Silas G. Christofferson (March 15, 1890 – October 31, 1916) was an American aviator. He was the brother of Harry Christofferson, a fellow Early Bird, and the husband of aviator and X-ray technician Edna Christofferson.
Christofferson was born in Polk County, Iowa in 1890.[1] When he was six, his family moved to California.[1] He had six brothers, four of whom also became aviators.[2] The most notable of these was Harry Christofferson.[2]
In 1910, Christofferson co-founded the Bennett-Christofferson Airship Company in Portland, Oregon.[4] Also named on the incorporation papers were Fred and Mabel Bennett.[4] The company started out with a capital stock of 3000 dollars.[4] By 1911, Christofferson and Fred Bennett were making practice flights on the artillery drill grounds of the Vancouver Barracks.[5] They were only permitted to fly in the early morning and after 4 PM to avoid spooking the mules at the barracks.[5] On at least one of these flights, Christofferson took a passenger, Edna Becker.[6] Becker and Christofferson married on November 19, 1912.[7]
In 1912, Christofferson flew eight miles[8] from the roof of the 150-foot-tall[9] Multnomah Building in Portland, Oregon to the Vancouver Barracks in Vancouver, Washington.[8] The flight took him twelve minutes and was observed by a crowd of over 45,000.[8] Upon landing, he said that "[w]hile my trip was not as pleasant as some might think, I enjoyed it immensely."[8] The Oregonian declared it a record-setting feat, claiming Christofferson was the first to "[trust] his heavier-than-air machine in a start from the midst of a business section of a great city."[9]
On October 31, 1916, Christofferson was testing a new biplane prototype to demonstrate its safety.[12] Two hundred feet above the ground, his engine died.[12] He was rushed to the Redwood City Hospital by Edna and Harry.[12] A few hours after the crash, Christofferson died of internal injuries.[12] He was buried beside Lincoln Beachey in Cypress Lawn Cemetery.[12]
^ abHarris, Patrick (Fall 1986). "The Exhibition Era of Early Aviation in Oregon, 1910-1915". Oregon Historical Quarterly. 87: 245–276 – via JSTOR.
^ ab"Youngest of Noted Family Dies In Wreck". The San Francisco Examiner. 27 May 1929. p. 1. Retrieved 2019-08-28.
^"Six Persons in Crash of Autos". Los Angeles Herald. 9 March 1908. p. 1. Retrieved 2019-08-28.
^ abc"New Corporations". Statesman Journal. 30 April 1910. p. 4. Retrieved 2019-08-28.
^ ab"Mules to Graze in Peace". The Oregonian. 27 May 1912.
^Jones, Webster (13 March 1932). "Edna Christofferson: A Remarkable Woman". The Oregonian.
^"Death Reminder No Deterrent To Daring Aviator". The Oregon Daily Journal. 20 November 1912. p. 2. Retrieved 2019-08-28.
^ abcd"The Sensation of Flying High". The World. 25 October 1912. p. 8. Retrieved 2019-08-28.
^ ab"Aviator Flies Off Hotel Top Safely". The Oregonian. 12 June 1912.
^"Blazing Trails In California Skies". The San Francisco Examiner. 12 August 2001. p. 30. Retrieved 2019-08-28.
^"Great Flight". The San Francisco Examiner. 26 June 1914. p. 1. Retrieved 2019-08-28.
^ abcde""Perfect" Biplane Kills Christofferson". The San Francisco Examiner. November 1916. p. 3. Retrieved 2019-08-28.
May 08, 2024
silas, christofferson, silas, christofferson, march, 1890, october, 1916, american, aviator, brother, harry, christofferson, fellow, early, bird, husband, aviator, technician, edna, christofferson, christofferson, 1912born1890des, moines, iowadiedoctober, 1916. Silas G Christofferson March 15 1890 October 31 1916 was an American aviator He was the brother of Harry Christofferson a fellow Early Bird and the husband of aviator and X ray technician Edna Christofferson Silas ChristoffersonChristofferson in 1912Born1890Des Moines IowaDiedOctober 31 1916 1916 10 31 aged 25 26 Redwood City CaliforniaCause of deathPlane crash Christofferson was born in Polk County Iowa in 1890 1 When he was six his family moved to California 1 He had six brothers four of whom also became aviators 2 The most notable of these was Harry Christofferson 2 By 1908 Christofferson had moved to Los Angeles California where he worked as a chauffeur 3 In 1910 Christofferson co founded the Bennett Christofferson Airship Company in Portland Oregon 4 Also named on the incorporation papers were Fred and Mabel Bennett 4 The company started out with a capital stock of 3000 dollars 4 By 1911 Christofferson and Fred Bennett were making practice flights on the artillery drill grounds of the Vancouver Barracks 5 They were only permitted to fly in the early morning and after 4 PM to avoid spooking the mules at the barracks 5 On at least one of these flights Christofferson took a passenger Edna Becker 6 Becker and Christofferson married on November 19 1912 7 In 1912 Christofferson flew eight miles 8 from the roof of the 150 foot tall 9 Multnomah Building in Portland Oregon to the Vancouver Barracks in Vancouver Washington 8 The flight took him twelve minutes and was observed by a crowd of over 45 000 8 Upon landing he said that w hile my trip was not as pleasant as some might think I enjoyed it immensely 8 The Oregonian declared it a record setting feat claiming Christofferson was the first to trust his heavier than air machine in a start from the midst of a business section of a great city 9 On June 25 1914 Christofferson reached an altitude of 15 728 feet in a flight over Mount Whitney setting a national record 10 It was his second attempt of the day to fly over the mountain his first attempt at 5 21 AM that morning was unsuccessful due to strong winds 11 https cdnc ucr edu a d amp d SDI19140626 2 10 amp srpos 13 amp e 191 en 20 1 txt txIN Silas Christofferson 1914 On October 31 1916 Christofferson was testing a new biplane prototype to demonstrate its safety 12 Two hundred feet above the ground his engine died 12 He was rushed to the Redwood City Hospital by Edna and Harry 12 A few hours after the crash Christofferson died of internal injuries 12 He was buried beside Lincoln Beachey in Cypress Lawn Cemetery 12 See also editEAA Aviation Museum Walter Edward Kittel 1880 1922 early American aviation pioneerReferences edit a b Harris Patrick Fall 1986 The Exhibition Era of Early Aviation in Oregon 1910 1915 Oregon Historical Quarterly 87 245 276 via JSTOR a b Youngest of Noted Family Dies In Wreck The San Francisco Examiner 27 May 1929 p 1 Retrieved 2019 08 28 Six Persons in Crash of Autos Los Angeles Herald 9 March 1908 p 1 Retrieved 2019 08 28 a b c New Corporations Statesman Journal 30 April 1910 p 4 Retrieved 2019 08 28 a b Mules to Graze in Peace The Oregonian 27 May 1912 Jones Webster 13 March 1932 Edna Christofferson A Remarkable Woman The Oregonian Death Reminder No Deterrent To Daring Aviator The Oregon Daily Journal 20 November 1912 p 2 Retrieved 2019 08 28 a b c d The Sensation of Flying High The World 25 October 1912 p 8 Retrieved 2019 08 28 a b Aviator Flies Off Hotel Top Safely The Oregonian 12 June 1912 Blazing Trails In California Skies The San Francisco Examiner 12 August 2001 p 30 Retrieved 2019 08 28 Great Flight The San Francisco Examiner 26 June 1914 p 1 Retrieved 2019 08 28 a b c d e Perfect Biplane Kills Christofferson The San Francisco Examiner November 1916 p 3 Retrieved 2019 08 28 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Silas Christofferson amp oldid 1206230652, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
