WILLIAM H. BLEAKLEY 1890-1929

WILLIAM H. BLEAKLEY from a Newsclipping Courtesy of Caroline Bleakley, 2-12-04

 

WILLIAM H. BLEAKLEY Can you help us to identify this mystery plane? Courtesy of Rick & Vicki Anderson, 9-28-04 Editor's Note: To Rick & Vicki - I have lost your email address. Please contact me.

 

BLEAKLEY and his MONOPLANE Courtesy of Rick & Vicki Anderson, 9-28-04

 

Tom Benoist Company Aviator, 1912      Walter E. Lees had to work and earn some money before he could get back north in the spring of 1912 to join the Benoist Co. in St. Louis as an aviation mechanic.      After working for the Benoist Co. through the summer, Lees started going out on exhibition dates that fall with Company aviators, Tony Jannus, William Bleakley and Ray Benedict. Lees was so eager to learn to fly that Jannus was giving him a little instruction when time allowed on these trips. He made his first solo "accidentally on purpose" on November 14, 1912, at Creve Coeur Lake, Mo. While taxiing a Benoist Hydro faster than he should, it suddenly jumped off the water and he found himself about 50 feet in the air before he realized what was happening. He kept his head, however, and landed it safely but was severely criticized for doing it. With some additional help, he did succeed in making a little progress toward learning to fly that fall. That winter, Lees went back to St. Augustine as a mechanic with Ray Benedict to fly resort exhibitions Collection of Walter E. Lees

 

BLEAKLEY TEACHES ROGER JANNUS      Roger Weightman Jannus, the son of Frankland and Emeline Carlisle Weightman, who was born in Washington, D.C., on December 25, 1886. Following his graduation from high school, Roger studied engineering. He earned a degree in civil engineering from Lehigh University, eventually ending up in Panama as an engineer on the Panama Canal      Roger's interests changed in January, 1913. He departed Panama and joined his brother Tony Jannus in St. Louis. As chief pilot for the Benoist Aeroplane Company, Tony hired Roger as shop mechanic. Shortly after, Roger began taking flying lessons from William H. Bleakley. Bleakley had earlier been a student of Tony's and had only recently received his own license and was now an instructor. Roger's flying skills may not have equaled Tony's, but they were not far behind. Soon, Roger was a more than competent aviator and part of the Benoist aerial exhibition team. This comes from an article in the Journal, American Aviation Historical Society/Spring 1997 by Thomas Reilly I am deeply indebted to Mr. Reilly for his courtesy in allowing me to use this reprint and also for his supplying photos of Roger Jannus, Tony Jannus and Tom Benoist for my use.

 

FAMILY RECOLLECTIONS via email from Evelyn Cathalin, 5-25-05 (mother was Dona Bleakley, William's niece) Hi Ralph,      As families lose contact it's difficult to re-connect! But when you know of somebody in your family who has done something remarkable, it brings us back together!      William Bleakley was the brother of my Grandfather, George who passed away when I was an infant. But, did you realise that William was also a very accomplished poet? I will try and find a poem of his at home, and send it to you.      William's nephew farms land about 10 miles South of Arvagh near a place called Aughnacliffe, and where I spent my school holidays! A few years ago, a memorial was erected in Arvagh in William's memory, and a plaque was placed on the wall of the house where he once lived. Editor's Note: I appreciate this information from Evelyn and hope that she can find one of his poems which I can add to his story. I also hope that she can obtain a photo of the cited memorial and plaque which can be added to this page.

 

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES via email from Kay Fordham, 6-30-07 Hello Ralph,      Just ran across your website on early aviators. I had never heard of William H. Bleakley until today while researching my great-grandaunt's children. Tradition has it that her daughter Norma Edwina Hinkle married a William H. Bleakley who died in 1929 in Panama. Norma and her parents resided in Hempstead, Nassau County, NY.       I find a World War I Draft Registration card for William H. Bleakley of Nassau County, NY who was born 22 March 1890 in Arvagh, County Cavan, Ireland. He was single at the time he filled out the card. I also find an index card for a pension file on Norma H. Bleakley, widow of William H. Surely, Norma's husband must have been the gentleman detailed on your site. Do you know anything of William H. Bleakley's wife or children, if any? Regards, Kay Fordham (Temecula, CA) Editor's Note: If you can help Kay with her search for more information, please contact me and I will forward your message to her. Thank you.

 

ONLINE RESOURCES      If you search on "William Bleakley +aviation", Using the Google search engine, you will find about seven six links. Among the most helpful are the following. Born in Ireland      "William Bleakley, born in Arvagh, Ireland in 1890, went to America when he was 16. He was a pioneer of aviation and was the first to perform the aerobatic feat of looping the loop."      This brief note was found on the County Cavin Ireland website. It is located on the page for the village of Arvagh. You may go directly to the page by clicking on: Arvagh, Ireland      While there, I would recommend that you visit the homepage of the website and sample the many features which are offered such as Places to Visit, History & Heritage, Outdoor Activities, Traditions & Tastes, etc. You can access it by clicking on: County Cavin The Pioneers by John L. Frisbee, Contributing Editor Air Force Magazine, Online      Lt. William Bleakley's attempt to set an altitude record in 1928 is described. You will find more stories of Valor on this page. To access the site, just click on the title above.

William H. Bleakley crashed and died in 1929. Email fromCaroline Bleakley, 12-1-03   Editor's Note: If you have any information on this pioneer aviator please contact me. E-mail to Ralph Cooper

 

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