Will County IL Archives Obituaries.....Gardner, Eddie ?
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com November 10, 2006, 9:54 pm

Herald
Eddie Gardner, of Plainfield, famous throughout the country for his dare devil 
flying, died at Lincoln, Neb., today from injuries received yesterday when his 
airplane crashed from a tail spin during an aviation tournament at Holdrege, 
Neb.

Gardner, who was formerly with the air mail service, following his discharge 
from the United States air service, in which he served as a lieutenant during 
the war, is credited with having carried the first mail by airplane between 
New York and Chicago.

Mother Lives Here

Mrs. John Schaaf, the pilot’s mother, lives at 336 Stone street, Joliet. His 
sister, Mrs. George Spangler lives in Plainfield. Word of the airman’s death 
was received by his relatives this morning.

Details of the accident in which Gardner was injured, are lacking. All that 
was reported today was that while attempting a tail spin yesterday, Gardner 
lost control of his ship and crashed.

Quit Mail Service

About 18 months ago Gardner resigned his post in the mail service and became 
affiliated with the Nebraska Aircraft Corporation at Lincoln, Neb., testing 
machines and doing stunt work.

Gardner has flown several times in Joliet and Plainfield, while he was 
employed in the mail service. It was his custom after completing a flight that 
brought him into Chicago, to fly to his mother’s home, then in Plainfield, for 
a short visit with his relatives. He flew here last August from Milwaukee 
after delivering the prize pig of the University of Nebraska’s agricultural 
college to the governor of Wisconsin. That was the last time Gardner was at 
home.

He was a dependable pilot, while employed in the mail service, but when making 
exhibition flights would take any chance in order to give the spectators a 
thrill.

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