Roscoe Turner

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Roscoe Turner

Roscoe Turner Signed Photo

Handsome portrait of the dashing daredevil pilot Roscoe Turner, inscribed and signed circa 1940. Photo is in fair condition with a tear to the upper right edge, repaired on reverse with archival linen tape, and a missing lower left corner, but not affecting the inscripton and autograph.

Roscoe Turner (1895-1970) was an aviator who was a three-time winner of the Thompson Trophy. The first half of the 1920s saw Turner living the gypsy life; teaming up with other ex-Army fliers to perform shows across the American Midwest and south. He saw there was no future in barnstorming and realized that his fame was in the west. It was during this time he became notable for his Nevada Airlines, flying wealthy people to Reno, Nevada. He also worked for a time as a stunt pilot for the movies. His Sikorsky S-29 stood in for a German bomber in Howard Hughes’ movie Hell’s Angels. When the 1920s ended, Turner became involved in air racing.