The 13 Black Cats, also known as the 13 Flying Black Cats or simply the Black Cats, was a 1920s group of Los Angeles–based performers who would do stunts, primarily using airplanes and also including motorcycles and automobiles, for a set price.[1][2][3] Examples included upside-down flying for $100 and blowing up an airplane in mid-air for $1500.[2] They performed at airshows and in movies and were featured in newsreels of the era.[1][4][5] The group's advertising used the tagline "If a Black Cat can't do it—It can't be done."[2]
13 Black Cats, circa 1925. Front (left to right): McClelland, Greenwald, Matlock. Back (left to right): Johnson, MacDougall, Goebel, Nichols, Richter.
On its founding in 1924, the group had 13 members, led by Ronald "Bon" MacDougall (1901–1970), and was based at Burdette Airport—of which MacDougall was a part-owner, and where some of them worked or learned to fly—at Western Avenue and 102nd Street in Los Angeles, California.[1] The group disbanded in 1929, due to competition from cut-rate pilots.[3]
The uniform of the Black Cats was a black sweater which was adorned on the front with a cat and number 13 patch. The members had their name on the back. The logo of the group was a black cat turned sideways with an arched back standing on a fence with a full moon visible.[6]
Members of the group were supposed to have a name that was 13 letters long; some of those who did not satisfy this requirement acquired nicknames.[2] Membership varied, but included the following:[1][7]
"Loot" Barber, so nicknamed because he was a lieutenant in the United States Army Reserve, according to Howard Batt[8]
One of Ingle's notable stunts was going to the rescue of an airplane which had "lost" a wheel while in the air. She would strap a spare on her back, rendezvous with the "stricken" airplane, climb to the top of the upper wing of the second airplane and transfer to the bottom wing of the airplane in distress. She would then climb down to the landing gear and install the wheel.[12][6] The stunt was captured in a newsreel (see External links below). Another stunt was pretending to play tennis on the top wing.
^Kelly, Shawna (2008). Aviators in Early Hollywood. Arcadia Publishing. p. 44. ISBN9780738559025.
^ abBrown, Peter C. (21 April 2022). Barnstormers, Wing-Walking and Flying Circuses. South Yorkshire, England: Air World. pp. 47–50. ISBN978-1-5267-9419-2. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
^Kelly, Shawna (2008). Aviators in Early Hollywood. Arcadia Publishing. p. 45. ISBN9780738559025.
^ abcdeBatt, Howard (October 1939). "I Learned About Flying From That! — No. 6". Popular Aviation. p. 47.
^"Howard Harry Batt". grandcentralairterminal.org.
^"Daredevil Girl in Thrilling Stunt". The Fresno Morning Republican. October 7, 1926. from the original on July 13, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
Further readingedit
Article by Howard Batt in the October 1939 issue of Flying Magazine via Google Books
External linksedit
Pathé News newsreel of "Air Crash Averted" by Gladys Ingle
January 01, 1970
black, cats, also, known, flying, black, cats, simply, black, cats, 1920s, group, angeles, based, performers, would, stunts, primarily, using, airplanes, also, including, motorcycles, automobiles, price, examples, included, upside, down, flying, blowing, airpl. The 13 Black Cats also known as the 13 Flying Black Cats or simply the Black Cats was a 1920s group of Los Angeles based performers who would do stunts primarily using airplanes and also including motorcycles and automobiles for a set price 1 2 3 Examples included upside down flying for 100 and blowing up an airplane in mid air for 1500 2 They performed at airshows and in movies and were featured in newsreels of the era 1 4 5 The group s advertising used the tagline If a Black Cat can t do it It can t be done 2 13 Black Cats circa 1925 Front left to right McClelland Greenwald Matlock Back left to right Johnson MacDougall Goebel Nichols Richter Contents 1 History 2 Members 3 References 4 Further reading 5 External linksHistory editOn its founding in 1924 the group had 13 members led by Ronald Bon MacDougall 1901 1970 and was based at Burdette Airport of which MacDougall was a part owner and where some of them worked or learned to fly at Western Avenue and 102nd Street in Los Angeles California 1 The group disbanded in 1929 due to competition from cut rate pilots 3 The uniform of the Black Cats was a black sweater which was adorned on the front with a cat and number 13 patch The members had their name on the back The logo of the group was a black cat turned sideways with an arched back standing on a fence with a full moon visible 6 Members edit nbsp Gladys Ingle in 1923 Members of the group were supposed to have a name that was 13 letters long some of those who did not satisfy this requirement acquired nicknames 2 Membership varied but included the following 1 7 Loot Barber so nicknamed because he was a lieutenant in the United States Army Reserve according to Howard Batt 8 Howard Batt 1900 1988 9 Reginald Denny 1891 1967 British actor Art Goebel 1895 1973 10 Sam Greenwald Gladys Ingle 1899 1981 a wing walker Al Johnson Ronald Bon MacDougall 1901 1970 William Spider Matlock 1901 1936 George Slim Maves 8 Heard Herd McClellan 11 Kenneth Fronty Nichols 1902 1975 Freddy Osborne 8 Jerry Phillips 8 Paul E Richter 1896 1949 Ivan Unger 8 Goebel won the deadly 1927 Dole Air Race from Oakland California to Honolulu Hawaii which claimed 10 lives before during and after the race One of Ingle s notable stunts was going to the rescue of an airplane which had lost a wheel while in the air She would strap a spare on her back rendezvous with the stricken airplane climb to the top of the upper wing of the second airplane and transfer to the bottom wing of the airplane in distress She would then climb down to the landing gear and install the wheel 12 6 The stunt was captured in a newsreel see External links below Another stunt was pretending to play tennis on the top wing Matlock was also a car racer and riding mechanic he was killed in a crash in a race at Ascot Speedway Richter was later a co founder of Standard Air Lines and executive vice president of Trans World Airlines TWA References edit a b c d The 13 Flying Black Cats San Diego Air amp Space Museum a b c d The 13 Black Cats twaspirit com a b Betts Ed February 3 1986 The Thirteen Black Cats PDF twaspirit com Onskt David H Hollywood Stunt Pilots Centennial of Flight Commission Kelly Shawna 2008 Aviators in Early Hollywood Arcadia Publishing p 44 ISBN 9780738559025 a b Brown Peter C 21 April 2022 Barnstormers Wing Walking and Flying Circuses South Yorkshire England Air World pp 47 50 ISBN 978 1 5267 9419 2 Retrieved 22 December 2023 Kelly Shawna 2008 Aviators in Early Hollywood Arcadia Publishing p 45 ISBN 9780738559025 a b c d e Batt Howard October 1939 I Learned About Flying From That No 6 Popular Aviation p 47 Howard Harry Batt grandcentralairterminal org Arthur C Goebel Early Birds of Aviation Stunter Shot as Steel Vest Fails Denver Catholic Register April 20 1933 p 7 Daredevil Girl in Thrilling Stunt The Fresno Morning Republican October 7 1926 Archived from the original on July 13 2023 via Newspapers com Further reading editArticle by Howard Batt in the October 1939 issue of Flying Magazine via Google BooksExternal links editPathe News newsreel of Air Crash Averted by Gladys Ingle Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 13 Black Cats amp oldid 1220770579, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
