In the roaring 1920s, Fritz soared into the world of aviation as a daring barnstormer. On November 10, 1927, he made a significant addition to his aviation arsenal by acquiring a Curtiss Jenny JN-4D. However, Fritz’s journey to the skies was not without its trials. Prior to acquiring the Jenny, he had a stint with a Thomas Morse S4C. Unfortunately, his inaugural solo flight ended in a mishap that left him nursing a broken left wrist, a moment poignantly captured in a surviving photograph where he can be seen cradling his injured wrist.
Remarkably, this snapshot offers a tangible connection to Fritz’s early days in aviation. Although another photo of the crash exists from a different perspective, it remains elusive to us.
Throughout his illustrious life, Fritz achieved numerous feats, including an exhilarating flight with a cameraman in his Jenny of the German Graf Zeppelin as it soared over Iola, KS, in 1929. However, this account will focus on his association with the Stinson 108.
On June 4, 1959, Fritz made an intriguing addition to his aircraft collection when he purchased the Stinson from Howard E. Vanderman of Kansas City, MO, located at 2930 Main Street. Unfortunately, the bill of sale does not disclose the selling price. The Stinson was officially registered with the Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA) on July 24, 1959. Carolyn fondly recalls accompanying her grandparents on the journey to Kansas City to retrieve the airplane. The return trip to Iola was a memorable flight with Fritz at the controls of the Stinson.
The Stinson’s active flying days came to a close around 1967(?), after which it was carefully disassembled and housed in the hangar on the family farm in Iola, Kansas. Over time, the wings underwent restoration, including recovering and painting, preserving a piece of aviation history for future generations.
Prior to and during the 108-2, Fritz owned the following aircraft:
- Stinson V77, N73373 (Still flies today in Colorado)
- Stinson 10A, N34630 (Not in the FAA registration)
- Curtis Jenny, NC2310 (I’ve heard stories when Fritz sold it, too long to put here)
Stinson Station Wagon, NC9391K Restoration 