COLONEL RUSSELL LOWELL MAUGHAN

COLONEL RUSSELL LOWELL MAUGHAN

By Jason S. West

Russell Lowell Maughan is credited for making the first coast to coast flight across the United States in one day.  On June 23, 1924, at 2:58 A.M., he took off from Mitchel Field in New York.  At 9:47 P.M., Maughan landed his Curtiss Hawk PW-8 Army pursuit plane in San Francisco.  Thousands of cheering spectators were on hand to witness his great success.  Even President Calvin Coolidge was enthusiastic to receive the news by sending a telegraph stating, “Please wire me immediately upon Maughan’s arrival. Important here.”

The flight took 21 hours and 48 minutes to fly 2, 540 miles across the country.  His actual time in the air was 18 hours and 20 minutes, with an average speed of 156.2 miles per hour.  He made 5 stops to refuel and conduct inspections.  A wire service report that was published in the Salt Lake Tribune stated, “Circling high in the sky above the Golden Gate before making a perfect landing on Crissy Field, Lieutenant Russell L. Maughan, tonight brought to a wonderful close his third attempt at spanning the United States by airplane within the limits of dawn and dusk of the same day.”

Maughan had caught the attention of the world with his “Dawn to Dusk” flight.  This was the greatest feat in aviation until May 20-21, 1927, when Bro. Charles A. Lindbergh made his famous flight from New York to Paris.

In recognition of his extraordinary flight, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.  His orders read, “The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to First Lieutenant (Air Service) Russell L. Maughan, U.S. Army Air Corps, for extraordinary achievement while participating in an aerial flight. Lieutenant Maughan departed from Mitchel Field, Long Island, New York, at 2:58 a.m. Eastern standard time, on 23 June 1924, in a modified service type pursuit airplane on the dawn-to-dusk flight, and landed at Crissy Field, San Francisco, California, at 9:47 p.m. Pacific time, the same date. He flew over 2,540 miles in 21 hours and 48 and a half minutes, thereby making the fastest time ever made by man between New York and San Francisco.”

Maughan was born in Logan, Utah on March 28, 1893.  In 1917, he graduated from the Utah State Agricultural College.  After graduation, he joined the Army.  Maughan married Ila May Fisher in 1919.  He was later divorced and was remarried in 1946 to Lois Roylance.  He had four children: Ila May, Mary Ann, Russell Lowell Jr., and Weston Fisher.

 Lieutenant Maughan earned an excellent record in World War I, prior to his famous flight.   Maughan was credited with 4 aerial victories.  He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for heroism.  The orders for the award stated, “The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to First Lieutenant (Air Service) Russell L. Maughan, United States Army Air Service, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 138th Aero Squadron, U.S. Army Air Service, A.E.F., near Sommerance, France, 27 October 1918. Accompanied by two other planes, Lieutenant Maughan was patrolling our lines, when he saw slightly below him an enemy plane (Fokker type). When he started an attack upon it he was attacked from behind by four more of the enemy. By several well-directed shots he sent one of his opponents to the earth, and, although the forces of the enemy were again increased by seven planes, he so skillfully maneuvered that he was able to escape toward his lines. While returning he attacked and brought down an enemy plane which was diving on our trenches.”  Maughan saved the life of a fellow Army aviator that day.

Maughan’s famous flight and his World War I record were not his only great achievements.  In 1922, he won the Pulitzer Flying Cup by setting a new world speed record.  He became the air advisor to the governor-general of the Philippines from 1930 to 1935.  Just before World War II began, Maughan was sent on a secret mission to Greenland to search for locations for strategic Allied airfields.

During World War II, Maughan commanded one of the first Army Air Corps fighter units to operate out of England.  He later commanded several air bases in California and Oregon.  As a career Army man, and later Air Force, Maughan reached the rank of Colonel.  He retired from military service in 1946.

Russell Maughan was very modest about his accomplishments.  He once said, “It really wasn’t anything great.  It was just the result of a lot of experimentation and hard work on the part of many people connected with the air service, and I was fortunate enough to be the one to reap the results of all those years of labor.”  His achievements in time of peace and of war show the great character and dedication of such a man as Russell L. Maughan.

Brother Maughan was a Freemason and member of Kelly Lodge No. 1131, in San Antonio, Texas.  He was initiated on April 20, 1925, passed on May 21, 1925, and raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason on June 19, 1925.  He remained a steadfast and faithful Mason and member of Kelly Lodge until his death.

Russell Lowell Maughan laid down his working tools on April 21, 1958, while undergoing surgery in San Antonio, Texas.  He is buried in his hometown of Logan, Utah.