Clarence W. Hinck
Encyclopedia
Clarence W. Hinck also known as "CW", was a pioneer aviator
in the United States
.
on September 15, 1889 to mother Clara from Sweden and father Jens Frederik Hinck from Denmark. Clarence was the fourth child of six. Lilian, the only daughter and fifth child, married parachute jumper Harry Proctor. Hinck's brother Elmer became a flight instructor in Minnesota and a wing walker for Clarence's air shows.
at Dunwoody Institute Naval Training School, one of a group of 700 cadets. In 1919, he joined with Dick Grace
and Lt. Cmdr. Colby Dodge to form Federated Fliers, Inc, a barnstorming
association in Minneapolis. They acquired eighteen war-surplus aircraft - fifteen JN-4 "Jennies" and three LWF trainers. Pilots in the barnstorming acts included Noel Wien
, Dick Grace
, Elmer M. Hinck, Charles "Speed" Holman, George Holey and Lyle Thro.
Hinck was in charge of promotion and publicity for the Federated Fliers and grabbed every chance to promote the group. One promotion was an air mail flight piloted by Dick Grace from Minneapolis to Eau Claire, Wisconsin. The mail carried included letters to dignitaries and a letter to the Lane Publishing Company. The event was the first local instance of business being conducted by airplane.
.
Hinck was inducted in the Minnesota Aviation Hall of Fame in 1990. His brother, Elmer M. Hinck, was inducted in 1991.
Aviator
An aviator is a person who flies an aircraft. The first recorded use of the term was in 1887, as a variation of 'aviation', from the Latin avis , coined in 1863 by G. de la Landelle in Aviation Ou Navigation Aérienne...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Family
Clarence Walter Hinck was born in Litchfield, MinnesotaLitchfield, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 6,562 people, 2,624 households, and 1,653 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,748.4 people per square mile . There were 2,741 housing units at an average density of 730.3 per square mile...
on September 15, 1889 to mother Clara from Sweden and father Jens Frederik Hinck from Denmark. Clarence was the fourth child of six. Lilian, the only daughter and fifth child, married parachute jumper Harry Proctor. Hinck's brother Elmer became a flight instructor in Minnesota and a wing walker for Clarence's air shows.
Early life
Hinck met Elizabeth Irving (1900–1991) in Minneapolis while she was working as legal secretary for Clarence's brother Harry. In the 1930s, they moved to The Tourist Hotel, which Hinck owned, located in Minneapolis. They had one child, Irving Clarence Hinck (1922–1998).Career
Hinck's aviation life began in 1917 when he enlisted in Naval AviationNaval aviation
Naval aviation is the application of manned military air power by navies, including ships that embark fixed-wing aircraft or helicopters. In contrast, maritime aviation is the operation of aircraft in a maritime role under the command of non-naval forces such as the former RAF Coastal Command or a...
at Dunwoody Institute Naval Training School, one of a group of 700 cadets. In 1919, he joined with Dick Grace
Dick Grace
Dick Grace was born in Morris, Minnesota and was an early stunt pilot who specialised in crashing planes for films. Grace was one of the few stunt pilots who died of old age. He was the author of several books including Squadron of Death, Crash Pilot, I am still alive, and Visibility Unlimited...
and Lt. Cmdr. Colby Dodge to form Federated Fliers, Inc, a barnstorming
Barnstorming
Barnstorming was a popular form of entertainment in the 1920s in which stunt pilots would perform tricks with airplanes, either individually or in groups called a flying circus. Barnstorming was the first major form of civil aviation in the history of flight...
association in Minneapolis. They acquired eighteen war-surplus aircraft - fifteen JN-4 "Jennies" and three LWF trainers. Pilots in the barnstorming acts included Noel Wien
Noel Wien
Noel Wien was an American pioneer aviator. He was the founder of Wien Air Alaska, Alaska's first airline.-Biography:...
, Dick Grace
Dick Grace
Dick Grace was born in Morris, Minnesota and was an early stunt pilot who specialised in crashing planes for films. Grace was one of the few stunt pilots who died of old age. He was the author of several books including Squadron of Death, Crash Pilot, I am still alive, and Visibility Unlimited...
, Elmer M. Hinck, Charles "Speed" Holman, George Holey and Lyle Thro.
Hinck was in charge of promotion and publicity for the Federated Fliers and grabbed every chance to promote the group. One promotion was an air mail flight piloted by Dick Grace from Minneapolis to Eau Claire, Wisconsin. The mail carried included letters to dignitaries and a letter to the Lane Publishing Company. The event was the first local instance of business being conducted by airplane.
Irving Hinck
A teenager Hinck's son Irv was the driver of a customized red trailer that carried the auto-polo/push-ball cars and motorcycles from show to show for the Federated Fliers. He also worked as the advance man with Frank Winkey to put up promotion and advertising for the travelling air show. On more than one occasion, he was selected as a back-up pilot for the act where an airplane was crashed into a house. In his later years, he became a captain at Northwest AirlinesNorthwest Airlines
Northwest Airlines, Inc. was a major United States airline founded in 1926 and absorbed into Delta Air Lines by a merger approved on October 29, 2008, making Delta the largest airline in the world...
.
Records and achievements
- Past Commander of the American LegionAmerican LegionThe American Legion is a mutual-aid organization of veterans of the United States armed forces chartered by the United States Congress. It was founded to benefit those veterans who served during a wartime period as defined by Congress...
, Calhoun Post #231 - Past Commander and founder of Aviation Post #511
- Past Chef DeGare of Voiture 45 of the organization 40 Hommes et 8 Chevaux
- Member, The National Defense Commission of the American LegionAmerican LegionThe American Legion is a mutual-aid organization of veterans of the United States armed forces chartered by the United States Congress. It was founded to benefit those veterans who served during a wartime period as defined by Congress...
- Member, The Fort Snelling National CemeteryFort Snelling National CemeteryFort Snelling National Cemetery is a United States National Cemetery located in the city of Minneapolis in Hennepin County, Minnesota. It encompasses , and as of April 24, 2007 had 172,001 interments.- History :...
Committee - Member, The Showman's League of America
- Past President of the National Aeronautics Association
- Member, The Elks Club
- Member, The Last Man Club
- Member, The Minnesota Aviation Trades Association
- Founder and First President of the Minnesota Chapter of the OX-5 Aviation Pioneers of America
Hinck was inducted in the Minnesota Aviation Hall of Fame in 1990. His brother, Elmer M. Hinck, was inducted in 1991.