Title
Frederick Richard Maxwell Jr., 1889-1988
Subject
Aviation
University of Alabama
Description
Frederick Richard Maxwell Jr. was a Captain of the U.S. Navy Reserve in World War I and a Commander during World War II. He was in charge of aviation education and advanced training during his respective stints in Pensacola, Florida.
Maxwell earned his wings in WWI, just fifteen years after the world famous Wright Brothers created their flying machine in Kitty Hawk, N.C.
Shortly after, he gained the first aeronautical engineering degree offered at the University of Alabama and set his sights on creating local airfields throughout the late 20’s. He then moved on to directing the Civilian Pilot Training Program in Tuscaloosa from 1939-1940, before leaving for WWII command. He is credited with pioneering the inclusion and equal instruction of female pilots in aerobatics.
Maxwell was inducted into the Alabama Aviation Hall of Fame in 1985 for his outstanding contributions to the field of aviation in his lifetime.
He spent a third of his life in the cabin of an airplane as Tuscaloosa’s most seasoned pilot.
Maxwell earned his wings in WWI, just fifteen years after the world famous Wright Brothers created their flying machine in Kitty Hawk, N.C.
Shortly after, he gained the first aeronautical engineering degree offered at the University of Alabama and set his sights on creating local airfields throughout the late 20’s. He then moved on to directing the Civilian Pilot Training Program in Tuscaloosa from 1939-1940, before leaving for WWII command. He is credited with pioneering the inclusion and equal instruction of female pilots in aerobatics.
Maxwell was inducted into the Alabama Aviation Hall of Fame in 1985 for his outstanding contributions to the field of aviation in his lifetime.
He spent a third of his life in the cabin of an airplane as Tuscaloosa’s most seasoned pilot.
Source
Tuscaloosa News Archive
Date
1985
Contributor
Jordan Bannister (Description)
Type
Photograph
Identifier
879
Coverage
Tuscaloosa (AL)
Original Format
Photograph