John J. Montgomery
Encyclopedia
John Joseph Montgomery (February 15, 1858 – October 31, 1911) was an aviation
pioneer, inventor, professor at Santa Clara College
.
On August 28, 1883 he made the first manned, controlled, heavier-than-air flights of the United States
, in the Otay Mesa area of San Diego, California
(after European pioneers such as George Cayley
's coachman in 1853, or Jean-Marie Le Bris
in 1856). Later, in 1905, Montgomery's pilot Daniel Maloney made a series of remarkable flights in the vicinity of Aptos and Santa Clara using tandem wing Montgomery gliders launched from balloons. These flights demonstrated the controllability of the Montgomery design and were the highest flights achieved by man to date. John Montgomery filed for patent on April 26, 1905 (issued U.S. Patent #831,173 on September 18, 1906) for his invention of an aeroplane. He was a member of the Aero Club of Illinois (1910) and member of the research committee of the Technical Board of the Aeronautical Society of New York (1911).
Montgomery died in the crash of his glider
"The Evergreen" on October 31, 1911 and was buried at Holy Cross Cemetery
in Colma, California
on November 3, 1911.
In 1946, John J. Montgomery's life was portrayed in the movie Gallant Journey
starring Glenn Ford
and Janet Blair, and directed by William Wellman.
Two California Historical Landmark
s (#711: Montgomery Memorial, Otay Mesa(32.577449 -117.052631); #813: Montgomery Hill, San Jose)(37.302289 -121.758084) near Evergreen Valley College
have been named in his honor as has one section of the Interstate 5 freeway (John J. Montgomery Freeway) in San Diego, California
and a recreation center near the location of his first successful glides (Montgomery-Waller Recreation Center, San Diego, California). The Montgomery Memorial in San Diego features a silver static test wing panel for the B-32 Dominator
mounted upright that is visible for miles.
California schools that have been named in his honor:
Chula Vista Elementary School District:
Evergreen Elementary School District
:
San Diego Unified School District:
Sweetwater Union High School District
:
and one Civil Air Patrol
Squadron (John J. Montgomery Memorial Cadet Squadron 36). San Diego's Montgomery Field
(MYF), one of the busiest airports for small planes in the United States
, is named for him as well.
John J. Montgomery was inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame
in 1964 and the U.S. Soaring Hall of Fame in 2002.
In 1996, Montgomery's 1883 glider was recognized as an International Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmark by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers
. On March 19, 2005, John J. Montgomery was the focus of a Centennial Celebration of Soaring Flight, held in Aptos, California
at the location of some of his early glider experiments.
On March 15, 2008, a sculpture was unveiled at San Felipe and Yerba Buena roads in San Jose, California
as a tribute to the pioneering aviation accomplishments of John Montgomery. The 30-foot-tall steel structure of a glider wing was placed on a 32-foot-diameter plaza designed by San Francisco artist Kent Roberts.
On April 5, 2008, a celebration of the 125th anniversary of John Montgomery's first glides took place at the Hiller Aviation Museum
in San Carlos, California
.
http://www.hiller.org/files/i/Montgomery.jpg
Aviation
Aviation is the design, development, production, operation, and use of aircraft, especially heavier-than-air aircraft. Aviation is derived from avis, the Latin word for bird.-History:...
pioneer, inventor, professor at Santa Clara College
Santa Clara University
Santa Clara University is a private, not-for-profit, Jesuit-affiliated university located in Santa Clara, California, United States. Chartered by the state of California and accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, it operates in collaboration with the Society of Jesus , whose...
.
On August 28, 1883 he made the first manned, controlled, heavier-than-air flights of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, in the Otay Mesa area of San Diego, California
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
(after European pioneers such as George Cayley
George Cayley
Sir George Cayley, 6th Baronet was a prolific English engineer and one of the most important people in the history of aeronautics. Many consider him the first true scientific aerial investigator and the first person to understand the underlying principles and forces of flight...
's coachman in 1853, or Jean-Marie Le Bris
Jean-Marie Le Bris
Jean-Marie Le Bris was a French aviator, born in Concarneau, Brittany, who accomplished a glider flight in December 1856.- Life and works :...
in 1856). Later, in 1905, Montgomery's pilot Daniel Maloney made a series of remarkable flights in the vicinity of Aptos and Santa Clara using tandem wing Montgomery gliders launched from balloons. These flights demonstrated the controllability of the Montgomery design and were the highest flights achieved by man to date. John Montgomery filed for patent on April 26, 1905 (issued U.S. Patent #831,173 on September 18, 1906) for his invention of an aeroplane. He was a member of the Aero Club of Illinois (1910) and member of the research committee of the Technical Board of the Aeronautical Society of New York (1911).
Montgomery died in the crash of his glider
Glider aircraft
Glider aircraft are heavier-than-air craft that are supported in flight by the dynamic reaction of the air against their lifting surfaces, and whose free flight does not depend on an engine. Mostly these types of aircraft are intended for routine operation without engines, though engine failure can...
"The Evergreen" on October 31, 1911 and was buried at Holy Cross Cemetery
Holy Cross Cemetery, Colma
Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery in Colma, California is an American Roman Catholic cemetery operated by the Archdiocese of San Francisco. Established in 1887 on of a former potato farm, it is the oldest and largest cemetery established in Colma to serve the needs of San Francisco...
in Colma, California
Colma, California
Colma is a small incorporated town in San Mateo County, California, at the northern end of the San Francisco Peninsula in the San Francisco Bay Area. The population was 1,792 at the 2010 census. The town was founded as a necropolis in 1924....
on November 3, 1911.
In 1946, John J. Montgomery's life was portrayed in the movie Gallant Journey
Gallant Journey
Gallant Journey is a historical film about early U.S. aeronautical experimenter John Joseph Montgomery. It depicts his efforts to build and fly gliders, from his childhood through to his death in 1911.The chief pilot for the film was Paul Mantz....
starring Glenn Ford
Glenn Ford
Glenn Ford was a Canadian-born American actor from Hollywood's Golden Era with a career that spanned seven decades...
and Janet Blair, and directed by William Wellman.
Recognition and Honors
California Historical Landmark
California Historical Landmarks are buildings, structures, sites, or places in the state of California that have been determined to have statewide historical significance by meeting at least one of the criteria listed below:...
s (#711: Montgomery Memorial, Otay Mesa(32.577449 -117.052631); #813: Montgomery Hill, San Jose)(37.302289 -121.758084) near Evergreen Valley College
Evergreen Valley College
Evergreen Valley College is a community college located on in the southeastern foothills of San José, Santa Clara County, California. As of Fall 2008, more than 8,000 students from more than 70 countries were enrolled....
have been named in his honor as has one section of the Interstate 5 freeway (John J. Montgomery Freeway) in San Diego, California
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
and a recreation center near the location of his first successful glides (Montgomery-Waller Recreation Center, San Diego, California). The Montgomery Memorial in San Diego features a silver static test wing panel for the B-32 Dominator
B-32 Dominator
The Consolidated B-32 Dominator was a heavy bomber made for United States Army Air Forces during World War II, and has the distinction of being the last Allied aircraft to be engaged in combat during World War II. It was developed in parallel with the Boeing B-29 Superfortress as a fallback design...
mounted upright that is visible for miles.
California schools that have been named in his honor:
Chula Vista Elementary School District:
Evergreen Elementary School District
Evergreen Elementary School District
The Evergreen School District operates fifteen elementary schools and three middle schools in San Jose, California, USA. The district has 564 teachers serving 12621 students.Notes: Partiality based on 2002-2003 school year data...
:
San Diego Unified School District:
Sweetwater Union High School District
Sweetwater Union High School District
The Sweetwater Union High School District is a school district headquartered in Chula Vista, California. , the school district is the largest secondary school district in California....
:
and one Civil Air Patrol
Civil Air Patrol
Civil Air Patrol is a Congressionally chartered, federally supported, non-profit corporation that serves as the official civilian auxiliary of the United States Air Force . CAP is a volunteer organization with an aviation-minded membership that includes people from all backgrounds, lifestyles, and...
Squadron (John J. Montgomery Memorial Cadet Squadron 36). San Diego's Montgomery Field
Montgomery Field
Montgomery Field is a public airport located in San Diego, California, United States, six miles north of the central business district of San Diego. The airport covers and has three runways and two helipads...
(MYF), one of the busiest airports for small planes in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, is named for him as well.
John J. Montgomery was inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame
National Aviation Hall of Fame
The American National Aviation Hall of Fame is located at the National Museum of the United States Air Force at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, east Dayton, Ohio...
in 1964 and the U.S. Soaring Hall of Fame in 2002.
In 1996, Montgomery's 1883 glider was recognized as an International Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmark by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers
American Society of Mechanical Engineers
The American Society of Mechanical Engineers is a professional body, specifically an engineering society, focused on mechanical engineering....
. On March 19, 2005, John J. Montgomery was the focus of a Centennial Celebration of Soaring Flight, held in Aptos, California
Aptos, California
Aptos is a census-designated place in Santa Cruz County, California, United States. The population was 6,220 at the 2010 census.Aptos is an unincorporated area of Santa Cruz county, consisting of several small communities...
at the location of some of his early glider experiments.
On March 15, 2008, a sculpture was unveiled at San Felipe and Yerba Buena roads in San Jose, California
San Jose, California
San Jose is the third-largest city in California, the tenth-largest in the U.S., and the county seat of Santa Clara County which is located at the southern end of San Francisco Bay...
as a tribute to the pioneering aviation accomplishments of John Montgomery. The 30-foot-tall steel structure of a glider wing was placed on a 32-foot-diameter plaza designed by San Francisco artist Kent Roberts.
On April 5, 2008, a celebration of the 125th anniversary of John Montgomery's first glides took place at the Hiller Aviation Museum
Hiller Aviation Museum
The Hiller Aviation Museum, located in San Carlos, California, USA at the San Carlos Airport, is an aircraft history museum. The museum was founded by Stanley Hiller, Jr., in June 1998. and is endowed by members of the Hiller Family . It specializes in Northern California aircraft history and...
in San Carlos, California
San Carlos, California
San Carlos is a city in San Mateo County, California, USA on the San Francisco Peninsula, about halfway between San Francisco and San Jose. It is an affluent small residential suburb located between Belmont to the north and Redwood City to the south. San Carlos' ZIP code is 94070, and it is within...
.
http://www.hiller.org/files/i/Montgomery.jpg
See also
- Aviation historyAviation historyThe history of aviation has extended over more than two thousand years from the earliest attempts in kites and gliders to powered heavier-than-air, supersonic and hypersonic flight.The first form of man-made flying objects were kites...
- Allan Haines Loughead
- Zachariah MontgomeryZachariah MontgomeryZachariah "Zach" Montgomery was a publisher, lawyer, politician, and author, particularly known for his skills as an orator....
- Thomas Scott BaldwinThomas Scott BaldwinThomas Scott Baldwin was a pioneer balloonist and U.S. Army major during World War I. He was the first American to descend from a balloon by parachute.-Early career:...
- Joseph BaymaJoseph BaymaJoseph Bayma was a mathematician, philosopher, and scientist. He is known for work relating to stereochemistry and mathematics....
- George Thomas MontgomeryGeorge Thomas MontgomeryGeorge Thomas Montgomery was the first American-born Bishop of the Diocese of Monterey-Los Angeles , serving in that capacity from 1896-1902....
- List of Santa Clara University people
Publications
- Montgomery, John J. Discussions on the Various Papers on Soaring Flight Proceedings of the International Conference on Aerial Navigation, Chicago, Aug. 1-4. 1893 pp. 246-249.
- Montgomery, John J. Soaring Flight, manuscript, 1895.
- Montgomery, John J. The Mechanics Involved in a Bird's Wing in Soaring and Their Relation to Aeronautics, Address to the Southern California Academy of Sciences, Los Angeles, Nov. 9, 1897.
- Montgomery, John J. The Aeroplane, The Aeroplane Advertising Co., Santa Clara, CA
- Montgomery, John J. New Principles in Aerial Flight, Scientific American, November 25, 1905.
- Montgomery, John J. Principles Involved in the Formation of Winged Surfaces and the Phenomenon of Soaring, presented at the Aeronautics Congress, New York, Oct. 28-29, 1907. Published in Aeronautics Vol. 3, No. 5, November, 1908.
- Montgomery, John J. Some Early Gliding Experiments in America, Aeronautics, Vol. 4, No. 1, 1909, pp. 47-50.
- Montgomery, John J. Our Tutors in the Art of Flying, Aeronautics, September 22, 1915, pp. 99-100 (article printed posthumously).
External links
- John J. Montgomery: San Diego Historical Society
- John J. Montgomery: Smithsonian Institution National Air and Space Museum
- Biography with photos at flyingmachines.org
- John J. Montgomery: Santa Clara College
- History of John J. Montgomery's flights at Rohnerville
- Article @ Turner Classic MoviesTurner Classic MoviesTurner Classic Movies is a movie-oriented cable television channel, owned by the Turner Broadcasting System subsidiary of Time Warner, featuring commercial-free classic movies, mostly from the Turner Entertainment and MGM, United Artists, RKO and Warner Bros. film libraries...
website - "Retakes of Flying History", August 1946, Popular Science article on replicas made for "Gallant Journey"