Roscoe Turner, a celebrated American aviator, entered the world on September 29, 1895, and ultimately departed this mortal coil on June 23, 1970.
Roscoe Turner, a pioneering figure in the aviation industry, embarked on a new venture in the early 1920s by forming a strategic partnership with the esteemed Curlee Clothing Company, thereby giving birth to the Roscoe Turner Airways Corporation.
This groundbreaking enterprise marked a significant milestone in the history of commercial aviation, as it acquired a cutting-edge Sikorsky S-29-A, a twin-engine biplane that boasted an impressive capacity to accommodate 16 passengers and a skilled pilot.
Throughout the period spanning 1925 to 1927, Turner leveraged the aircraft's capabilities to offer a range of services, including commercial charters, publicity stunts, passenger joy rides, and record-breaking attempts, thus cementing his reputation as a visionary entrepreneur and daring aviator.
In the year 1928, a remarkable feat was achieved by Turner as he successfully flew the S-29-A to the state of California, where a significant transformation took place. Under a lease agreement with Caddo Productions, a film company masterminded by the enigmatic and reclusive Howard Hughes, the aircraft was meticulously converted into a precise representation of a German Gotha bomber.
This iconic plane, now reimagined as a prop for the silver screen, played a pivotal role in Hughes' cinematic masterpiece, Hell's Angels. Turner himself often took to the skies, piloting the aircraft with skill and precision. As a result of this extraordinary venture, Turner and his wife, Carline, found themselves immersed in the vibrant world of Hollywood, rubbing shoulders with influential movie moguls, politicians, and A-list celebrities.
Their social circle, a unique blend of aviation, publicity, and high-society glamour, was a true reflection of the couple's remarkable lives.
As Turner's public persona continued to expand and flourish, he increasingly adopted the esteemed title of "Colonel" for all his endeavors, thereby further solidifying his reputation as a captivating and fearless aviator, whose charismatic presence and daring exploits captivated the imagination of the masses.
