{{Infobox person | name =Farnum Thayer Fish | image =Farnum Fish.jpg | image_size = | caption = | birth_name = | birth_date = {{Birth date|1896|10|5}} | birth_place = Los Angeles, California | death_date = {{Death date and age|1978|7|3|1896|10|5}} | death_place = Los Angeles, California | death_cause = | resting_place = | resting_place_coordinates = | nationality = | other_names = | known_for = | education = | employer = | occupation = | title = | networth = | height = | term = | predecessor = | successor = | party = | boards = | spouse = | partner = | children = | parents = | relatives = | signature = | website = | footnotes = }}

'''Farnum Thayer Fish''' (5 October 1896 &ndash; 30 July 1978) was an early American airplane pilot known as the "Boy Aviator".<ref name=SI/><ref>{{cite book |title=Orville's Aviators: Outstanding Alumni of the Wright Flying School, 1910–1916 |author=John Carver Edwards |author-link=John Carver Edwards |year=2009 |publisher=McFarland |isbn=978-0786442270 |page=69 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=swjGdOIu06QC&q=farnum+t.+fish&pg=PA69 |access-date=August 6, 2012}}</ref> He was, at the age of 15, the "youngest licensed aviator in the world".<ref name=SI>{{cite web |url=http://siris-archives.si.edu/ipac20/ipac.jsp?uri=full=3100001~!283044!0 |title=Farnum T. Fish Collection 1912 |publisher=Smithsonian Institution Research Information System |access-date=August 5, 2012}}</ref><ref name=SFCall>{{cite news |title=World's Only Chinese Man Bird Will Fly at the Emeryville Meet |newspaper=San Francisco Call |date=February 13, 1912 |url=http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85066387/1912-02-13/ed-1/seq-9.pdf}}</ref><ref name=DayBook>{{cite news |title=Farnum Fish Breaks World's Record |newspaper=The Day Book |date=May 25, 1912 |url=http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045487/1912-05-25/ed-1/seq-1.pdf}} Still youngest licensed aviator at age 18.</ref>

==Early flying career== He was born in Los Angeles, California, on October 5, 1896, to a wealthy physician. Fish enrolled in the Wright Flying School near Dayton, Ohio, in 1911 at the age of 15.<ref name=UH>{{cite web |url=http://www.uh.edu/engines/epi2522.htm |title=Episode 2522: Farnum Fish |author=John H. Lienhard |publisher=University of Houston College of Engineering |access-date=August 5, 2012}}</ref> He stated in a 1971 newspaper article that he received four hours of lessons from Orville Wright.<ref name=Sentinel>{{cite news |title=Fabulous Farnum of Early Flying Days-A Look Into Past |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/1010178/farnum_fishs_later_life/? |newspaper=Santa Cruz Sentinel |via=Newspapers.com |author=AP |author-link=Associated Press |page=30 |date=July 14, 1971 |access-date=September 13, 2014}} {{Open access}} Includes contemporary photo of him.</ref> The book ''Orville's Aviators: Outstanding Alumni of the Wright Flying School, 1910-1916'' states that he was taught by Arthur L. Welsh, the Wright Brothers' first flight instructor.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=swjGdOIu06QC&pg=PA30 |title=Orville's Aviators: Outstanding Alumni of the Wright Flying School, 1910-1916 |author=John Carver Edwards |page=30 |publisher=McFarland |date=2009-04-22 |isbn=9780786453030}}</ref> On January 12, 1912, the Aero Club of America issued him Fédération Aéronautique Internationale Airplane Pilot's Certificate #85.<ref name=SI/><!-- I think these are two different licensing entities-->

Fish immediately bought a Wright Model B biplane and had it shipped to California, where he flew it in an air meet at Dominguez Field in Los Angeles which ran from January 20 to 26, 1912.<ref name=SI/><ref name=UH/> On January 21, he had a close call when "he plunged earthward from a height of 1000 feet ''[300 m]'', his biplane righting itself when less than 200 feet ''[61 m]'' from the ground".<ref name=MailTrib>{{cite news |title=Nerve Alone Saves Birdman: Farnum Fish, 17-Year-Old Aviator, Drops 800 Feet – Kept His Head and Righted Machine 200 Feet From Earth |newspaper=Medford Mail Tribune |date=January 22, 1912 |url=http://oregonnews.uoregon.edu/lccn/97071090/1912-01-22/ed-1/seq-4.pdf}}</ref> "The young flier ... stated that his machine dropped through a 'hole' in the air, and that he managed by desperate clinging to keep his seat until he encountered another current that bore him up."<ref name=MailTrib/>

Undeterred, he then participated in another meet at Emeryville, California<ref name=SFCall/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.militarymuseum.org/Ely1.html |title=Californians and the Military: Eugene Burton Ely: The California National Guard's First (Naval) Aviator |author=Mark J. Denger |publisher=California State Military Museum |access-date=August 6, 2012}}</ref> Race Track, also in California, which lasted from February 17 to 21 of the same year.<ref name=SI/> During this meet, he carried the first airmail to Oakland.<ref name=SI/> Next came a small meet in April at the Coronado Polo Grounds in San Diego, where he again carried airmail.<ref name=SI/> According to one source, it was here that Fish angered Glenn Curtiss when he landed without invitation on Curtiss's airfield.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://earlyaviators.com/efish.htm |title=Farnum T. Fish |publisher=earlyaviators.com |access-date=August 5, 2012}}</ref>

On May 17, 1912, Fish was arrested "after landing his Wright Model B (with a woman passenger) in Grant Park"<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lincolnbeachey.com/cicart.html |title=Cicero Flying Field: Origin, Operation, Obscurity and Legacy – 1891–1916 |publisher=lincolnbeachey.com |access-date=August 5, 2012 |archive-date=February 1, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060201033220/http://www.lincolnbeachey.com/cicart.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> in Chicago.<ref name=DayBook/> He avoided a fine by claiming engine trouble.<ref>{{cite news |title=Arrested for Alighting |newspaper=The New York Times |date=May 31, 1912 |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1912/05/31/104897497.pdf}}</ref> The ''Milwaukee Journal'' sponsored his non-stop, {{convert|93|mi|km|adj=on}} flight from Cicero Field, Chicago along Lake Michigan to Milwaukee on May 25, carrying ''Journal'' newspapers, mail and {{convert|50|lb|kg}}<ref name=SI/> or {{convert|300|lb|kg}}<ref name=DayBook/><ref name=Arago>{{cite web |url=http://arago.si.edu/index.asp?con=2&cmd=1&id=182901&img=2&pg=4 |title=Pioneer Period (1783–1918): Over Water Flight cover |author=Stephen Reinhard |publisher=National Postal Museum (arago.si.edu) |date=December 7, 2009 |access-date=August 6, 2012}}</ref> of silk consigned to a department store. He made the trip in record time, either 2 hours 18 minutes<ref name=Arago/> or 2 hours 20 minutes.<ref name=DayBook/> On May 29, ''The New York Times'' reported he had "made a fifty-mile ''[80 km]'' flight from Milwaukee to Watertown, Wis., carrying newspapers to the cities en route. It was the first use of an aeroplane in the circulating of newspapers."<ref>{{cite news |title=Newspapers by Aeroplane: Farnum Fish Flies Over Wisconsin Dropping Bundles From Machine. |newspaper=The New York Times |date=May 30, 1912 |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1912/05/30/104847688.pdf}}</ref> The ''Journal'' stated that he had set a distance record for carrying a passenger, his mechanic Herbert Hazzard, on the return trip to Milwaukee.<ref>{{cite news |title=Thousands See Amazing Feat: Sensational Performance of Farnum Fish Awakens Interest and Draws Congratulations from Entire Countryside – Wins New Laurels. |newspaper=Milwaukee Journal |date=May 30, 1912 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1499&dat=19120530&id=UoMWAAAAIBAJ&pg=2184,1120259 }}{{Dead link|date=February 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

On July 9, Fish wrecked his airplane while performing stunts at Revere Beach in Revere, Massachusetts. He lost control after a wing touched the water. Fish and his student Jack McGee were thrown {{convert|40|ft|m}}, landing in water deep enough to break their fall.<ref>{{cite news|title=Biplane Falls at Revere Beach|newspaper=Boston Daily Globe|date=July 10, 1912}}</ref>

On July 31, Fish and a student survived a crash at Atwood Park in Saugus, Massachusetts after Fish's aircraft hit an air pocket, dropped {{convert|150|ft|m}}, crashed into a pole, turned upside-down and fell to the ground. Fish suffered only minor injuries, while Morris Shoemanhorne had a bruised head and a badly twisted right ankle.<ref>{{cite news|title=Two in Biplane Drop 150 Feet|newspaper=Boston Daily Globe|date=August 1, 1912}}</ref>

[[File:Airplane Coverage of the Milwaukee Grand Prize Race.jpg|thumb|right|Fred Wagner took photographs of the 1912 American Grand Prize race from Fish's airplane, seen here, on October 5.]] On October 6, the ''Milwaukee Journal'' reported that the "young birdman" had taken aloft photographer Fred Wagner to take aerial pictures of automobile races for "a large part of the six hours that the races lasted."<ref>{{cite news |title=Young Birdman Thrills Crowds: Farnum Fish Makes Spectacular Flights Over Grandstand Throngs. |newspaper=Milwaukee Journal |date=October 6, 1912 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1499&dat=19121006&id=85QWAAAAIBAJ&pg=5643,2738585 }}{{Dead link|date=February 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> The ''Boston Evening Transcript'' noted on November 15, 1912 that the Aero Club of America had suspended Fish's license until July 1, 1913 for "violation of the rule prohibiting flying over sporting events, games and other public assemblies. Both Beachey and Fish have been frequently reported as performing difficult and dangerous feats above crowds of spectators".<ref>{{cite news |title=Lincoln Beachey Suspended: Farnum Fish Also Disqualified for Violating Aero Club Rules of Safe Conduct in Flying |newspaper=Boston Evening Transcript |date=November 15, 1912 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2249&dat=19121115&id=e4g-AAAAIBAJ&pg=4041,2599130}}</ref>

Fish was apparently something of a juvenile delinquent. The November 4, 1914 ''Oakland Tribune'' reported that he had been charged with trying to steal an automobile as a "Halloween joke", also noting that he had previously been involved "in several bizarre episodes which brought him to the notice of the Los Angeles juvenile court".<ref>{{cite news |title=Arrested on Charge of Attempting to Steal Automobile |newspaper=Oakland Tribune |date=November 4, 1914 |url=https://newspaperarchive.com/oakland-tribune/1914-11-04/page-15/}}</ref>

==Wounded for Pancho Villa== On May 15, 1915, Fish was flying reconnaissance for Pancho Villa during the Mexican Revolution.<ref name=SI/><ref name=UH/><ref name=MT>{{cite news |title=Villa Assaults Positions Held by Gen. Obregon South of Silao; Wins Fight: Farnum Fish, Wounded in Spectacular Aerial Flight Over Enemies' Trenches, Tells of the Battle and of Being Wounded in Mid – Air; Mickey M'Guire, Birdman, Was Killed |newspaper=El Paso Morning Times |date=May 25, 1915 |url=http://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth197412/m1/1/zoom/}}</ref> While {{convert|500|ft|m}} over a large body of soldiers, he was shot at; one bullet entered his calf, passed through his thigh and ended up in his shoulder.<ref name=UH/><ref name=MT/> He managed to return to his base before crashing in his bullet-ridden aircraft,<ref name=SI/> making him, according to Dr. John H. Lienhard, Professor Emeritus of Mechanical Engineering and History at the University of Houston, "the first airplane casualty in the history of aerial warfare."<ref name=UH/> Fish went home to recuperate, and was soon flying again.

On September 16, 1915, Wisconsin state fair visitors watched as Fish crashed into a pond.<ref name=MilwaukeeSentinel>{{cite news |title=Thousands of Visitors at Fair See Farnum Fish Drop into Deep Pond |newspaper=Milwaukee Sentinel |date=September 16, 1915 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1368&dat=19150916&id=uGscAAAAIBAJ&pg=6913,2728372 }}{{Dead link|date=September 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Fortunately, while his airplane was "badly damaged", the pilot escaped with cuts and bruises.<ref name=MilwaukeeSentinel/>

A special booklet for the 1916 reunion of Massachusetts Institute of Technology alumni listed among its program of activities "Flight by Farnum Fish in a Wright Biplane".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://libraries.mit.edu/archives/exhibits/pageant/index.html |title=Dedication of Cambridge Campus: June 12–14, 1916 |publisher=Massachusetts Institute of Technology Libraries |access-date=August 7, 2012 |archive-date=May 10, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120510124840/http://libraries.mit.edu/archives/exhibits/pageant/index.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Military service== With America's entry into World War I, he enlisted in the United States Army in February 1918 and was commissioned a lieutenant in July.<ref name=SI/> In September, he was sent overseas as a test pilot for the Signal Corps, before being discharged in April 1919.<ref name=SI/> He was a member of the Air Service Officers Reserve Corps from June 1919 to 1934, and returned briefly to active duty in 1942.<ref name=SI/><ref name=UH/>

==Later life== After his military service, he became a businessman in Los Angeles.<ref name=SI/> At the age of 74, he and his wife ran a statuary shop and lived in San Pablo, California.<ref name=Sentinel/>

Fish was a member of the Early Birds of Aviation.

He died on July 30, 1978.

==References== {{Reflist|2}}

==External links== *Photograph of [http://content.cdlib.org/ark:/13030/kt2x0nc2b7/ "Farnum Fish and an unidentified woman seated in an early airplane], San Diego Historical Society *Photographs in the University of South California Digital Library: **[http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/search/controller/view/chs-m13081.html "Aviator Farnum Fish in a Wright biplane at the Dominguez Hills Air Meet, 1912 (1916?)"] **[http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/search/controller/view/chs-m13079.html?x=1344233676730 "Aviator Farnum Fish aloft with a passenger at the Dominguez Hills Air Meet, 1912"] **[http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/search/controller/view/chs-m13080.html?x=1344233676730 "Aviators Farnum Fish and Lincoln Beachey in flight at the Dominguez Hills Air Meet, 1912"]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Fish, Farnum}} Category:American test pilots Category:American World War I pilots Category:American aviation pioneers Category:Aviators from California Category:Members of the Early Birds of Aviation Category:People of the Mexican Revolution Category:United States Army officers Category:1896 births Category:1978 deaths Category:Wright Flying School alumni Category:American aviation record holders