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Col Paul Peck

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Col Paul Peck

Birth	:	10 Aug 1889 Ansted, Fayette County, West Virginia, USA
Death	:	12 Sep 1912 Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, USA
Burial	:	Rockville Cemetery, Rockville, Montgomery County, USA
Coordinate	:	39.0844002, -77.1260986
Plot	:	Section D1, Lot 25, Site 6
Inscription	:	"Son of L.M. & Alice Peck Aviator holding the world's duration record at his death"
Description	:	Aviation pioneer. Born in Anstead, West Virginia and raised in Hinton, he began flying only seven years after the Wright Brothers' first flight. With a background in automobiles and racing, his leap to flying was facilitated by the similarity between the engines, and by the fact that his fiancee's cousin was Rexford Smith, a Washington patent attorney who headed the Rex-Smith Aeroplane Company. One of only three officers chosen by the War Department to learn to fly under Glenn H. Curtiss, he was a First Lieutenant; his title of "Colonel" was an honorific conferred by a... Read More	Aviation pioneer. Born in Anstead, West Virginia and raised in Hinton, he began flying only seven years after the Wright Brothers' first flight. With a background in automobiles and racing, his leap to flying was facilitated by the similarity between the engines, and by the fact that his fiancee's cousin was Rexford Smith, a Washington patent attorney who headed the Rex-Smith Aeroplane Company. One of only three officers chosen by the War Department to learn to fly under Glenn H. Curtiss, he was a First Lieutenant; his title of "Colonel" was an honorific conferred by a governor. In a time of rapid aviation progress, he was first by many measures. Learning to fly in less than two weeks, he was the first pilot to transport U.S. mail officially and became a regular, making runs from New York City to several Long Island towns. When the executive committee of the Aero Club of America began issuing pilot licenses, he qualified July 29-30, 1911, and was granted license #57. When the first U.S. military aviation school opened at College Park, Maryland in 1911, Peck was an instructor. The first man to fly over the nation's capitol, on August 5, 1911, he flew over the Capitol Building, down Pennsylvania Avenue, and circled the Washington Monument, thrilling huge crowds and covering 24 miles in 25 minutes, setting a speed record. He was best known for his American duration record attained two months after his wife died, on May 24, 1912, partially during a blinding wind and rain storm, remaining in the air 4 hours, 33 minutes and 15 seconds at Long Island. Peck still held that record when he met his end preparing for the Second Chicago International Air Meet. On the eve of the meet, at Cicero Field under posted cautions and gusty wind conditions, his Columbia biplane was at 1000 feet when he executed a spiral descent. His plane's nose and left wing put him into too deep an angle, and unable to pull out of the steep dive, he came down straight into the field at 100 miles per hour, and died several hours later. It is thought the rear-mounted "pusher" engine came loose and ripped through the plane as well, hitting him from behind. He passed away a few hours later at St. Anthony de Padua Hospital at 19th and Marshall Boulevard on either the 11th or 12th of September 1912, depending on source consulted - DC deaths and burials, DC deaths, and Illinois, Cook County Deaths all give it as the 12th, while his tombstone states the 11th. His death was one of over 45 flight-related fatalities that year, and one of seven air deaths that month. He passed away four months after Wilbur Wright, and his funeral itself made the history books as the first funeral procession in Washington, DC composed entirely of cars.

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Col Paul Peck's memorial?
Col Paul Peck's memorial is located at: Rockville Cemetery, Rockville, Montgomery County, USA.
When did Col Paul Peck death?
Col Paul Peck death on 12 Sep 1912 in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, USA
Where are the coordinates of the Col Paul Peck's memorial?
Latitude: 39.0844002
Longitude: -77.1260986

Family Members:

Parent

Leonidas McFarland “Lon” Peck

(1857 - 1934)

Alice Masters Peck

(1869 - 1956)

Spouse

Ruth Owens Peck

(1893 - 1912)

Siblings

Marion Katherine Peck Clendenen

(1903 - 1991)

Children

Paul Peck Jr.

(1912 - 1919)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Rockville Cemetery
Rockville, Montgomery County, USA
Coordinate: 39.0844002, -77.1260986

2. New Saint Mary's Catholic Church Cemetery
Rockville, Montgomery County, USA
Coordinate: 39.0830994, -77.1268997

3. Avery Road Colored Cemetery
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Coordinate: 39.0897220, -77.1255560

4. Rockville United Church Memorial Garden
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Coordinate: 39.0783570, -77.1158440

5. Old Saint Mary's Catholic Church Cemetery
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Coordinate: 39.0819830, -77.1453850

6. Martin Family Cemetery
Rockville, Montgomery County, USA
Coordinate: 39.0960100, -77.1428960

7. Lincoln Park Cemetery
Rockville, Montgomery County, USA
Coordinate: 39.0954300, -77.1452900

8. Christ Episcopal Church Columbarium
Rockville, Montgomery County, USA
Coordinate: 39.0823100, -77.1528500

9. Rockville United Methodist Church Columbarium
Rockville, Montgomery County, USA
Coordinate: 39.0839060, -77.1554180

10. Rockville Baptist Cemetery
Rockville, Montgomery County, USA
Coordinate: 39.0835400, -77.1562300

11. Parklawn Memorial Park and Menorah Gardens
Rockville, Montgomery County, USA
Coordinate: 39.0639000, -77.1091995

12. Montgomery County Poor Farm Cemetery
Rockville, Montgomery County, USA
Coordinate: 39.0727400, -77.1540500

13. Haiti Cemetery
Rockville, Montgomery County, USA
Coordinate: 39.0931000, -77.1573100

14. Higgins Family Cemetery
Rockville, Montgomery County, USA
Coordinate: 39.0597400, -77.1162300

15. Prather Family Cemetery
Montgomery County, USA
Coordinate: 39.1133330, -77.1147220

16. Faith United Methodist Church Memorial Garden
Rockville, Montgomery County, USA
Coordinate: 39.0536300, -77.1392600

17. Aspin Hill Memorial Park
Silver Spring, Montgomery County, USA
Coordinate: 39.0799600, -77.0772300

18. Crabb Family Cemetery
Derwood, Montgomery County, USA
Coordinate: 39.1151300, -77.1582400

19. Gate of Heaven Cemetery
Silver Spring, Montgomery County, USA
Coordinate: 39.0825005, -77.0738983

20. Derwood Cemetery
Derwood, Montgomery County, USA
Coordinate: 39.1186400, -77.1580800

21. Mount Pleasant Methodist Church Cemetery
Norbeck, Montgomery County, USA
Coordinate: 39.1104800, -77.0810960

22. Trinity Lutheran Church Columbarium
Rockville, Montgomery County, USA
Coordinate: 39.0387727, -77.1235788

23. Saint Lukes Lutheran Cemetery
Derwood, Montgomery County, USA
Coordinate: 39.1304800, -77.1494800

24. Beall Cemetery
Silver Spring, Montgomery County, USA
Coordinate: 39.0877991, -77.0607986