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Kinner married Cora M. Brusse (1887-1982), the sister of, test pilot, Lee V. Brusse, and they had two children, named Winfield Bertrum Kinner II (1911–1993), and Donald W. Kinner (1914–?), both born in [[Minnesota]]. Lee V. Brusse was Kinner's chief pilot and test pilot.<ref name="dmairfield/brusse_lv">{{cite web |title=Lee V. Brusse |url=<!-- https://cloverfield.org/people/brusse_lv/ https://parksfield.org/people/brusse_lv/index.php -->https://dmairfield.org/people/brusse_lv/index.html |website=Davis-Monthan Airfield Register |publisher=Delta Mike Airfield, Inc. |access-date=25 May 2022 |date=February 15, 2021}}</ref>
Kinner married Cora M. Brusse (1887-1982), the sister of, test pilot, Lee V. Brusse, and they had two children, named Winfield Bertrum Kinner II (1911–1993), and Donald W. Kinner (1914–?), both born in [[Minnesota]]. Lee V. Brusse was Kinner's chief pilot and test pilot.<ref name="dmairfield/brusse_lv">{{cite web |title=Lee V. Brusse |url=<!-- https://cloverfield.org/people/brusse_lv/ https://parksfield.org/people/brusse_lv/index.php -->https://dmairfield.org/people/brusse_lv/index.html |website=Davis-Monthan Airfield Register |publisher=Delta Mike Airfield, Inc. |access-date=25 May 2022 |date=February 15, 2021}}</ref>


About 1940, Kinner retired from active business, turning to aircraft inspection, due to ill health.<ref name="homesteadmuseum/kinner-airplane+motor-co-1920s"/> Worsening health forced him to retire.<ref name="homesteadmuseum/kinner-airplane+motor-co-1920s"/> Kinner lived to age of 85, dying on 4 July 1957,<ref name="homesteadmuseum/kinner-airplane+motor-co-1920s">{{cite web |title=From Point A to Point B with the Kinner Airplane and Motor Corporation, 1920s |url=https://homesteadmuseum.blog/2017/02/11/from-point-a-to-point-b-with-the-kinner-airplane-and-motor-corporation-1920s/ |website=The Homestead Blog |publisher=[[Homestead Museum]] |access-date=25 May 2022 |date=12 February 2017}}</ref> in [[Long Beach, California]], ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'''' reported, "Winfield Bertrum Kinner, 74, pioneer aircraft manufacturer and designer, died late Thursday in a Long Beach hospital".<ref name=obit>[https://web.archive.org/web/20121012162029/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/437190172.html?dids=437190172:437190172&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&date=Jul+06,+1957&author=&pub=Los+Angeles+Times&desc=W.+B.+Kinner,+Pioneer+Plane+Designer,+Dies&pqatl=google "W. B. Kinner, Pioneer Plane Designer, Dies."] ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'', July 4, 1957. Retrieved: October 23, 2012. '''L.A. Times Archives''' [[ProQuest Archiver]]</ref> He was buried in the [[Portal of Folded Wings Shrine to Aviation]] with other aviation pioneers in [[Valhalla Memorial Park Cemetery]].
About 1940, Kinner retired from active business, turning to aircraft inspection, due to ill health.<ref name="homesteadmuseum/kinner-airplane+motor-co-1920s"/> Worsening health forced him to retire.<ref name="homesteadmuseum/kinner-airplane+motor-co-1920s"/> Kinner lived to age of 85, dying on 4 July 1957,<ref name="homesteadmuseum/kinner-airplane+motor-co-1920s">{{cite web |title=From Point A to Point B with the Kinner Airplane and Motor Corporation, 1920s |url=https://homesteadmuseum.blog/2017/02/11/from-point-a-to-point-b-with-the-kinner-airplane-and-motor-corporation-1920s/ |website=The Homestead Blog |publisher=[[Homestead Museum]] |access-date=25 May 2022 |date=12 February 2017}}</ref> in [[Long Beach, California]].<ref name="newspaperarchive.com/press-telegram-jul-06-1957-p-9">{{cite news |title=Page 9 |url=https://newspaperarchive.com/press-telegram-jul-06-1957-p-9/ |access-date=25 May 2022 |work=[[Press Telegram]] |date=6 July 1957 |location=[[Long Beach, California]] |language=en |quote=via [[NewspaperArchive.com]] <!-- W. B. Dies was aviation Pioneer Winfield Bertram Kinner 74, a Southern California aviation Pioneer Long Active in flying and aircraft Manu Orange counties. The Terri a Ater he made a mistake in factoring circles died thursday. lived in Long Beach intermittently since coming to the Southland from Minnesota in 1915. He built planes and engines of his own design at his firm Security aircraft corp., on Spring St. At municipal Airport from 1937 until world War II. Previously he operated Kinner aircraft co. In Glendale where he made Small private planes years and engines for Many Dence at 385 los Altos ave., a daughter mrs. Donna if Hunter of Long Beach. Kinner was born in Bentor county Iowa. He belonged to the second presbyterian Church Here and was a member of the quiet Birdman a group of Early fliers. Funeral service is pending with. Mottell s and. Peek in charge Kinner engines were widely used in civilian planes and training Craft for the Carmeci forces during the 1920 s and 1930 s. --> Among other patents, Kinner held one for folding wings which was used on Many Carrier based Navy aircraft during world War II <!-- a Pilot As Well As a designer and manufacturer he was Well known in aviation circles and established several Altitude rec ords for Small planes during his career Here. He operated a Small Flying Field at Long Beach and Tweedy. Blvd. in the Early 1920s shortly after building his first plane and teaching himself to Fly in. It at his Glendale Plant he Amelia Earhart s first two planes. He developed Five air Craft engines including a 125 horsepower five Cylinder radial Power Plant used in the two place Security airs Ter manufactured Here. Both Kinners sons Winfield -->}}</ref> ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'''' reported, "Winfield Bertrum Kinner, 74, pioneer aircraft manufacturer and designer, died late Thursday in a Long Beach hospital".<ref name=obit>[https://web.archive.org/web/20121012162029/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/437190172.html?dids=437190172:437190172&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&date=Jul+06,+1957&author=&pub=Los+Angeles+Times&desc=W.+B.+Kinner,+Pioneer+Plane+Designer,+Dies&pqatl=google "W. B. Kinner, Pioneer Plane Designer, Dies."] ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'', July 4, 1957. Retrieved: October 23, 2012. '''L.A. Times Archives''' [[ProQuest Archiver]]</ref> He was buried in the [[Portal of Folded Wings Shrine to Aviation]] with other aviation pioneers in [[Valhalla Memorial Park Cemetery]].


==Amelia Earhart==
==Amelia Earhart==

Revision as of 17:50, 25 May 2022

Winfield Bertrum Kinner
Born
Winfield Bertrum Kinner

(1882-12-16)December 16, 1882
Iowa, United States
DiedJuly 4, 1957(1957-07-04) (aged 74)
Long Beach, California
NationalityAmerican
Other namesBert Kinner
Occupation(s)Aircraft and aircraft engine designer, constructor
SpouseCora Kinner

Winfield Bertrum "Bert" Kinner (December 16, 1882 – July 4, 1957) was an American aircraft engine designer and constructor. Kinner founded Kinner Airplane & Motor Corporation in Glendale, California which produced radial engines and aircraft.[1][2]

Early life

Bert Kinner was born on December 16, 1882 in Iowa. His father was from New York. His mother was born in England and her maiden name was Lee.

Career

Kinner worked, as a streetcar operator, in Denver before going to Minnesota, there working as a barber, taxi service operator, and car dealer.[3][4][5]

Aviation career

On May 25, 1915, pioneer pilot and aviation designer, Otto Timm crashed in a field in Magnolia, Minnesota owned by Kinner. His aircraft engine was repaired by Kinner, who was fascinated by the aircraft.[6]

In 1915, an aviator landed in Magnolia, Minnesota and Kinner helped repair the engine. Later that year, he and his family went to California, where Kinner opened a business as an automobile coachbuilder.[3] In 1918, Kinner served in the United States Army Air Service, but he didn't see active duty because, on 11 November 1918 the First World War ended.[3] In Venice, California, the following year, he went on an observation airplane ride then began an aircraft career.[3]

Kinner Field

L–R: Neta Snook and Amelia Earhart in front of Earhart's Kinner Airster, c. 1921

In 1920, Kinner was working as an aircraft engineer in Los Angeles, but had an aspiration to design and build aircraft. At Long Beach Boulevard and Tweedy Boulevard, on a 230-acre property, Kinner opened an airport and a company to manufacture airplanes.[3] The firm, Kinner Airplane and Motor Corporation, was the first California publicly traded company.[3]

He was the manager of Kinner Field, the first municipally-owned airport in Los Angeles, located on the west side of Long Beach Boulevard and Tweedy Road, in what is now South Gate, California. His airfield included a small hangar, 1,200 ft (366 m), roughed out runway and one employee, Anita "Neta" Snook, who had recently arrived from Iowa after a season of barnstorming with her Curtiss JN-4 Canuck in tow.[7]

"Snooky" turned out to be a good hire as she not only chatted up customers, and ran the air operation, but also served as a mechanic. Kinner hired Snook to test fly his aircraft and to provide flight instruction for a prospective training school.[8]

Kinner Airplane & Motor Corporation

At the Kinner Airplane & Motor Corporation, he began to design his first small, light aircraft called the Kinner Airster. The tiny biplane was powered by a three-cylinder Lawrence L2 engine that put out 60 hp.[7]

Glendale

In 1923, the Glendale Airport Association formed, creating the Grand Central Air Terminal.[3] Kinner moved his airplane and engine manufacturing firm there.[3] In the late Twenties, Kinner discontinued making whole aircraft, and focused on engines.[3] Kinner remained as an officer of The Crown Motor Carriage Company which assumed the aircraft assembly business.[3]

Kinner continued to design and build a limited series of light aircraft; the Kinner series of engines powered aircraft from the late 1920s to the early 1930s. The earliest Kinner engines had three cylinders, and were modeled after the French Anzani engines. Later Kinner developed a range of five cylinder engines. The airplane business ended in the mid-1930s, but the engines were produced through World War II. Kinner became the West Coast's largest producer of aircraft engines in 1941. The last series of Kinner engines powered PT-22 trainers.[7][9]

Later years

In the 1930s, Kinner, formed Security National Aircraft Corporation and built planes at Downey Field, now Downey Studios, in Downey, and Long Beach.[3]

Personal life

Kinner married Cora M. Brusse (1887-1982), the sister of, test pilot, Lee V. Brusse, and they had two children, named Winfield Bertrum Kinner II (1911–1993), and Donald W. Kinner (1914–?), both born in Minnesota. Lee V. Brusse was Kinner's chief pilot and test pilot.[10]

About 1940, Kinner retired from active business, turning to aircraft inspection, due to ill health.[3] Worsening health forced him to retire.[3] Kinner lived to age of 85, dying on 4 July 1957,[3] in Long Beach, California.[11] Los Angeles Times'' reported, "Winfield Bertrum Kinner, 74, pioneer aircraft manufacturer and designer, died late Thursday in a Long Beach hospital".[2] He was buried in the Portal of Folded Wings Shrine to Aviation with other aviation pioneers in Valhalla Memorial Park Cemetery.

Amelia Earhart

In December 1920, Kinner Field's most famous student, Amelia Earhart, arrived. After taking her first flying lesson with Neta Snook, Earhart bought the prototype Kinner Airster for $2,000 to continue her training. The bright yellow biplane, that she immediately christened "The Canary", was underpowered but provided Earhart with valuable flight time. When she wasn't able to raise more than the deposit, Kinner made a deal with her so that the Airster could be on hand as a demonstration aircraft in exchange for upkeep and hangar fees.

Earhart soloed in the Airster, and after Neta left Kinner field to get married, Earhart stayed on, and continued flying. In October 1922, the Kinner Airster was used to set a world high altitude record of 14,000 ft (4,267 m) for women pilots, the first of the many records set by Earhart.[12]

Due to a change in the family fortunes, Earhart was forced to sell "The Canary", but later put together enough money to purchase a second Airster.

See also

References

Notes

  1. ^ Parker, Dana T. Building Victory: Aircraft Manufacturing in the Los Angeles Area in World War II, pp. 121, 125-6, Cypress, CA, 2013. ISBN 978-0-9897906-0-4.
  2. ^ a b "W. B. Kinner, Pioneer Plane Designer, Dies." Los Angeles Times, July 4, 1957. Retrieved: October 23, 2012. L.A. Times Archives ProQuest Archiver
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "From Point A to Point B with the Kinner Airplane and Motor Corporation, 1920s". The Homestead Blog. Homestead Museum. 12 February 2017. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
  4. ^ Koontz, Giacinta Bradley (September 19, 2007). "Bert Kinner 1 : Mechanical Wizard". Aviation Pros. Endeavor Business Media. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
  5. ^ Koontz, Giacinta Bradley (October 25, 2007). "Bert Kinner 2 : The Ups and Downs". Aviation Pros. Endeavor Business Media. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
  6. ^ Hudson, Lew. "Bert Kinner: Another famous Magnolia man." Worthington Daily Globe, October 28, 1966.
  7. ^ a b c Cooper, Ralph. "W. Bertrum Kinner." Early Aviators, August 4, 2005. Retrieved: April 25, 2009.
  8. ^ Marshall 2007, p. 21.
  9. ^ Parker, Dana T. Building Victory: Aircraft Manufacturing in the Los Angeles Area in World War II, pp. 125, 126, Cypress, CA, 2013. ISBN 978-0-9897906-0-4.
  10. ^ "Lee V. Brusse". Davis-Monthan Airfield Register. Delta Mike Airfield, Inc. February 15, 2021. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
  11. ^ "Page 9". Press Telegram. Long Beach, California. 6 July 1957. Retrieved 25 May 2022. via NewspaperArchive.com Among other patents, Kinner held one for folding wings which was used on Many Carrier based Navy aircraft during world War II
  12. ^ Long 1999, p. 36.

Bibliography

  • Long, Elgen M. and Marie K. Amelia Earhart: The Mystery Solved. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1999. ISBN 0-684-86005-8.
  • Lovell, Mary S. The Sound of Wings. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1989. ISBN 0-312-03431-8.
  • Marshall, Patti. "Neta Snook." Aviation History Vol. 17, No. 3. January 2007, p. 21-22.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bert_Kinner&oldid=1089796283"