Herbert C. Osborne Papers

Herbert C. Osborne graduated from Dartmouth College in 1913, with a degree in civil engineering. In January of 1918, at the age of 27, he accepted an aero draftsmen position at McCook Field in Dayton, Ohio with a salary of $1800.

In November of 1918 Herbert took his first airplane ride, attaining an altitude of 16,400 ft. in a Bristol. In October of 1920, he took his second ride, photographs of which can be found within the collection.

On October 9, 1919 he met his future wife, Elsie Barker, at the field. They became engaged on November 20, 1919 and were married on June 6, 1920. Their daughter, Marjorie, was born January 25, 1923.

In April 1919, Osborne was transferred to the Power Plant as Assistant Chief of the Fuel Systems Branch. In April of 1920, he became chief of the Fuel Systems Branch at McCook Field. In this position he was in charge of testing aircraft fuel systems. His diaries from 1922 and 1923 offer some glimpses of the type of work this would have entailed. Osborne remained in this position until January of 1924, when he resigned citing higher pay as his reason for leaving.

In March of 1924 he moved to Baltimore, Maryland to begin his new job with Blackmer Rot. Pump Company as District Manager. In July he was promoted to Chief Engineer, Assistant Manager and moved to Petoskey, Michigan. In October of 1925, he moved again, this time to a new Blackmer Plant in Grand Rapids, Michigan.