ALABAMA AVIATION HALL OF FAME
JAMES H. KEETON
James H. Keeton made many important historic contributions to aviation in the United States, during his professional career as a pilot. His decicated interest in flying started as"a young boy in Meridian, Miss.Keeton took a joy flying ride with Al Key, who operated a flying service in Meridian with his brother Fred. The dramatic and joyful influence of the flight with Key, motivated Keeton to work part-time and save money to take flying lessons from Al Key. In 1931, he flew his first, solo flight in an OXX6 Eagle Rock. This was the start, of Keeton's impressive achievements in avaiation. Young Keeton did not waste time to pursue flying as a full time business. He moved to Mobile, Alabama and became the owner of the Keeton-Parker Flying Service located at Bates Field, the municipal airport, of Mobile. Bates later became the Brookley Air Force Base. During this early stage in the progress of private and commercial aviation, Keeton became one of the nation1s first leaders in providing flying services which served to enlighten the general public about, the prospective advantages to our communities from the use of aviation. Keeton was a pioneer in providing flying instructions to citizens in Alabama, as one of the services of the Keeton-Parker Flying Service Company. In addition, he carried passengers on joy rides over the city. He also flew Charter Flights, and took aerial photographs. On Weekends, the Keeton-Parker Services conducted barnstorming showswith complete stunt exhibits.
In 1935, Al and Fred Key persuaded Keeton to take time from his business and to come to Meridian, Miss, to work with them and help them to plan and perform an endurance flight. The flight was to be made with a Curtis Robin aircraft. Keeton had a Curtis Robin that was almost identical to the plane the Key Brothers planned to fly, which they named "Ole Miss". The Key brothers needed Keeton's plane for refueling the Ole Miss, and they knew that Keeton possessed the exceptional skills as a pilot for refueling the Ole Miss in the endurance record flight attempt. Al and Fred Key were the pilots of the Ole Miss; and James Keeton and Bill Ward flew in the refueling plane. The refueling plane crew included James Keeton, pilot, and Bill Ward, who was the owner of the Ole Miss. Ward conducted the transfer of the refueling hose, in flight, to the Ole Miss and also the transfer of food and supplies. Keeton, and Ward, used a specially constructed Sack used to transfer food and supplies from Keeton's plane to the Ole Miss. The record endurance flight of the Ole Miss lasted 27 and 1/3 days, which amounted to 653 hours and 34 minutes of flying time. Keeton made 438 contacts with his plane to refuel the Ole Miss and to transfer food and supplies during the endurance flight. Refueling contacts were very difficult and required superior skill to fly the refueling plane within 8 to 10 feet of the Ole Miss and to maintain flying stability at 65 to 80 miles per hour with buffeting winds during the refueling. This world record sustained flight was achieved at a time in aviation history when such feats were daring, dangerous and historic. The Ole Miss endurance record flight brought worldwide recognition and respect to American aviation, and specially to the Key Brothers and James Keeton.
There were several history making "Firsts" in the planning and conduct of the Ole Miss endurance record flight. For the first time in aviation history, a privately owned aircraft used Blind Flying Instruments, which were loaned to the Key Brothers by General (then Capt.) Claire Chennault of the US Army Air Corps. Another first was the used of VHF radio communication for air to ground and ground to air communication and navigation. Ben Woodruft, was the builder of the VHF radio unit with the advice of The Key Brothers and Keeton. Woodruft joined Keeton and Ward at the 20th anniversary of the Ole Miss flight. Another invention made for the Ole Miss flight, was the nozzle used on the refueling hose which eliminated the potential danger of spilling gas during the refueling process. The nozzle modification was invented by A. D. Hunter with the assistance of Keeton. The nozzle modification was adopted by the U.S. Air Force and a similar technique is used today by the Strategic Air Command. The flying time Keeton acquired in supporting the Ole Miss endurance flight, plus his flying time acquired in operation of his flying service business gave Keeton the flying time and knowledge to qualify for a Transport Aviation License. His major goal from the start of his flying career was to be an Air Line Pilot. In pursuit of that goal he next acquired enough time to qualify for a Reserve Officer Commission as a pilot in the U.S. Army Air Corps. Keeton served 10 years in the US Army Air Corps Reserve. Al Key, kept in close touch with Keeton after the Ole Miss flight. The Key brothers supported Keeton in his efforts to become an Army Air Corp pilot. Keeton's outstanding service as a pilot in the Army Air Corps, was a big help in getting employed by the United Air Lines in 1936. He started as a co-pilot ina Boeing 247. He was promoted to Air Line Captain in 1940.
During World II the Army, Navy and Marine Corps assigned military pilots to fly as co-pilots with the United Air Lines for training in piloting transport aircraft, Keeton got a citation for his outstanding efforts in training the military co-pilots assigned to him. After World War II he advanced from DC-3's to DC-4's and then to DC-6's. In 1950 Keeton started a long term as pilot of United Airline cargo aircraft under contract with the military services. He airlifted military cargo and troops throughout the Korean War. Then he again, flew military contracted flights during the Vietnam War. The U.S. Air Force presented Keeton a plaque in recognition of his outstanding services while airlifting military troops and cargo. In 1970, Keeton completed thirty-four years of superior and varied flying experience with United Air Lines, plus the previous 10 years, before United Air Lines, in his private flying business, the Ole Miss and the Army Air Corps.
James and Eda Keeton now live in Magnolia Springs, Alabama. They have a beautiful home in a quiet area on the waterways that lead to the Gulf of Mexico. Fishing is a favorite pastime for James and Eda, and their many friends. difficult and required superior skill to fly the refueling plane within 8 to 10 feet of the Ole Miss and to maintain flying stability at 65 to 80 miles per hour with buffeting winds during the refueling. This world record sustained flight was achieved at a time in aviation history when such feats were daring, dangerous and historic. The Ole Miss endurance record flight brought worldwide recognition and respect to American aviation, and specially to the Key Brothers and James Keeton.
In 1935, Al and Fred Key persuaded Keeton to take time from his business and to come to Meridian, Miss, to work with them and help them to plan and perform an endurance flight. The flight was to be made with a Curtis Robin aircraft. Keeton had a Curtis Robin that was almost identical to the plane the Key Brothers planned to fly, which they named "Ole Miss". The Key brothers needed Keeton's plane for refueling the Ole Miss, and they knew that Keeton possessed the exceptional skills as a pilot for refueling the Ole Miss in the endurance record flight attempt. Al and Fred Key were the pilots of the Ole Miss; and James Keeton and Bill Ward flew in the refueling plane. The refueling plane crew included James Keeton, pilot, and Bill Ward, who was the owner of the Ole Miss. Ward conducted the transfer of the refueling hose, in flight, to the Ole Miss and also the transfer of food and supplies. Keeton, and Ward, used a specially constructed Sack used to transfer food and supplies from Keeton's plane to the Ole Miss. The record endurance flight of the Ole Miss lasted 27 and 1/3 days, which amounted to 653 hours and 34 minutes of flying time. Keeton made 438 contacts with his plane to refuel the Ole Miss and to transfer food and supplies during the endurance flight. Refueling contacts were very difficult and required superior skill to fly the refueling plane within 8 to 10 feet of the Ole Miss and to maintain flying stability at 65 to 80 miles per hour with buffeting winds during the refueling. This world record sustained flight was achieved at a time in aviation history when such feats were daring, dangerous and historic. The Ole Miss endurance record flight brought worldwide recognition and respect to American aviation, and specially to the Key Brothers and James Keeton.
There were several history making "Firsts" in the planning and conduct of the Ole Miss endurance record flight. For the first time in aviation history, a privately owned aircraft used Blind Flying Instruments, which were loaned to the Key Brothers by General (then Capt.) Claire Chennault of the US Army Air Corps. Another first was the used of VHF radio communication for air to ground and ground to air communication and navigation. Ben Woodruft, was the builder of the VHF radio unit with the advice of The Key Brothers and Keeton. Woodruft joined Keeton and Ward at the 20th anniversary of the Ole Miss flight. Another invention made for the Ole Miss flight, was the nozzle used on the refueling hose which eliminated the potential danger of spilling gas during the refueling process. The nozzle modification was invented by A. D. Hunter with the assistance of Keeton. The nozzle modification was adopted by the U.S. Air Force and a similar technique is used today by the Strategic Air Command. The flying time Keeton acquired in supporting the Ole Miss endurance flight, plus his flying time acquired in operation of his flying service business gave Keeton the flying time and knowledge to qualify for a Transport Aviation License. His major goal from the start of his flying career was to be an Air Line Pilot. In pursuit of that goal he next acquired enough time to qualify for a Reserve Officer Commission as a pilot in the U.S. Army Air Corps. Keeton served 10 years in the US Army Air Corps Reserve. Al Key, kept in close touch with Keeton after the Ole Miss flight. The Key brothers supported Keeton in his efforts to become an Army Air Corp pilot. Keeton's outstanding service as a pilot in the Army Air Corps, was a big help in getting employed by the United Air Lines in 1936. He started as a co-pilot ina Boeing 247. He was promoted to Air Line Captain in 1940.
During World II the Army, Navy and Marine Corps assigned military pilots to fly as co-pilots with the United Air Lines for training in piloting transport aircraft, Keeton got a citation for his outstanding efforts in training the military co-pilots assigned to him. After World War II he advanced from DC-3's to DC-4's and then to DC-6's. In 1950 Keeton started a long term as pilot of United Airline cargo aircraft under contract with the military services. He airlifted military cargo and troops throughout the Korean War. Then he again, flew military contracted flights during the Vietnam War. The U.S. Air Force presented Keeton a plaque in recognition of his outstanding services while airlifting military troops and cargo. In 1970, Keeton completed thirty-four years of superior and varied flying experience with United Air Lines, plus the previous 10 years, before United Air Lines, in his private flying business, the Ole Miss and the Army Air Corps.
James and Eda Keeton now live in Magnolia Springs, Alabama. They have a beautiful home in a quiet area on the waterways that lead to the Gulf of Mexico. Fishing is a favorite pastime for James and Eda, and their many friends. difficult and required superior skill to fly the refueling plane within 8 to 10 feet of the Ole Miss and to maintain flying stability at 65 to 80 miles per hour with buffeting winds during the refueling. This world record sustained flight was achieved at a time in aviation history when such feats were daring, dangerous and historic. The Ole Miss endurance record flight brought worldwide recognition and respect to American aviation, and specially to the Key Brothers and James Keeton.
Today, the Ole Miss is one of our Nation's historic aircraft on display in the Smithonian Institution, in Washington, D.C. It is on display with other historic aircraft that include; The Wright Brothers Aircraft, The Spirit of St. Louis, and The Voyager. James Keeton, and citizens throughout the United States, proudly reflect, in our time, on the great contributions by Keeton which helped make aviation a great profession in Alabama and our nation.