William C. Hopson
"Wild Bill" Hopson in winter flying clothing (c. 1926)
Bornc. 1887
Died (aged 41)
near Polk, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Resting placeMemorial Park Cemetery
Rock Island, Illinois, U.S.
Other names"Wild Bill"
OccupationAirmail pilot
Known forFlying airmail for the United States Postal Service
Spouse
Jeanette F.
​
(divorced)​
Children1

William C. "Wild Bill" Hopson (c. 1887 – October 18, 1928) was an American pilot known for flying airmail for the United States Postal Service between 1920 and 1927.

Early life

William C. Hopson was born to Edward F. Hopson.[1] Hopson attended elementary and high school in Decatur, Illinois. He graduated high school in 1905 and delivered mail for and worked in the newsroom of the Decatur Herald.[2]

Career

Hopson served in the United States Navy during World War I.[2] Hopson worked as a taxi cab driver in New York City.[3]

Hopson went by the nickname "Wild Bill". He flew airmail for the United States Postal Service from April 14, 1920, until September 3, 1927, when airmail service was transferred to private companies. He initially flew in New Jersey and later flew a route from Omaha, Nebraska, to Chicago. During his service, he flew over 4,000 hours and over 413,000 miles.[3][4] Hopson was known for making forced landings and his popularity allowed him to get away with it. In the year 1926 alone, he reportedly made at least 13 forced landings that his managers declared as acceptable.[4]

After private companies took over airmail service, Hopson worked for the National Air Transport company and flew a contract airmail route between New York City and Chicago.[3]

Personal life

Hopson married Jeanette F. They later divorced. He had one child, Robert.[5]

Crash and death

Hopson died instantly on October 18, 1928, at the age of 41, near Polk, Pennsylvania, in a plane crash while flying on his contract airmail route between New York City and Chicago. Hopson's plane was carrying about US$100,000 in diamonds. Only about US$65,000 of the diamonds were recovered.[3][4] He was buried at Memorial Park Cemetery in Rock Island, Illinois.[6][7]

References

  1. ↑ "Estranged Wife of Pilot Fails to Obtain Body". The Rock Island Argus. October 22, 1928. p. 2. Retrieved April 27, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  2. 1 2 "Former Decatur Man, Mail Flyer, Killed in East". Decatur Herald. May 19, 1928. p. 3. Retrieved April 27, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  3. 1 2 3 4 "William Hopson". Smithsonian Institution. Retrieved April 26, 2023.
  4. 1 2 3 Pope, Nancy (October 18, 2018). "Wild Bill". Smithsonian Institution. Retrieved April 26, 2023.
  5. ↑ "Burned Ship, Pilot's Charred Body Found". The Evening Sun. October 19, 1928. p. 36. Retrieved April 27, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  6. ↑ "Hopson Buried". The Omaha Bee-News. October 23, 1928. p. 3. Retrieved April 27, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  7. ↑ "Mail Pilot May Have Burial in City Next Week". The Rock Island Argus. October 20, 1928. p. 3. Retrieved April 27, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
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