After the sudden death of Curly Bill Johnson due to a heart attack, no legitimate flight instruction was available at Mexico Farms. Bill Rannells had accumulated 300 hours flying time in five years and obtained his commercial license with an instructors rating. With Jack Delagrange he formed the Cumberland Flying Service in October 1938 with two 40 hp Continental powered Taylor J-2 Cubs. Jerome ‘Bogus’ Johnson, owner of the airport, constructed their four plane hangar on the west side of the south runway near the paved road. Shortly after, Jack Delagrange obtained an Aircraft and Engine mechanics rating and a Commercial License with Instructor’s Rating. The business thrived. Many individuals secured their private pilot licenses with a few obtaining higher ratings. It became fashionable in Cumberland to learn to fly with Bill Rannells at the Cumberland Flying Service, which later became the Rannells Flying Service. Bill’s wife, Jean, a nurse at the Kelly-Springfield Tire Company, also learned to fly in a new 50hp Franklin powered Piper Cub in the summer of 1939.
One of their students, Ellsworth Rosenmerkle, obtained his commercial license and instructors rating and then assisted the flying service teaching beginning students. Piper J-3 Cubs, with higher horsepower engines, were now available. At one period during 1940-41 the flying service owned four Piper J-3’s and a Piper J-5, plus the original Taylor J-2 of owned by Rannells. Another even larger hangar was built by Bogus Johnson. The J-5 rented for seven dollars per hour, the J-3’s for six and the J-2 for four. One individual observed that a J-3 cost ten cents per minute, an astronomical sounding amount following the Great Depression. An instructor charged two dollars per hour to teach flying to the student pilots. About this time the company name changed to the Rannells Flying Service and another larger hangar was constructed by Bogus Johnson. As a designated Piper dealer, several new airplanes were sold by the flying service. Jean Rannells, Bill’s wife, related that they participated in the annual Light Plane Cavalcade to Miami, Florida for the All-American Air Maneuvers in 1940. Circumstances arose on the return trip whereby Jean had to fly her husband’s Cub back to Cumberland alone. Jack Delagrange related that he and Lewis Ort flew a J-2 Cub in the previous Light Plane Cavalcade to Miami in 1939. Jack said that after taking off from an airport near Tampa Bay during a high temperature day they flew for what seemed to be miles over the water of the Bay before being able to very slowly climb to cruising altitude. This was quite a feat for the 40 hp Continental Engine and the J-2 with two large passengers plus their baggage.
During this time of increasing national defense preparation a federally sponsored program, the Civilian Pilot Training Program, was initiated in most colleges, universities, and other sites for flight training through out the country. In the fall of 1940 the Cumberland Elks Club No. 63 conducted a Refresher Course. An aviation ground school for men between the ages of 18 to 27 was held, enabling them to successfully pass a Civil Aeronautics Authority written test as part of a private pilot’s license examination. The expense was covered under the Civilian Pilot Training Program. At the end of 1940 and beginning of 1941 Ellsworth Rosenmerkle, stated that he and Bill Rannells successfully instructed local professional photographer George Ruhl, as well as Chris Frey, Dick Joyce, Paul Wilson, and John Parks in obtaining their private pilot licenses. These five obtained the highest test scores as part of a private pilot’s license examination. Later, in 1942 and 1943, George Ruhl flew hazardous Coastal Patrol duty with the Civil Air Patrol searching for German submarines.
In early 1941 Bill Rannells, as a Reserve Commissioned Army Officer, was called to active duty in the US Army Corps of Engineers stationed at nearby Fort Belvoir, Virginia. Jack Delagrange also entered active duty with the Air Force as a Service Pilot. Bill Rannells commuted to Cumberland on week-ends and, with the help of Ellsworth Rosenmerkle, kept the Cumberland Flying Service in operation. With the entry of the United States into World War II in December, 1941 and with the many restrictions imposed on private flying as a result of the war, the Cumberland Flying Service was disbanded and the aircraft were sold. The J-2 Taylor Cub was sold to Bernie Miltenberger and one of the 60 hp Franklin powered Piper J-3 Cubs to Lloyd Trimmer.
Bill Rannells served with distinction with General Douglas MacArthur’s staff in the Pacific Theater of War, rising to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. While there, he contracted tuberculosis, and was hospitalized for several months. After the end of the conflict he returned to Mineral County, WV, working in his profession as a civil engineer. He took second place flying a Piper J-3 Cub in the Mexico Farms cross country air race of 1947 but did not return to flying professionally thereafter. Rannells passed away in the 1960s.
A view of the Cumberland Flying Service, and Bill Rannells and Forrest Miller relaxing at the Johnson snack bar.
* * * * *
Wings Over Cumberland 