Biographical Note

Robert William Radoll (1900-1933) was an early aviator and air mail pilot, circa 1920s-1933.

Robert W. Radoll was born in Wisconsin in 1900. Details of his life are sparse. During World War I, he served with the United States Marine Corps as a mechanic. However, it wasn't until 1920 that Radoll's aviation career began. He began to gain flight experience as a pilot at Checkerboard Field, later Yackey Field, in Illinois with transport flights and as a pilot with Roscoe Turner's Flying Circus, a barnstorming group. In 1926, Radoll joined Northwest Airways as an airmail pilot, frequently flying at night to move the mail. He remained there until 1928 when he joined National Air Transport (NAT), later known as United Airlines (UAL). He continued to fly night-time airmail routes and also helped fly passengers. He remained with UAL until his death. On November 23, 1933, Radoll was killed, along with co-pilot Boyd Grove and stewardess Hazel Goodman, when the United Airlines aircraft he was flying crashed for unknown reasons. No passengers were on board. At the time of his death, he had over 6,000 flight hours.

During Radoll's flight career, he set multiple records, though they were often quickly surpassed. Examples include airmail route flight speed, mail loads, and distance flown without accidents. Radoll was the pilot on several flights to test a medical theory that altitude changes would affect people with deafness. He also gained recognition for spotting a house fire during one night-time flight and subsequently flying low around nearby houses to gain attention before continuing his route.

In May 1927, Radoll married Helen Lois Lingenfelter, who was the first bride to have a cross-country airplane honeymoon. The couple had two children; a daughter, Darlene, and a son, Robert W., Jr. No further information is known.

Occupations

• Air pilots

Places

• Wisconsin (Place of Birth)

Topics

• Air mail pioneers
• Air mail service

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