{{Short description|20th-century American aviator}} {{Infobox person | name = Wilmer Lower Stultz | image = Wilmer Lower Stultz 1928.png | image_size = | caption = Stultz in 1928 | birth_name = | birth_date = 11 April 1900 | birth_place = | death_date = {{Death date and age|1929|7|1|1900|4|11}} | death_place = Roosevelt Field<br>New York | death_cause = Air crash | resting_place = Presbyterian Cemetery<br>Williamsburg, Pennsylvania | resting_place_coordinates = | citizenship = | other_names = | known_for = | education = | alma_mater = | employer = | occupation = Pilot | title = | height = | term = | predecessor = | successor = | party = | boards = | spouse = {{marriage|Mildred Potts|1919|1929}} | partner = | children = | parents = | relations = | signature = | website = | footnotes = }} '''Wilmer Lower Stultz''' (April 11, 1900 – July 1, 1929) was an aviator who made the first non-stop flight between New York City and Havana, Cuba. He flew Amelia Earhart when she became the first woman to make a trans-Atlantic flight. He died in a crash in 1929.
==Biography== thumb|Wilmer Stultz wearing aviation gear thumb|317x317px|Aviator Wilmer Stultz in 1928 He was born in Williamsburg, Pennsylvania, on April 11, 1900.
Stultz joined the United States Army Air Force on 22 August 1917 and was assigned to the 634th Aero Supply Squadron, reaching the rank of Sergeant. He was discharged on 31 March 1919. Stultz then joined the United States Naval Air Service in December that year, training at Pensacola, Florida. He served at Hampton Roads, Virginia, testing the F5L flying boat.<ref name=DMAF>{{cite web|title=Wilmer Lower Stultz |url=http://www.dmairfield.com/people/stultz_wl/index.html|quote=Wilmer Lower "Bill" Stultz was born in Williamsburg, PA on April 11, 1900. He enlisted in the U.S. Army August 22, 1917, advanced to the rank of sergeant in the 634th Aero Supply Squadron, and was honorably discharged March 31, 1919. ...|access-date=27 March 2012}}</ref>
He married Mildred Potts of Middletown, Pennsylvania, on August 4, 1919.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Earhart |first=Amelia |title=20 Hrs. 40 Minutes |publisher=G.P. Putnam |year=1928 |isbn=9781614276876 |edition=1st |pages=311}}</ref>
On March 5, 1928, Stultz, Oliver Colin LeBoutillier, and Mabel Boll on an improvised seat, made the first non-stop flight in the ''Columbia'' between New York City and Havana, Cuba (c. 1300 mi.).
thumb|map of the flight taken by Friendship Stultz was the pilot of the Fokker Trimotor "Friendship" on June 18, 1928, when Amelia Earhart became the first woman passenger to cross the Atlantic Ocean by airplane.<ref name=":0" />
Stultz was killed in a crash at Roosevelt Field in Mineola, New York on July 1, 1929. Two passengers were also killed.<ref name="DMAF" /> It was firstly reported that he had been intoxicated on the flight,<ref>{{cite news |date=July 7, 1929 |title=Stultz Death Causes Liquor Sale Inquiry. Nassau Prosecutor to Hunt for Persons Selling Intoxicants to Air Pilots |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9F0DE4D91F39E133A25754C0A9619C946895D6CF |newspaper=New York Times}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=July 6, 1929 |title=Alcohol Is Found In Brain Of Stultz. Dr. Gettler Reports Evidence That Pilot on Fatal Flight Had Been Drinking. Offlclals Push Inquiry. Witnesses of Accident Tell Federal Inspectors of seeing struggle in Plane |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9907E6D61231E73ABC4E53DFB1668382639EDE |newspaper=New York Times}}</ref> but later he was vindicated of the charge.<ref>{{cite news |date=July 17, 1929 |title=Wilmer Stultz Vindicated by Coroner's Report |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qD9dAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA3 |newspaper=The Pittsburgh Press |pages=20}}</ref> He was buried in the Presbyterian Cemetery in Williamsburg, Pennsylvania.<ref>{{cite news |title=Associates Honor Stultz At Funeral. Aviators and American Legion Delegations Attend Services for Transatlantic Pilot. Miss Earhart A Mourner. Mrs. Payne Whitney and Son and Daughter Also Pay Respects to Flier. Police Escort Cortege |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9C05E6DA1130E33ABC4B53DFB1668382639EDE |newspaper=New York Times |date=July 3, 1929 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Stultz Buried In Home City. Airplanes Drop Flowers in Cemetery at Williamsburg, Pa. |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9F07E3D71231E73ABC4D53DFB1668382639EDE |newspaper=New York Times |date=July 5, 1929 }}</ref>
==Legacy== Stultz Field in Tipton, Pennsylvania, was named in his honor.
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Stultz, Wilmer}} Category:1900 births Category:1929 deaths Category:Aviators from Pennsylvania Category:Aviators killed in aviation accidents or incidents in the United States Category:People from Blair County, Pennsylvania Category:Victims of aviation accidents or incidents in 1929 Category:Accidental deaths in New York (state)