# Jimmie Mattern

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American aviator

Jimmie Mattern James Mattern in Berlin following an aborted attempt to fly around the world in 1932. Born (1905-03-08)March 8, 1905 Freeport, Illinois, USA Died December 17, 1988(1988-12-17) (aged 83) Last Residence, Palm Desert, Riverside, California[2][3] Known for Two failed around the world aviation record attempts Spouse(s) Della, 1927-1937 Dorothy Harvey, married May 18, 1937 - 1988 Aviation career Full name James Joseph Mattern[1] First flight JN-4 Jenny

**James Joseph Mattern** (March 8, 1905 – December 17, 1988) was an American [aviator](/source/Aviator). Mattern undertook a number of aviation world records, including twice attempting to break the world record for [aerial circumnavigation](/source/Circumnavigation#Notable_aerial_circumnavigations) set by [Wiley Post](/source/Wiley_Post) and [Harold Gatty](/source/Harold_Gatty). Both attempts failed; the second in 1933 resulted in a crash landing and subsequent rescue by Eskimos and [Sigizmund Levanevsky](/source/Sigizmund_Levanevsky) in [Chukotka](/source/Chukotka_Autonomous_Okrug). Mattern would go on to join the search for Levanevsky after he went missing in 1937. Levanevsky was never found.

In 1928, Mattern sold an air plane to an oil company in [Texas](/source/Texas) owned by [Michael Benedum](/source/Michael_Late_Benedum).[4] Benedum would later become a frequent financial backer of Mattern's flying activities. In 1937, Mattern was hired as the aeronautical director for the Benedum and Tree's oil company.[5]

Starting in 1938, Mattern was a [Lockheed](/source/Lockheed_Corporation) test pilot on the [P-38 Lightning](/source/P-38_Lightning) and during the war helped develop the 'Piggyback' two-seat version that significantly reduced training accidents. In 1946 he was diagnosed at the [Mayo Clinic](/source/Mayo_Clinic) with a ruptured blood vessel in his brain (perhaps due to repeated excessive G-forces experienced while demonstrating P-38s) and was unable to fly again because of the condition. After losing his ability to fly, Mattern and his wife became real estate brokers and then operated a travel agency. He also supported the space program, attended three [Apollo](/source/Apollo_program) launches and had his [pilot's license](/source/Pilot_certification_in_the_United_States) carried to the moon aboard [Apollo 11](/source/Apollo_11).[6] He also marketed aviation calculators known as the Mattern computer, a course and mileage [slide rule](/source/Slide_rule#Circular_slide_rules), in the late 1940s.

## Personal life

James Mattern was born March 8, 1905, in [Freeport, Illinois](/source/Freeport%2C_Illinois), to Phillip and Caroline (née Kennedy) Mattern. He also had two older brothers and an older sister. Mattern married Della M. in [Los Angeles](/source/Los_Angeles) in 1927. He requested a [divorce](/source/Divorce) in [Chicago](/source/Chicago), [Illinois](/source/Illinois), in 1937, stating that Della had left him in 1932 and was living in [Washington](/source/Washington_(U.S._state)). On May 18, 1937, the day after his divorce was finalized, Mattern was married to Dorothy J. Harvey, a showgirl, at [Berwyn](/source/Berwyn%2C_Illinois) Methodist Church.[7] He remained married to Dorothy until his death in 1988. Dorothy died in January 2002.[8]

## Aerial circumnavigation record attempts

July 5, 1932: Mattern and [Bennett Griffin](/source/Bennett_Griffin) flew *The Century of Progress*,[9] a [Lockheed Vega](/source/Lockheed_Vega), powered by a [Pratt & Whitney](/source/Pratt_%26_Whitney) Wasp engine, from [Floyd Bennett Field](/source/Floyd_Bennett_Field), New York, to [Harbor Grace](/source/Harbor_Grace), Newfoundland, and then non-stop to [Berlin](/source/Berlin), [Germany](/source/Germany), in 18:41 hours. This failed round-the-world flight attempt ended in an emergency crash landing at [Borisov](/source/Barysaw), [Belarus](/source/Belarus), [USSR](/source/Soviet_Union), on July 7, 1932. They did, however, set a record for crossing the Atlantic Ocean: 10 hours, 50 minutes.[10]

June 3, 1933: Mattern flew a rebuilt *Century of Progress*. largely a different aircraft, and this time solo, from Floyd Bennett Field across the Atlantic. On June 14, 1933, he made a forced landing near [Anadyr](/source/Anadyr_(town)), in [Chukotka](/source/Chukotka_Autonomous_Okrug), where the *Century* was abandoned. He was eventually rescued by Eskimos and flown to [Nome, Alaska](/source/Nome%2C_Alaska), by [Sigizmund Levanevsky](/source/Sigizmund_Levanevsky). Mattern flew the rest of the way back to New York.

## Honors

- 1973 [National Aeronautic Association](/source/National_Aeronautic_Association) [Wesley L. McDonald](/source/Wesley_L._McDonald) Elder Statesman Award[11]

- 1981, Oklahoma Air and Space Hall of Fame

- Honorary fellow of the [Society of Experimental Test Pilots](/source/Society_of_Experimental_Test_Pilots)[12]

## Bibliography

- *[Cloud country](http://lccn.loc.gov/36018240)* Mattern, Jimmie. The Pure oil company. Chicago. 1936. (OCoLC)1369439. ASIN: B001PM7GYU.

- Allen, Thomas. ["Guide to the James J. "Jimmie" Mattern Collection"](https://web.archive.org/web/20140908224739/http://www.utdallas.edu/library/specialcollections/hac/general/Mattern.pdf) (PDF). *The James J. “Jimmie” Mattern Collection, History of Aviation Collection, McDermott Library*. University of Texas at Dallas. Archived from [the original](http://www.utdallas.edu/library/specialcollections/hac/general/Mattern.pdf) (PDF) on 8 September 2014. Retrieved 25 September 2012.

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** [Aeronautics: Flights & Flyers, Jul. 18, 1932](https://archive.today/20120914002428/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,753407,00.htm). Time.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** [Social Security Death Index](http://www.footnote.com/page/16397749_james_j_mattern/) via footnote.com

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** California Death Index

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Randolph, Jennings (1939). ["Friend To Aviation"](https://books.google.com/books?id=Gkk2bp1kw98C&dq=jimmy+mattern+benedum&pg=PA51). Popular Aviation. Retrieved 3 March 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Allen, Thomas. ["Guide to the James J. "Jimmie" Mattern Collection"](https://web.archive.org/web/20160303174635/http://www.utdallas.edu/library/specialcollections/hac/general/Mattern.pdf) (PDF). Archived from [the original](https://www.utdallas.edu/library/specialcollections/hac/general/Mattern.pdf) (PDF) on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 3 March 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-sketch_6-0)** UT Dallas. [Guide to the James J. “Jimmie” Mattern Collection](http://www.utdallas.edu/library/specialcollections/hac/general/Mattern.pdf) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20140908224739/http://www.utdallas.edu/library/specialcollections/hac/general/Mattern.pdf) 2014-09-08 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine). Biographical Sketch, page 3.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** "Jimmie Mattern Marries Showgirl". *Wisconsin State Journal*. Madison, Wisconsin. Wednesday, May 19, 1937. Page 2.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Social Security Death Index

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** [Lockheed Vega Model 5 NC869E](http://www.dmairfield.com/airplanes/NC869E/index.html) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20090730001958/http://www.dmairfield.com/airplanes/NC869E/index.html) 2009-07-30 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine). Delta Mike Airfield, Inc. Accessed May 14, 2009.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** "World Flyers reach Berlin and press on." Associated Press. *Jefferson City Post-Tribune*. Jefferson City, Missouri. Wednesday, July 6, 1932. Page 1.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** [Wesley L. McDonald Elder Statesman Awards](http://www.naa.aero/html/awards/index.cfm?cmsid=167) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20070630212056/http://www.naa.aero/html/awards/index.cfm?cmsid=167) 2007-06-30 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine). [National Aeronautic Association](/source/National_Aeronautic_Association).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** [Society of Experimental Test Pilots](http://www.aircrash.org/burnelli/setp.htm) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20110721010108/http://www.aircrash.org/burnelli/setp.htm) 2011-07-21 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine). Honorary Fellows / list as of 1997.

## External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [James Mattern](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:James_Mattern).

- [The Early Birds of Aviation, Inc.](http://earlyaviators.com/emattern.htm) - Mattern

- [Lockheed Vega "Century of Progress", after landing in Russia 1932](https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/aviators-mattern-griffin-lockheed-293429116)(archived)

Authority control databases International ISNI VIAF FAST WorldCat National United States Poland Other SNAC Yale LUX

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Jimmie Mattern](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmie_Mattern) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmie_Mattern?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.