James Joseph Mattern (March 8, 1905 – December 17, 1988) was an American aviator. Mattern undertook a number of aviation world records, including twice attempting to break the world record for aerial circumnavigation set by Wiley Post and Harold Gatty. Both attempts failed; the second in 1933 resulted in a crash landing and subsequent rescue by Eskimos and Sigizmund Levanevsky in Siberia. In a twist of fate, Mattern would join the search for Levanevsky after he went missing in 1937. Levanevsky was never found.
Jimmie Mattern
James Mattern in Berlin following an aborted attempt to fly around the world in 1932.
In 1928, Mattern sold an air plane to an oil company in Texas owned by Michael Benedum.[4] Benedum would later become a frequent financial backer of Mattern's flying activities. In 1937, Mattern was hired as the aeronautical director for the Benedum and Tree's oil company.[5]
Starting in 1938, Mattern was a Lockheed test pilot on the P-38 Lightning and during the war helped develop the 'Piggyback' two-seat version that significantly reduced training accidents. In 1946 he was diagnosed at the Mayo Clinic with a ruptured blood vessel in his brain (perhaps due to repeated excessive G-forces experienced while demonstrating P-38s) and was unable to fly again because of the condition. After losing his ability to fly, Mattern and his wife became real estate brokers and then operated a travel agency. He also supported the space program, attended three Apollo launches and had his pilot's license carried to the moon aboard Apollo 11.[6] He also marketed aviation calculators known as the Mattern computer, a course and mileage slide rule, in the late 1940s.
James Mattern was born March 8, 1905, in Freeport, Illinois, to Phillip and Caroline (née Kennedy) Mattern. He also had two older brothers and an older sister. Mattern married Della M. in Los Angeles in 1927. He requested a divorce in Chicago, Illinois, in 1937, stating that Della had left him in 1932 and was living in Washington. On May 18, 1937, the day after his divorce was finalized, Mattern was married to Dorothy J. Harvey, a showgirl, at Berwyn Methodist Church.[7] He remained married to Dorothy until his death in 1988. Dorothy died in January 2002.[8]
Aerial circumnavigation record attempts
July 5, 1932: Mattern and Bennett Griffin flew "The Century of Progress",[9] a Lockheed Vega, powered by a Pratt & Whitney Wasp engine, from Floyd Bennett Field, New York, to Harbor Grace, Newfoundland, and then non-stop to Berlin, Germany, in 18:41 hours. This failed round-the-world flight attempt ended in an emergency crash landing at Borisov, Belarus, USSR, on July 7, 1932. They did, however, set a record for crossing the Atlantic Ocean: 10 hours, 50 minutes.[10]
June 3, 1933: Mattern flew a rebuilt "Century of Progress", largely a different aircraft, and this time solo, from Floyd Bennett Field across the Atlantic. On June 14, 1933, he made a forced landing in Siberia, where the "Century" was abandoned. He was eventually rescued by Eskimos and flown to Nome, Alaska, by Sigizmund Levanevsky. Mattern flew the rest of the way back to New York.
Cloud country Mattern, Jimmie. The Pure oil company. Chicago. 1936. (OCoLC)1369439. ASIN: B001PM7GYU.
Allen, Thomas. (PDF). The James J. “Jimmie” Mattern Collection, History of Aviation Collection, McDermott Library. University of Texas at Dallas. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 September 2014. Retrieved 25 September 2012.
^Society of Experimental Test Pilots. Honorary Fellows / list as of 1997.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to James Mattern.
The Early Birds of Aviation, Inc. - Mattern
Lockheed Vega "Century of Progress", after landing in Russia 1932(archived)
March 19, 2023
jimmie, mattern, james, joseph, mattern, march, 1905, december, 1988, american, aviator, mattern, undertook, number, aviation, world, records, including, twice, attempting, break, world, record, aerial, circumnavigation, wiley, post, harold, gatty, both, attem. James Joseph Mattern March 8 1905 December 17 1988 was an American aviator Mattern undertook a number of aviation world records including twice attempting to break the world record for aerial circumnavigation set by Wiley Post and Harold Gatty Both attempts failed the second in 1933 resulted in a crash landing and subsequent rescue by Eskimos and Sigizmund Levanevsky in Siberia In a twist of fate Mattern would join the search for Levanevsky after he went missing in 1937 Levanevsky was never found Jimmie MatternJames Mattern in Berlin following an aborted attempt to fly around the world in 1932 Born 1905 03 08 March 8 1905Freeport Illinois USADiedDecember 17 1988 1988 12 17 aged 83 Last Residence Palm Desert Riverside California 1 2 Known forTwo failed around the world aviation record attemptsSpouse s Della 1927 1937Dorothy Harvey married May 18 1937 1988Aviation careerFull nameJames Joseph Mattern 3 First flightJN 4 JennyIn 1928 Mattern sold an air plane to an oil company in Texas owned by Michael Benedum 4 Benedum would later become a frequent financial backer of Mattern s flying activities In 1937 Mattern was hired as the aeronautical director for the Benedum and Tree s oil company 5 Starting in 1938 Mattern was a Lockheed test pilot on the P 38 Lightning and during the war helped develop the Piggyback two seat version that significantly reduced training accidents In 1946 he was diagnosed at the Mayo Clinic with a ruptured blood vessel in his brain perhaps due to repeated excessive G forces experienced while demonstrating P 38s and was unable to fly again because of the condition After losing his ability to fly Mattern and his wife became real estate brokers and then operated a travel agency He also supported the space program attended three Apollo launches and had his pilot s license carried to the moon aboard Apollo 11 6 He also marketed aviation calculators known as the Mattern computer a course and mileage slide rule in the late 1940s Contents 1 Personal life 2 Aerial circumnavigation record attempts 3 Honors 4 Bibliography 5 References 6 External linksPersonal life EditJames Mattern was born March 8 1905 in Freeport Illinois to Phillip and Caroline nee Kennedy Mattern He also had two older brothers and an older sister Mattern married Della M in Los Angeles in 1927 He requested a divorce in Chicago Illinois in 1937 stating that Della had left him in 1932 and was living in Washington On May 18 1937 the day after his divorce was finalized Mattern was married to Dorothy J Harvey a showgirl at Berwyn Methodist Church 7 He remained married to Dorothy until his death in 1988 Dorothy died in January 2002 8 Aerial circumnavigation record attempts EditJuly 5 1932 Mattern and Bennett Griffin flew The Century of Progress 9 a Lockheed Vega powered by a Pratt amp Whitney Wasp engine from Floyd Bennett Field New York to Harbor Grace Newfoundland and then non stop to Berlin Germany in 18 41 hours This failed round the world flight attempt ended in an emergency crash landing at Borisov Belarus USSR on July 7 1932 They did however set a record for crossing the Atlantic Ocean 10 hours 50 minutes 10 June 3 1933 Mattern flew a rebuilt Century of Progress largely a different aircraft and this time solo from Floyd Bennett Field across the Atlantic On June 14 1933 he made a forced landing in Siberia where the Century was abandoned He was eventually rescued by Eskimos and flown to Nome Alaska by Sigizmund Levanevsky Mattern flew the rest of the way back to New York Honors Edit1973 National Aeronautic Association Wesley L McDonald Elder Statesman Award 11 1981 Oklahoma Air and Space Hall of Fame Honorary fellow of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots 12 Bibliography EditCloud country Mattern Jimmie The Pure oil company Chicago 1936 OCoLC 1369439 ASIN B001PM7GYU Allen Thomas Guide to the James J Jimmie Mattern Collection PDF The James J Jimmie Mattern Collection History of Aviation Collection McDermott Library University of Texas at Dallas Archived from the original PDF on 8 September 2014 Retrieved 25 September 2012 References Edit Social Security Death Index via footnote com California Death Index Aeronautics Flights amp Flyers Jul 18 1932 Time Randolph Jennings 1939 Friend To Aviation Popular Aviation Retrieved 3 March 2018 Allen Thomas Guide to the James J Jimmie Mattern Collection PDF Retrieved 3 March 2018 UT Dallas Guide to the James J Jimmie Mattern Collection Archived 2014 09 08 at the Wayback Machine Biographical Sketch page 3 Jimmie Mattern Marries Showgirl Wisconsin State Journal Madison Wisconsin Wednesday May 19 1937 Page 2 Social Security Death Index Lockheed Vega Model 5 NC869E Archived 2009 07 30 at the Wayback Machine Delta Mike Airfield Inc Accessed May 14 2009 World Flyers reach Berlin and press on Associated Press Jefferson City Post Tribune Jefferson City Missouri Wednesday July 6 1932 Page 1 Wesley L McDonald Elder Statesman Awards Archived 2007 06 30 at the Wayback Machine National Aeronautic Association Society of Experimental Test Pilots Honorary Fellows list as of 1997 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to James Mattern The Early Birds of Aviation Inc Mattern Lockheed Vega Century of Progress after landing in Russia 1932 archived Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Jimmie Mattern amp oldid 1145480806, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
