October 13, 1918 – April 3, 1991
Information submitted by JBB (08/2007); Transcribed/Written/Edited by JS (06/2009), Updated by JS (07/2009)
“I will give you a short summary of my husband’s trip from Model Airplanes to Airline Pilot. Also hope to include photos from his family.
When I married my husband in 1942, he was nearing the end of his propeller business that he started after high school and continued into college years.
He manufactured propellers for models in family facilities with 6 employees and distributing to companies such as Megow at Philadelphia, and I do remember Ben Sheresaw as I went with him to Brooklyn to see Ben on business.
Importation of Japanese props cut into his business and so Vic decided to concentrate on college and closed it down.
Vic learned to fly at Caldwell Wright Airport in Northern N.J. and had his private pilot’s license very early. When WWII began, he was recruited by the Army Transport Command to be a flight instructor for the Army Air Corps.
After instructing in Lafayette, Louisiana and Vernon, Texas, the instructors had finished that work and the Transport Command used them for transporting supplies and troops where needed.
The exceptions were the ones selected by airlines. (The airlines were used as part of the Transport Command.)
Vic was selected by TWA and flew for them until he developed Multiple Sclerosis...
The Millville, N.J. airport in South Jersey has my
husband’s leather jacket, helmet, goggles, etc. from his instructing days… While in H.S., Vic was a regular with John Gambling on WOR on the “Model Airplane Club of the Air,” Vic was
the “expert” to answer questions. He was all of 18 or 19!
Victor at age 15. (Photo courtesy:
Joan Bohsen) Vic with his Eastern State Championship trophy and winning model. (Photo courtesy: Joan Bohsen)
Victor with his prizes for building and flying models. (Photo courtesy: Joan Bohsen)
Victor at a model contest at Hodley Field. (Photo courtesy: Joan Bohsen)
One of Victor’s models, which won the 1940 Bamberger’s Silver Cup for endurance flight. (Photo courtesy:
Joan Bohsen) Victor demonstrating how he made propellers. (Photo courtesy: Joan Bohsen) A sampling of Victor’s homemade propellers he sold while in college. (Photo courtesy: Joan Bohsen)
Victor in his pilot’s uniform. He was a pilot for TWA after WWII. (Photo courtesy: Joan Bohsen)
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