Philip Parmelee
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Philip Orin Parmelee (March 8, 1887 – June 1, 1912) was an American
aviation Aviation includes the activities surrounding mechanical flight and the aircraft industry. ''Aircraft'' include fixed-wing and rotary-wing types, morphable wings, wing-less lifting bodies, as well as lighter-than-air aircraft such as h ...
pioneer trained by the
Wright brothers The Wright brothers, Orville Wright (August 19, 1871 – January 30, 1948) and Wilbur Wright (April 16, 1867 – May 30, 1912), were American aviation List of aviation pioneers, pioneers generally credited with inventing, building, and flyin ...
and credited with several early world aviation records and "firsts" in flight. He turned a keen interest in small engines into employment with the
Wright Company The Wright Company was the commercial aviation business venture of the Wright brothers, established by them on November 22, 1909, in conjunction with several prominent industrialists from New York and Detroit with the intention of capitalizing on ...
in its early years and was one of several young pilots hired by the
Wright brothers The Wright brothers, Orville Wright (August 19, 1871 – January 30, 1948) and Wilbur Wright (April 16, 1867 – May 30, 1912), were American aviation List of aviation pioneers, pioneers generally credited with inventing, building, and flyin ...
to demonstrate and publicize the capabilities of their airplanes. Because of his youth, blond good looks, and daring reputation, Parmelee had the nickname "Skyman" attributed to him. Among the feats credited to Parmelee are the first commercial flight of an airplane, establishing a world cross-country speed record, holding the world flying endurance record, piloting the first aircraft to drop a bomb, conducting the first military reconnaissance flight and piloting the first aircraft involved in the world's first parachute jump. Parmelee was killed in the crash of an airplane he was piloting at an exhibition in
Yakima, Washington Yakima ( or ) is a city in and the county seat of Yakima County, Washington, United States, and the state's 11th most populous city. As of the 2020 census, the city had a total population of 96,968 and a metropolitan population of 256,728. The ...
, when turbulence flipped the airplane upside down.


Biography

Parmelee was born on March 8, 1887, to Charles W. Parmelee, a sawmill owner in Matherton, Michigan. His birthplace is variously given as Matherton and as
Hubbardston, Michigan Hubbardston is a village in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is mostly in North Plains Township in Ionia County, and partially in Lebanon Township in Clinton County. Its population was 395 at the 2010 census. Geography According to the United ...
. In 1901, the family moved to
Marion, Michigan Marion is a village in Osceola County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 789 at the 2020 census. The village is located within Marion Township. Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total ar ...
, where his mother was killed in a "runaway" (apparently a runaway horse). He was raised by his father in
St. Johns, Michigan St. Johns or Saint Johns is the largest city and county seat of Clinton County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 7,698 at the 2020 census. St. Johns is located in the north of Clinton County, surrounded by Bingham Township (alth ...
. Parmelee had a mechanical aptitude for small engines, building his own electric, steam, and gasoline-powered motors. Publications of the day in Marion note that he built a steam-powered small auto, using an old horse buggy body and bicycle wheels, with a gasoline-fueled steam boiler of his own design powering the vehicle. Parmelee was notorious for driving it on the streets of the town. His first job was with the Richmond and Holmes Machine Company in
St. Johns, Michigan St. Johns or Saint Johns is the largest city and county seat of Clinton County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 7,698 at the 2020 census. St. Johns is located in the north of Clinton County, surrounded by Bingham Township (alth ...
, from 1904 to 1906, working by day and exploring an interest in the machinery for showing
silent films A silent film is a film without synchronized recorded sound (or more generally, no audible dialogue). Though silent films convey narrative and emotion visually, various plot elements (such as a setting or era) or key lines of dialogue may, wh ...
during his evenings. In 1906, he went to work for the Eclipse Motor Company in
Mancelona, Michigan Mancelona ( ) is a village in the Northern Lower Peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. Part of Mancelona Township, the village is located within Antrim County. Its population was 1,344 at the 2020 census. History In 1869, Perry Andress ...
, where his skills prompted his employer to recommend him to the
Buick Buick () is a division (business), division of the Automotive industry in the United States, American automobile manufacturer General Motors (GM). Started by automotive pioneer David Dunbar Buick in 1899, it was among the first American automobil ...
Automobile Company in
Flint, Michigan Flint is the largest city in Genesee County, Michigan, United States, and its county seat. Located along the Flint River (Michigan), Flint River northwest of Detroit, it is a principal city within the Central Michigan, Mid Michigan region. Flin ...
. While working for Buick, Parmelee became interested in the racing cars of
Louis Chevrolet Louis-Joseph Chevrolet (December 25, 1878 – June 6, 1941) was an American racing driver, mechanic and entrepreneur who co-founded the Chevrolet, Chevrolet Motor Car Company in 1911. Early life Louis-Joseph Chevrolet was born on December 2 ...
and was reputed to have taken one being repaired at the plant on an unauthorized night-time drive to
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, a 19-mile round trip. Parmelee worked as a mechanic for a car on the Glidden tour, an annual road rally from the south to
New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...
, with Parmelee's car winning the event.


Aviator

In 1910, he submitted an application and was chosen to join the
Wright Flying School The Wright Flying School, also known as the Wright School of Aviation, was operated by the Wright Company from 1910 to 1916 and trained 119 individuals to fly Wright airplanes. History Orville Wright began training students on March 19, 1910 ...
run by
Wilbur Wright The Wright brothers, Orville Wright (August 19, 1871 – January 30, 1948) and Wilbur Wright (April 16, 1867 – May 30, 1912), were American aviation List of aviation pioneers, pioneers generally credited with inventing, building, and flyin ...
and
Orville Wright The Wright brothers, Orville Wright (August 19, 1871 – January 30, 1948) and Wilbur Wright (April 16, 1867 – May 30, 1912), were American aviation pioneers generally credited with inventing, building, and flying the world's first succes ...
. After training, he joined the
Wright Exhibition Team The Wright Exhibition Team was a group of early aviators trained by the Wright brothers at Wright Flying School in Montgomery, Alabama in March 1910. History The group was formed in 1910 at the suggestion of balloonist Augustus Roy Knabenshue. ...
. One of his first assignments was as a demonstration pilot for the Wright B Flyer at the Appalachian Exposition in
Knoxville, Tennessee Knoxville is a city in Knox County, Tennessee, United States, and its county seat. It is located on the Tennessee River and had a population of 190,740 at the 2020 United States census. It is the largest city in the East Tennessee Grand Division ...
. On November 7, 1910, Parmelee became the first pilot to transport commercial cargo. His flight took him from
Dayton, Ohio Dayton () is a city in Montgomery County, Ohio, United States, and its county seat. It is the List of cities in Ohio, sixth-most populous city in Ohio, with a population of 137,644 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. The Dayton metro ...
, carrying a package of 100 pounds of silk valued between $800 and $1,000 for the opening of a store. Parmelee's route took him from Dayton to
Columbus, Ohio Columbus (, ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of cities in Ohio, most populous city of the U.S. state of Ohio. With a 2020 United States census, 2020 census population of 905,748, it is the List of United States ...
by way of South Charleston and
London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...
, following the route of the old
National Road The National Road (also known as the Cumberland Road) was the first major improved highway in the United States built by the federal government. Built between 1811 and 1837, the road connected the Potomac and Ohio Rivers and was a main tran ...
. Newspaper clippings quoted the Wright brothers as stating he covered the distance in 66 minutes, but the flight was officially recorded at 57 minutes, a world speed record at the time. Parmelee also traveled to Texas in the spring of 1911, where he flew the Wright Flyer with Lt. Benjamin D. Foulois. The pair conducted the first military reconnaissance missions, flying along the border with Mexico during maneuvers held by the
U.S. Army The United States Army (USA) is the primary land service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is designated as the Army of the United States in the United States Constitution.Article II, section 2, clause 1 of the United Stat ...
as a show of force to
Mexican revolutionaries The Mexican Revolution () was an extended sequence of armed regional conflicts in Mexico from 20 November 1910 to 1 December 1920. It has been called "the defining event of modern Mexican history". It saw the destruction of the Federal Army, its ...
. The airplane was owned by neither the U.S. Army, whose aircraft was no longer reliable, nor the Wright brothers, but was rented from Robert J. Collier, owner of ''
Collier's Weekly } ''Collier's'' was an American general interest magazine founded in 1888 by Peter F. Collier, Peter Fenelon Collier. It was launched as ''Collier's Once a Week'', then renamed in 1895 as ''Collier's Weekly: An Illustrated Journal'', shortened i ...
''. On their second flight, Foulois and Parmelee accidentally shut off the engine. At extremely low altitude over the
Rio Grande The Rio Grande ( or ) in the United States or the Río Bravo (del Norte) in Mexico (), also known as Tó Ba'áadi in Navajo language, Navajo, is one of the principal rivers (along with the Colorado River) in the Southwestern United States a ...
, Parmelee got the engine to restart, but at full throttle. The sudden thrust caused the plane to nose down into the water and flip over onto its top. Neither pilot was injured and the aircraft was salvaged and repaired. Later in 1911, Parmelee was the pilot of a Wright Model B when 54-year-old parachutist
Grant Morton Grant Morton (1857?–1920), born William H. Morton, was one of the first people to successfully attempt skydiving, and is sometimes credited with the first skydive and jump from a powered aeroplane, in 1911. Supposedly, at age 54, Morton, a vetera ...
jumped out over Venice Beach,
California California () is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States that lies on the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and shares Mexico–United States border, an ...
. This was the earliest known jump by a man from an airplane using a parachute.


Death

Parmelee was piloting an airplane at an air show in
Yakima, Washington Yakima ( or ) is a city in and the county seat of Yakima County, Washington, United States, and the state's 11th most populous city. As of the 2020 census, the city had a total population of 96,968 and a metropolitan population of 256,728. The ...
, on June 1, 1912, at altitudes variously described from . Air turbulence caused him to crash, killing him instantly. He was buried in East Plains Cemetery in
Clinton County, Michigan Clinton County is a County (United States), county in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 United States census, the population was 79,128. The county seat is St. Johns, Michigan, St. Johns. The county was created in 1831 and organized in ...
.


Legacy

An historic marker to Philip O. Parmelee, erected in 1978, is displayed at the
Lansing Lansing () is the capital city of the U.S. state of Michigan. The most populous city in Ingham County, parts of the city extend into Eaton County and north into Clinton County. It is the sixth-most populous city in Michigan with a popul ...
Capital Region International Airport Capital Region International Airport , formerly Lansing Capital City Airport, is a public, Class C airport located northwest of downtown Lansing in a portion of DeWitt Township, Michigan that has been annexed to the City of Lansing via P ...
terminal in
DeWitt Township, Michigan DeWitt Charter Township is a charter township of Clinton County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 15,073 at the 2020 census, which was an increase from 14,321 at the 2010 census. The original survey township now includes porti ...
. Parmelee appeared in an early silent film ''
A Dash Through the Clouds ''A Dash Through the Clouds'' is a 1912 short American silent comedy film directed by Mack Sennett, written by Dell Henderson and starring Mabel Normand. It has the distinction of being somewhat of an aviation film as Sennett employed the service ...
'' directed by
Mack Sennett Mack Sennett (born Michael Sinnott; January 17, 1880 – November 5, 1960) was a Canadian-American producer, director, actor, and studio head who was known as the "King of Comedy" during his career. Born in Danville, Quebec, he started acting i ...
and starring
Mabel Normand Amabel Ethelreid Normand (November 9, 1893 – February 23, 1930), better known as Mabel Normand, was an American silent film actress, comedienne, director and screenwriter. She was a popular star and collaborator of Mack Sennett in their K ...
. In the film Parmelee plays a pilot called 'Slim' and flies Mabel around in his Wright B aeroplane. Parmelee completed this film and it was released 23 days after his death on June 24, 1912.


References


External links


Parmelee's Dayton to Columbus flightA Dash Through the Clouds
the film in which Phil appears with his aeroplane, available for free download at * {{DEFAULTSORT:Parmelee, Philip Orin 1887 births 1912 deaths American aviation pioneers Aviators from Michigan Aviators killed in aviation accidents or incidents in the United States Accidental deaths in Washington (state) Wright Flying School alumni People from Hubbardston, Michigan People from Osceola County, Michigan People from St. Johns, Michigan American aviation record holders Flight endurance record holders Victims of aviation accidents or incidents in 1912