After graduating from Allegany High School in 1931, Jack Delagrange, Lee Duvall, and Harry Williams jointly constructed a Meade RR1 primary glider in the basement of the Delagrange residence on Camden Avenue in Cumberland. The glider was completed by Christmas 1931 and, according to the glider’s log book, was first flown on May 27, 1932 by Curly Bill Johnson. The first flight was launched after being towed behind a Model T Ford (according to Bernice Delagrange Monroe, Jack’s sister). This is the first glider recorded flight in the Cumberland area, preceding by many years the more serious soaring flights by Bill Holbrook and Bob Poling in early 1959. Curly Bill Johnson had three low skimming flights that day which totaled 45 seconds.
Lee Duvall is in front of the Meade RR 1 Primary Glider. Note Duvall in his flying attire including leather boots.
None of the owners, Delagrange, Duvall or Williams, could fly but taught themselves straight and level flight. This was accomplished by being towed over the east-west runway at Mexico Farms by the Model T Ford. On July 9, 1932, Ronald Torque Landis flew it six times. On July 21, Landis gained an altitude of about 150 feet and landed in a wheat field while attempting to execute a 180 degree turn. The last entry is July 23, when the total flights numbered 194, or a total airborne time of one hour and 53 minutes. This equates to 35 seconds per flight. It is astonishing that this flight recording by Delagrange was so exacting as to be noted in seconds. Jack’s sister related that Jack had taken her for a ride when she was about 8 years old by placing her behind him and having her hold onto the airframe. Bogus Johnson, the owner of the airport, became aware of this incident. An immediate stop of this type passenger activity was ordered by Bogus.
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Wings Over Cumberland 