Benjamin Berl Lipsner (September 15, 1887 – December 24, 1971) was an American military officer and civil servant. He served as the first supervisor of the Post Office Department's airmail service from September to December 1918. He was known as the "father of commercial aviation".
Benjamin Berl Lipsner was born on September 15, 1887, in Chicago, Illinois. He graduated from Armour Institute in Chicago with a degree in mechanical engineering.[1]
Careeredit
During World War I, Lipsner served as a captain of the United States Army Signal Corps's Air Service Production. He supervised the mechanical upkeep of the planes used for airmail service. He retired from the Army in August 1918 when the airmail service transferred to the Post Office Department. Lipsner then served as the first supervisor of the Post Office Department's airmail service starting on August 12, 1918. The service initially operated from New York to Washington, D.C.[1][2] During his tenure as superintendent, there was a New York to Chicago pathfinding mission in September 1918 for the airmail service. The test flights did not immediately lead to an extension of service to Chicago, but brought public support to the new civilian airmail service.[1] He resigned from his position on December 5, 1918, following conflict with Second Assistant Postmaster General Otto Praeger about hiring and the purchase of new equipment. In Lipsner's resignation letter, which was printed in newspapers throughout the country, he was critical of the Post Office Department.[1]
Lipsner joined the private aviation industry in December 1918. He also served as a consultant to oil companies and airlines.[1][2]
Lipsner wrote The Airmail, Jennies to Jets in 1951 with Len Hilts.[3][4]
Personal lifeedit
Lipsner's grave at Rosehill Cemetery, Chicago
Lipsner married Rose E. They had two sons and two daughters, Milton A., Jerome S., Charlotte and Shirley. Lipsner lived at 5650 North Sheridan Road in Chicago.[3]
Lipsner died on December 24, 1971, at the Veterans Affairs Research Hospital in Chicago.[1][3] He was buried at Rosehill Cemetery in Chicago.[5]
Legacyedit
Lipsner was known as the "father of commercial aviation".[3]
In 1982, Lipsner's estate donated to the Smithsonian Institution over 500 aero philatelic covers, twelve scrapbooks and biographical materials. These donations are now in the possession of the National Postal Museum.[2]
Referencesedit
^ abcdefAllen, Kevin. "The Benjamin B. Lipsner Airmail Collection". Smithsonian Institution. Retrieved April 27, 2023.
Media related to Benjamin Berl Lipsner at Wikimedia Commons
April 18, 2024
benjamin, berl, lipsner, september, 1887, december, 1971, american, military, officer, civil, servant, served, first, supervisor, post, office, department, airmail, service, from, september, december, 1918, known, father, commercial, aviation, lipsner, 1940, p. Benjamin Berl Lipsner September 15 1887 December 24 1971 was an American military officer and civil servant He served as the first supervisor of the Post Office Department s airmail service from September to December 1918 He was known as the father of commercial aviation Benjamin Berl LipsnerLipsner c 1940 Personal detailsBorn 1887 09 15 September 15 1887Chicago Illinois U S DiedDecember 24 1971 1971 12 24 aged 84 Chicago Illinois U S Resting placeRosehill CemeteryChicago Illinois U S SpouseRose E Children4Alma materArmour Institute Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 3 Personal life 4 Legacy 5 References 6 External linksEarly life editBenjamin Berl Lipsner was born on September 15 1887 in Chicago Illinois He graduated from Armour Institute in Chicago with a degree in mechanical engineering 1 Career editDuring World War I Lipsner served as a captain of the United States Army Signal Corps s Air Service Production He supervised the mechanical upkeep of the planes used for airmail service He retired from the Army in August 1918 when the airmail service transferred to the Post Office Department Lipsner then served as the first supervisor of the Post Office Department s airmail service starting on August 12 1918 The service initially operated from New York to Washington D C 1 2 During his tenure as superintendent there was a New York to Chicago pathfinding mission in September 1918 for the airmail service The test flights did not immediately lead to an extension of service to Chicago but brought public support to the new civilian airmail service 1 He resigned from his position on December 5 1918 following conflict with Second Assistant Postmaster General Otto Praeger about hiring and the purchase of new equipment In Lipsner s resignation letter which was printed in newspapers throughout the country he was critical of the Post Office Department 1 Lipsner joined the private aviation industry in December 1918 He also served as a consultant to oil companies and airlines 1 2 Lipsner wrote The Airmail Jennies to Jets in 1951 with Len Hilts 3 4 Personal life edit nbsp Lipsner s grave at Rosehill Cemetery Chicago Lipsner married Rose E They had two sons and two daughters Milton A Jerome S Charlotte and Shirley Lipsner lived at 5650 North Sheridan Road in Chicago 3 Lipsner died on December 24 1971 at the Veterans Affairs Research Hospital in Chicago 1 3 He was buried at Rosehill Cemetery in Chicago 5 Legacy editLipsner was known as the father of commercial aviation 3 In 1982 Lipsner s estate donated to the Smithsonian Institution over 500 aero philatelic covers twelve scrapbooks and biographical materials These donations are now in the possession of the National Postal Museum 2 References edit a b c d e f Allen Kevin The Benjamin B Lipsner Airmail Collection Smithsonian Institution Retrieved April 27 2023 a b c Sheahan Mary T Benjamin B Lipsner Smithsonian Institution Retrieved April 27 2023 a b c d Air Pioneer Lipsner Dies at 84 Chicago Tribune December 26 1971 p 14 Retrieved April 27 2023 via Newspapers com nbsp Lipsner Benjamin B Hilts Len 1951 The Airmail Jennies to Jets Retrieved April 27 2023 Lipsner Chicago Tribune December 27 1971 p 11 Retrieved April 28 2023 via Newspapers com nbsp External links edit nbsp Media related to Benjamin Berl Lipsner at Wikimedia Commons Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Benjamin Berl Lipsner amp oldid 1196009145, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
