Oscar F. Aitken was born in the small town of Bradford Illinois, son of Thomas and Rose Aitken in either 1891 or 1893, depending on official records. The Aitken family moved to Harlan County Nebraska by 1900.
Oscar enlisted in the military in 1917, and joined the aviation corps. Stationed in Chicago, he made two training flights, of which one crashed. Oscar transferred to the United States Navy and became a Chief Quartermaster, stationed first at Norfolk Virginia, and also Naval Air Station Rockaway, in New York and Pensacola Florida.
Oscar was in Guantánamo Bay, Cuba when he was involved in a tragic balloon accident. According to the "Evening State Journal" of Lincoln Nebraska (2/21/1920):
"Chief Quartermaster Oscar F. Aitken of the aviation section of the United States Navy had been lost at sea.....He made an ascension in a balloon and a strong wind blew the balloon oceanward. Mr. Aitken thought best to cut loose from the balloon and make a parachute drop into the ocean. This he did and his body has not been recovered."
Our Navy Magazine, "The Standard Publication of the U.S. Navy," posted the following notice:
"Oscar Frye Aitken, chief quartermaster, U.S.N, was drowned in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, February 18, 1920, after dropping from a balloon in a parachute."
Oscar married Gertrude Friedman on August 16, 1919. They were married for about 6 months before his passing.
Oscar enlisted in the military in 1917, and joined the aviation corps. Stationed in Chicago, he made two training flights, of which one crashed. Oscar transferred to the United States Navy and became a Chief Quartermaster, stationed first at Norfolk Virginia, and also Naval Air Station Rockaway, in New York and Pensacola Florida.
Oscar was in Guantánamo Bay, Cuba when he was involved in a tragic balloon accident. According to the "Evening State Journal" of Lincoln Nebraska (2/21/1920):
"Chief Quartermaster Oscar F. Aitken of the aviation section of the United States Navy had been lost at sea.....He made an ascension in a balloon and a strong wind blew the balloon oceanward. Mr. Aitken thought best to cut loose from the balloon and make a parachute drop into the ocean. This he did and his body has not been recovered."
Our Navy Magazine, "The Standard Publication of the U.S. Navy," posted the following notice:
"Oscar Frye Aitken, chief quartermaster, U.S.N, was drowned in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, February 18, 1920, after dropping from a balloon in a parachute."
Oscar married Gertrude Friedman on August 16, 1919. They were married for about 6 months before his passing.
Oscar F. Aitken was born in the small town of Bradford Illinois, son of Thomas and Rose Aitken in either 1891 or 1893, depending on official records. The Aitken family moved to Harlan County Nebraska by 1900.
Oscar enlisted in the military in 1917, and joined the aviation corps. Stationed in Chicago, he made two training flights, of which one crashed. Oscar transferred to the United States Navy and became a Chief Quartermaster, stationed first at Norfolk Virginia, and also Naval Air Station Rockaway, in New York and Pensacola Florida.
Oscar was in Guantánamo Bay, Cuba when he was involved in a tragic balloon accident. According to the "Evening State Journal" of Lincoln Nebraska (2/21/1920):
"Chief Quartermaster Oscar F. Aitken of the aviation section of the United States Navy had been lost at sea.....He made an ascension in a balloon and a strong wind blew the balloon oceanward. Mr. Aitken thought best to cut loose from the balloon and make a parachute drop into the ocean. This he did and his body has not been recovered."
Our Navy Magazine, "The Standard Publication of the U.S. Navy," posted the following notice:
"Oscar Frye Aitken, chief quartermaster, U.S.N, was drowned in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, February 18, 1920, after dropping from a balloon in a parachute."
Oscar married Gertrude Friedman on August 16, 1919. They were married for about 6 months before his passing.
Oscar enlisted in the military in 1917, and joined the aviation corps. Stationed in Chicago, he made two training flights, of which one crashed. Oscar transferred to the United States Navy and became a Chief Quartermaster, stationed first at Norfolk Virginia, and also Naval Air Station Rockaway, in New York and Pensacola Florida.
Oscar was in Guantánamo Bay, Cuba when he was involved in a tragic balloon accident. According to the "Evening State Journal" of Lincoln Nebraska (2/21/1920):
"Chief Quartermaster Oscar F. Aitken of the aviation section of the United States Navy had been lost at sea.....He made an ascension in a balloon and a strong wind blew the balloon oceanward. Mr. Aitken thought best to cut loose from the balloon and make a parachute drop into the ocean. This he did and his body has not been recovered."
Our Navy Magazine, "The Standard Publication of the U.S. Navy," posted the following notice:
"Oscar Frye Aitken, chief quartermaster, U.S.N, was drowned in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, February 18, 1920, after dropping from a balloon in a parachute."
Oscar married Gertrude Friedman on August 16, 1919. They were married for about 6 months before his passing.
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