James "Jimmie" Crawford Angel (August 1, 1899 – December 8, 1956) was an American aviator after whom Angel Falls in Venezuela, the tallest waterfall in the world, is named.[1][2][3]
James Crawford Angel was born August 1, 1899, near Cedar Valley, Missouri, the son of Glenn Davis Angel and Margaret Belle (Marshall) Angel. Because his grandfather, James Edward Angel, was living, he was called Crawford to avoid confusion in the Angel family during his younger years. He is alleged to have been in World War I,[4] but the only certainty is that he registered for the draft on September 12, 1918.[5][6] In his twenties he adopted the nickname "Jimmie" by which he was known for the rest of his life.[1]
Angel Falls
Partly clouded view of the Angel Falls named after Jimmie Angel
The falls, which cascade from the top of Auyantepui in the remote Gran Sabana region of Venezuela, were not known to the outside world until Jimmie Angel flew over them on November 16, 1933 while searching for a valuable ore bed.[7]
On October 9, 1937, he returned to the falls with the intention of landing. On board his Flamingomonoplane were his second wife Marie, Gustavo Heny, and Miguel Delgado, Heny's gardener. He attempted a landing, but despite a successful touchdown, his aircraft El Rio Caroní nose-dived when it hit soft ground at the end of its landing run. The wheels sank in the mud, making take-off impossible.
The passengers were unharmed but had to trek across difficult terrain and with low food supplies for 11 days to make their way off the tepui and down to the nearest settlement at Kamarata. When word of their exploits got out, international interest in the Gran Sabana region increased dramatically, leading to in-depth scientific exploration in the following years.
His aircraft remained atop Auyantepui until 1970, when it was disassembled and brought down by Venezuelan military helicopters. Today, an El Rio Caroní can be seen outside the airport terminal at Ciudad Bolívar. The airplane was re-assembled in the city of Maracay's aviation museum.
Jimmie Angel's aircraft, El Rio Caroní, exhibited in front of Ciudad Bolívar airport
Jimmie Angel's aircraft, El Rio Caroní, exhibited in front of Ciudad Bolívar airport (front view)
Spanish writer Alberto Vázquez-Figueroa covered Jimmie Angel's adventures in his 1998 novel Ícaro— ISBN9788408025023, later translated into several foreign languages. There is also another book that details how Angel Falls got its name: "Truth or Dare: The Jimmie Angel Story" written by Jan-Willem de Vries ISBN9781419673665. In 2019, Angel's niece, Karen Angel, president of the California based nonprofit organization the Jimmie Angel Historical Project [JAHP], published "Angel's Flight - The Life of Jimmie Angel - American Aviator-Explorer - Discoverer of Angel Falls" [ISBN 978-1-4834-8948-3]. With over two-hundred photographs, the book is the result of twenty-three years of research by her and others. Research continues by the JAHP to verify the facts of his life.
Popular Culture
Angel Falls is portrayed as "Paradise Falls" (a significant location) in the 2009 Pixar film Up.
External links
"Jimmie Angel". Find a Grave. Retrieved June 15, 2011.
Clover Air Field, Santa Monica, CA biography of Jimmy Angel
Davis-Monthan Aviation Field Register biography of Jimmy Angel
Flight to the Lost World of Venezuela Video by Jake Howland describing visiting Angel Falls in the 1950s, including images of Angel's abandoned airplane.
^A check of the Missouri Soldiers database for World War I has no listing for a James C. Angel at Missouri database
^A 1921 picture of Angel in Uniform shows him wearing Military Aviator Wings see Jimmy Angel Historical Project website 2010-03-16 at the Wayback Machine.
^George, Uwe (May 1989). "Venezuela's Islands in Time". National Geographic. Vol. 175, no. #5. p. 549.
Angel's Flight - The Life of Jimmie Angel - American Aviator-Explorer - Discoverer of Angel Falls, 2019, by Karen Angel.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Jimmie Angel.
January 13, 2023
jimmie, angel, james, jimmie, crawford, angel, august, 1899, december, 1956, american, aviator, after, whom, angel, falls, venezuela, tallest, waterfall, world, named, bornjames, crawford, angel, 1899, august, 1899cedar, valley, missouridieddecember, 1956, 195. James Jimmie Crawford Angel August 1 1899 December 8 1956 was an American aviator after whom Angel Falls in Venezuela the tallest waterfall in the world is named 1 2 3 Jimmie AngelBornJames Crawford Angel 1899 08 01 August 1 1899Cedar Valley MissouriDiedDecember 8 1956 1956 12 08 aged 57 Gorgas Hospital Balboa Canal ZoneNationalityAmericanOccupation s Pilot explorerKnown forDiscovering Angel Falls 16 November 1933 Contents 1 Early life 2 Angel Falls 3 Death 4 Books 5 Popular Culture 6 External links 7 ReferencesEarly life EditJames Crawford Angel was born August 1 1899 near Cedar Valley Missouri the son of Glenn Davis Angel and Margaret Belle Marshall Angel Because his grandfather James Edward Angel was living he was called Crawford to avoid confusion in the Angel family during his younger years He is alleged to have been in World War I 4 but the only certainty is that he registered for the draft on September 12 1918 5 6 In his twenties he adopted the nickname Jimmie by which he was known for the rest of his life 1 Angel Falls Edit Partly clouded view of the Angel Falls named after Jimmie Angel The falls which cascade from the top of Auyantepui in the remote Gran Sabana region of Venezuela were not known to the outside world until Jimmie Angel flew over them on November 16 1933 while searching for a valuable ore bed 7 On October 9 1937 he returned to the falls with the intention of landing On board his Flamingo monoplane were his second wife Marie Gustavo Heny and Miguel Delgado Heny s gardener He attempted a landing but despite a successful touchdown his aircraft El Rio Caroni nose dived when it hit soft ground at the end of its landing run The wheels sank in the mud making take off impossible The passengers were unharmed but had to trek across difficult terrain and with low food supplies for 11 days to make their way off the tepui and down to the nearest settlement at Kamarata When word of their exploits got out international interest in the Gran Sabana region increased dramatically leading to in depth scientific exploration in the following years His aircraft remained atop Auyantepui until 1970 when it was disassembled and brought down by Venezuelan military helicopters Today an El Rio Caroni can be seen outside the airport terminal at Ciudad Bolivar The airplane was re assembled in the city of Maracay s aviation museum Jimmie Angel s aircraft El Rio Caroni exhibited in front of Ciudad Bolivar airport Jimmie Angel s aircraft El Rio Caroni exhibited in front of Ciudad Bolivar airport front view Death EditOn April 17 1956 Angel suffered a head injury while landing his plane at David Chiriqui Panama Soon afterward he had a heart attack and then suffered from various ailments for eight months until he came down with pneumonia and went to Gorgas Hospital in Panama City where he died on December 8 1956 His cremated remains were first interred at the Portal of the Folded Wings Shrine to Aviation in Burbank California but in keeping with his wishes his wife his two sons and two of his friends scattered his ashes over Angel Falls on July 2 1960 1 Books EditSpanish writer Alberto Vazquez Figueroa covered Jimmie Angel s adventures in his 1998 novel Icaro ISBN 9788408025023 later translated into several foreign languages There is also another book that details how Angel Falls got its name Truth or Dare The Jimmie Angel Story written by Jan Willem de Vries ISBN 9781419673665 In 2019 Angel s niece Karen Angel president of the California based nonprofit organization the Jimmie Angel Historical Project JAHP published Angel s Flight The Life of Jimmie Angel American Aviator Explorer Discoverer of Angel Falls ISBN 978 1 4834 8948 3 With over two hundred photographs the book is the result of twenty three years of research by her and others Research continues by the JAHP to verify the facts of his life Popular Culture EditAngel Falls is portrayed as Paradise Falls a significant location in the 2009 Pixar film Up External links Edit Jimmie Angel Find a Grave Retrieved June 15 2011 Clover Air Field Santa Monica CA biography of Jimmy Angel Davis Monthan Aviation Field Register biography of Jimmy Angel Flight to the Lost World of Venezuela Video by Jake Howland describing visiting Angel Falls in the 1950s including images of Angel s abandoned airplane 1 the Jimmie Angel Historical Project References Edit a b c Angel Karen The History of Jimmie Angel Archived from the original on 16 March 2010 Plane Pilot Sights Highest Waterfall in World Popular Science April 1938 p 37 Angel Karen 2012 Why the World s Tallest Waterfall is Named Angel Falls Terrae Incognitae 44 1 16 42 doi 10 1179 0082288412Z 0000000003 The Truth About Jimme Angel by Karen Angel A check of the Missouri Soldiers database for World War I has no listing for a James C Angel at Missouri database A 1921 picture of Angel in Uniform shows him wearing Military Aviator Wings see Jimmy Angel Historical Project website Archived 2010 03 16 at the Wayback Machine George Uwe May 1989 Venezuela s Islands in Time National Geographic Vol 175 no 5 p 549 Angel s Flight The Life of Jimmie Angel American Aviator Explorer Discoverer of Angel Falls 2019 by Karen Angel Wikimedia Commons has media related to Jimmie Angel Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Jimmie Angel amp oldid 1085523533, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
