Glenn Edmund Messer (July 12, 1895 – June 13, 1995) was an American aviation pioneer, responsible for major advances in the use and modification of existing aircraft and in the design and construction of aircraft and aircraft instruments.
He was born in Henry County, Iowa, on July 12, 1895.[1][2]
He began his flying career by taking lessons on a Wright biplane from aviator George GustafsoninBay City, Michigan. He and fellow pilot Jack Turner completed a successful demonstration U. S. Air Mail flight from Birmingham's Roberts Field to Marr Field in Chattanooga, Tennessee, on March 24, 1925, under a temporary commission. Messer recreated that flight on its 50th anniversary in 1975.[3]
Messer operated Birmingham Municipal AirportinBirmingham, Alabama, with Edward Stinson. He later operated Messer Field. In 1927 he started the Southern Aircraft Corporation which designed and built the Air Boss. He later started The Glenn E. Messer Company of Birmingham.
He died on June 13, 1995, in Birmingham, Alabama.
The highway from 5th Avenue North in downtown Birmingham to the airport was named the Glenn E. Messer Airport Highway in his honor.[citation needed] In 1991 he was inducted into the Georgia Aviation Hall of Fame.[4]
Glenn E. Messer was born in Henry County, Iowa, July 12, 1895, son of a farmer, General Contractor, Hardware and Farm Implement Dealer. He attended local grade and high schools, then was induced to enter Medical School at the University of Iowa by their elderly family doctor who agreed to pay his college expenses ... Glenn Messer passed away Tuesday A.M. June 13, 1995 in Birmingham, leaving his wife Tommie, and a daughter, Sarah L. Baker surviving.
