-O-

OBEYD, Omar Ahmed            ISRAEL            (1960?1981)                  (HB)
See APPENDIX-B (+1)         Military Balloonist.
p: Palestinian Freedom Fighter (PLO-Haddad); Aviation Lieutenant.
f: Made only one recorded flight (from the Ras el Ain PLO base); Reportedly received initial training in Europe; Balloon reportedly sold by Thunder & Colt factory. ***Epic flight 15 Apr.1981 (w/Moussa Mohamed Khalil Aboudabaat, from Manara, Syria (N.Galilee). Israeli army was alerted to the impending flight and had adequate forces on duty. Reports are unclear whether the balloon was hit in-flight, or they landed to preclude the possibility. The aeronauts survived the landing near Houle Lebanon (one mile from the Israeli border), but were killed in the ensuing shoot-out.
r: A.Ofek archive newspapers 17 Apr.81: U.N.Military Post, Baghdad Observer p1, l'Orient du Jour p1.

OBLATH, ?         AUSTRIA                  (1870?1930)                  (GB)
See APPENDIX-B.                 Professional balloonist.
***Epic flight 17 Mar.1903 from Pola Velodrome (Vienna). Balloon was launched prematurely and he lost his grip on the trapeze bar. He died of massive head injuries. NOTE: No indication was given as to the type of lift used.
r: Manchester Leader 19 Mar. 1903.

O'CONNELL, John M.            USA                  #-238 (1888?1986)                  (GB)
See APPENDIX-AR.                 Military balloonist.
b: 24 Mar.1888 San Francisco, CA; Still a Resident Lansing, MI-1986.
s: Officer in the U.S.Army B-Corps 1917-19.
p: Vetenary Doctor.
m: NAOBCV.
f: FAI-ACA B-License #238 issued 12 Dec.1917.
a: 2519 Deerfield Ave; Lansing. MI.
r: FAI records; NAOBCV-files.

OERMAN, Thomas Reed            USA                  (1935-                  (HB)
See APPENDIX-BC/BK/BO/BX.         Professional balloonist.
b: 21 July 1935, Oak Park, IL.
e: University of Illinois, BA-Industrial design.
s: U.S. Army, 1955-56.
p: Professional balloonist.
f: First B-Flight 25 Apr.1970 with Matt WIEDERKEHR; First B-Solo 25 July 1970 from St.Paul, MN; FAA B-License 8 May 1971; More than 926 B-Hours by 1983.
l: 1971,73,74, Placed second in U.S. National Championship HB-Races; 1973, Established FAI endurance record; 1973, Participated in World Championship HB-Race; 1973, Participated in Bahamas-Florida HB-Race; 1975, Winner of Kentucky Derby HB-Race; 1975, Placed second in World Championship HB-Race.
r: Bio-data-1983.

OLIVARI, Signor         ITALY                  (1770?1802) K                  (HB)
See APPENDIX-A/B.         Sport balloonist.
b: About 1770 Italy.
d: 25 Nov.1802, France.
f: Only one recorded flight as pilot (his last).
l: Innovator, Dilettante.***Epic flight 7 July 1802 (w/BITTORF). Made a successful test parachute jump from the balloon. ***Epic flight 25 Nov.1802 from Orleans, France. Flight was in a self-constructed hot-air balloon made of paper, and a wicker basket suspended from strips of linen. Witnesses reported that he fell from a great height, and died on impact.

OLIVER, John Randal         USA                  (1887-1969)                  (SM)
See APPENDIX-L.                 Semi-Professional balloonist.
b: 10 Apr.1887 Elkton, OH.
d: 21 Aug.1969 Lisbon, OH.
s: Private in the U.S.Army B-Corps; 73rd B-Company; Received balloon crew training at Ft.Omaha, NB.
p: Jeweler /Watchmaker, Smoke Balloonist.
f: Learned ballooning from a book in the local library; Used his Mothers sewing machine to make his balloons. First flight 1909; Last flight 1968 (60 year career); Made 9 B-Jumps in Salem, OH; Total ascents unknown.
l: 1969, Performed for movie "The Gypsy Moths" as the "Blue Devil." ***Epic flight 1940 from Lisbon, OH. Launched in a strong wind, he landed against a barn, and sprained his ankle.
a: Resident of Lisbon, OH.
r: Modern Maturity, J-J 1970/51; Emma Oliver (sister) 1986. Emma Blagg (wife-90 years old) in rest home; Lisbon, OH 44432.

OLIVER, William         USA                  (1889?1908) K                  (SM)
See APPENDIX-L.                 Professional balloonist.
No relation to John R.
b: 1887 Mason, IL.
d: 30 Jul.1908 Jackson, MI.
p: Smoke Balloonist, Jeweler/Watchmaker. ***Epic flight 30 Jul.1908 from Jackson, MI. Launch and parachute release were normal. But the parachute lines all broke on one side. William fell from 2000' and died of his injuries.
r: NT-31 Jun.1908/1/4.

OLMSTEAD, Robert E.            USA         #-253          (1886-1923) K                  (GB)
See APPENDIX-B/AH/AI/AR.         Sport balloonist 1920-22 era.
b: 28 Jul.1886 Sheldon, VT;
d: 23 Sep.1923 Brussels Belgium.
e: Tufts College, Civil Engineer.
p: Officer in U.S. Army Air Service, Balloon Corps, no overseas service.
f: FAI-ACA B-License #253 issued 19 Dec.1917.
l: Expert parachutist. Epic flight 4 July 1923 (w/?) from Indianapolis, IN. Won the U.S.Nat.B-Race flying 449.5 miles to Marilla (NY). ***Epic flight 23 Sep. 1923 (w/SHOPTAW) from Brussels, Belgium (in G-Bennett B-Race). Balloon was struck by lightning in flight over Belgium. Both occupants were killed outright.
r: Aircraft Yearbook 1924 p224.

OLNEY, John         USA                  (1880?1940)                  (GB)
See APPENDIX-AZ.                 Professional balloonist.
***Epic flight 4 Sep.1907 from Boston, MA. Balloon headed out over Boston Harbor immediately after launch. He landed in the water, and was rescued eight hours later.
r: Evening Telegraph 19 Sep.1907.

OMER-Decugas, Albert            FRANCE          (1871?1940)                  (GB)
See APPENDIX-U/AG/AT.         Sport balloonist 1905-10.
b: 28 Apr.1871 Lille.
l: Champion bicyclist, competed in Algeria, England, Germany, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, and Tunisia.
f: Competed in many B-Races in France & Belgium. ***Epic flight 26 Jun.1910 in the "Grand Prix de l'Aero-Club d France. Landed in Sardonagletscher Germany.

O'NEIL, Albert Cornelius         USA                 #-1018 (1884-1967)                  (GB)
See APPENDIX-AR/BE.         Sport balloonist.
Nick-name "Auggie."
b: 24 Dec.1884 Akron, OH.
d: 27 Sep.1967 Akron, OH.
e: Akron Public Schools.
p: Goodyear Mechanic-1915, Test Car Driver-1916, Airship pilot 1927-54.
f: First B-Flight 1915; Formal B-Training Wingfoot Lake 1927-28; Received B-License 29 Dec.1928; Last B-Flight 27 Jul.1963.
l: Personal friend of Adm.MOFFETT and Gen. Billy Mitchel.
m: LTA Society.
r: BF-Nov.69p9 (T).

O'NEILL, Leo Allen         USA         #-780 (1890-1954)                  (GB)
See APPENDIX-AR.                 Military balloonist 1917-19.
b: 1890 New York, NY.
d: 30 Jul.1954 Flushing, NY.
s: Officer in U.S. Army Balloon Corps.
p: Secretary-Treasurer of "O'Neill Milk Co." of New York City.
m: New York Athletic Club; Elks Club.
r: NT-31 Jul.1954/13/6.

OPEL, Fritz von         GERMAN          (1890?1950)                  (GB)
See APPENDIX-AH/CH.         Sport balloonist 1930-33 era.
p: Scientist, Chemist, Automaker; Early Rocket experimenter.
l: Drove first rocket propelled automobile. ***Epic flight attempt 2 Sep.1933 from Chicago, IL in "Opel." Flight in the G-Bennett B-Race ended at the start. His balloon escaped without a crew, and was found later torn to shreds.
r: Balloons, Oct-1933 p318.

OPITZ, Richard         GERMANY          (1855-1892)                  (GB)
f: First B-Flight 1886 w/B.von SIGSFELD.
l: Prominent sport balloonist and instructor, 1880-90 era.
m: Berliner B-Club.
r: Zeitschrift fur Luftschiffart, Berlin: 1893; BuA p111.

O'REILLY, Joseph M.         USA         #-170 (1879-1949)                  (GB)
See APPENDIX-AH/AI/AR/CU.         Sport balloonist 1910-22 era.
b: 21 Apr.1879 St.Louis, MO.
d: 7 Mar.1949 St.Louis, MO.
e: St.Louis University. Resident of St.Louis, MO.
s: Officer in the U.S.Army Signal Corps 1898-99; Served as civilian B-Instructor for U.S. Army 1917-18.
p: Real Estate/Land developer.
f: First recorded B-Flight 4 Oct.1909 with von PUHL (see below); FAI-ACA B-License #170 issued 7 Nov.1917; Accumulated more than 200 B-Hours in 2-years service.
m: Missouri Aeronautical Society (FM).
l: 1910, Aide (to vonPHUL) in U.S.National B-Race; 1911 & 19, Aide (to ASSMANN) in U.S.National B-Races; 1920 & 21, Aide (to HONEYWELL) in U.S.National B-Races; ***Epic flight 4 Oct.1909 (see vonPHUL). Disqualified in Nat.B-Race. NOTE: Logbook & personal memorabilia donated to the Jefferson Memorial Museum.
r: Phoebe O'Reilly; 12 SW 34th St; Des Moines, IA 50312; Book of St. Louisans-1912 p456.

ORLANDI, Francisco         ITALY                  (1790?1847)          (HB/GB)
See APPENDIX-A/E/CR.         Scientific balloonist 1824-30 era.
d: 1847.
f: First B-Flight (HB) from Bologna 7 Dec.1824; Made 42 ascents in his lifetime.
l: Flew in Spain; Built & flew wing-powered balloon, 1828. ***Epic flight 17 Oct.1828 from Bologna in a Self-built combination hot air/hydrogen balloon. First pilot to survive (see ROZIER).

OTELLE, Arthur         USA                  (1880?1912) K                  (SM)
See APPENDIX-B/L.                 Professional balloonist.
***Epic flight 30 Jul.1912 from Beaudette, MN. Launch was normal, but he delayed his parachute opening to 500'. The chute did not have time to open, and he died on impact.
r: NT-31 Jul.1912/9/6.

ORTON, Alfred         BRITAIN                  (1857?1920)                  (SM)
See APPENDIX-X.                 Professional balloonist 1865-95 era.
b: 1857. Resident of London.
p: Smoke balloonist/parachutist 1884-95; Partner with Adelaide BASSETT. ***Epic flight 5 Aug.1895 (see BASSETT) from Peterborough.
r: LT-8 Aug.1895.

ORVILLE, Howard T.         USA                 #-1084 (1901?1960)                  (GB)
See APPENDIX-AH/AI/AR.         Scientific Balloonist.
b: 16 Jun.1901 Saratoga, NY.
d: 25 May 1960 Baltimore, OH.
e: U.S.Naval Academy, 1925; M.I.T, Masters degree in Science.
s: Officer in the U.S. Navy, Meteorologist; Chief of Weather observation at Lakehurst NAS; Assigned to Chief of Naval Operations 1941-45.
f: Received B-Training at Lakehurst and Akron 1933-34; FAI-ACA B-License #1084 issued 27 Jul.1934.
l: 1934, Aide (to C.KENDALL) in U.S.National B-Race; 1935, Aide (to R.CUNNINGHAM) in U.S.National B-Race; 1935, Aide (to R.TYLER) in G-Bennett B-Race; 1942, Selected time period for Doolittle's raid on Japan; 1957, Predicted War with Russia using Weather Modification; 1958, Suggested massive effort to control weather; 1959, Appointed head of Weather Mod. Committee by Eisenhower.
r: NT-26 May 1960/33/3.

OTTINGER, S.J.         USA                  (1885?1940)                  (GB)
l: Sport balloonist 1906-07 era.
p: Doctor of Medicine. ***Epic flight 6 Oct.1906 (w/ ATHERHOLT) from Philadelphia, PA in "Orient." Launched in approaching hurricane, covered 233 miles in 385 minutes. Landed safely in Rockaway, NJ.

OVITT, Spalding West         USA         #-212 (1895?1960)          (KB/GB)
See APPENDIX-AR/AW.         Military balloonist.
b: 3 Jul.1895 Chicago, IL.
e: Yale University.
s: Enlisted in the U.S.Army 3 Jun.1917; Commissioned 13 Sep.1917; Commander of the 6th Balloon Company in France; Sustained wounds from a high explosive artillery shell, and later, suffered serious injury from chemical "mustard gas."
f: Received B-Training at Ft.Omaha, Camp deSouge, Saumur; FAI-ACA B-License #212 issued 28 Nov.1917.
l: Co-Author (w/Myers) of "The Balloon Section," a comprehensive record of most officers serving in the WW-I Balloon Corps.
a: 91 Fifth Street; Muskegon, MI.
r: The Balloon Section.

OWENS, Frederick         USA                  (1888-1912) K                  (SM)
See APPENDIX-B/L.                 Professional balloonist.
Member of family of balloonists.
b: 1888 Bellville, NJ.
d: 25 Aug.1912 Bellville, NJ.
p: Balloonist for Owens Amusement Park 1910-12. ***Epic flight 25 Aug.1912 from Bellville, NJ. Ascent for a 3-parachute descent, was normal; but he could not release the parachute from the balloon, and elected to ride the balloon to the ground. He was dragged for three miles through town on landing, crashing through telegraph wires and striking his head on a metal fire escape. He died later of a fractured skull.
r: NT-26 Aug.1912 p1c5.