, behind a plane flown by J. Lloyd O’Donnell. This flight established a world glider record at that time.

Slauter is survived by his wife Alberta, 36 Ontario ave.; a half brother, Edward Mayerhofer of Los Angeles; a mother Mrs. Burdella Mayerhofer of Los Angeles; and a father F. F. Slauter of Maquoketa, Iowa, the family home. He was employed at the Kim Sign shop in Wilmington. He was 49 years old. He had no children. –Long Beach (Calif). Press Telegram