John Guy Gilpatric (January 21, 1896 – July 7, 1950) was an American pilot,flight instructor,journalist,short-story writer andnovelist, best known for his Mr. Glencannon stories.
Fascinated with stories of theWright brothers as a child, he aspired to become a pilot in early life and he received hispilot's license when 16-years-old. On November 28, 1912, he set a new United Statesaltitude record by achieving an altitude of 4,665 ft (1,422 m).[1] While still a teenager, he began working as astunt pilot and as aflight instructor.DuringWorld War I, Gilpatric enlisted in theU.S. Army Air Service as afirst lieutenant. He was stationed overseas as an engineering officer in the First Aero Squadron,American Expeditionary Forces (AEF). Following the war, he lived as anexpatriate in France, working as a journalist and a publicity agent. He moved back to the United States in 1940, in the early phases ofWorld War II. He is credited with popularizingspearfishing in the late 1930s, and influencing diving pioneers such asJacques-Yves Cousteau andHans Hass.[2][3]
Gilpatric died as part of asuicide pact with his wife in July 1950, after she was diagnosed withbreast cancer.[4] He shot his wife in the back of the head, then shot himself. They both left notes for friends and family, saying that they chose "mercy bullets" over "magic bullets".[5] It is widely believed that Maude Gilpatric did not have cancer, and that her doctor had read the wrongmedical chart when making the diagnosis.[6]
John Guy Gilpatric was born on January 21, 1896, in New York. He was the son of a Scottish immigrant. In his autobiographical bookFlying Stories, he writes that he was seven years old when he saw photographs of theWright brothers’ first flights, and decided he wanted to become a pilot. He got his pilot's license at 16, in 1912. On November 28 of that same year, at Dominguez Field in what is nowCarson, California, he set a new United States altitude record. Flying aDeperdussin airplane, with a passenger aboard, he achieved an altitude of 4,665 ft (1,422 m).[7]
While still a teenager, he began working as astunt pilot and as aflight instructor. He taught at both the Moisant Flying School and the Sloane Aviation School. He was a test pilot and instructor at the Garden City Aerodrome in New York, where in 1915 he joined the Heinrich Aeroplane Company, quickly becoming chief pilot.[8] In June of the same year, he moved to Toronto to instruct at the Curtiss Flying Boat School and was involved in training Canadian military pilots.[9][10][11]
In a 1931 letter toTime magazine, he wrote, "Early in the spring of 1914, I landed a Sloane-Deperdussin monoplane, 50 h.p. Gnome motor (some power fer them days, by gravy!) in the sheep meadow at 66th Street [New York City]. Was arrested for something—possibly, publicity for the cop who arrested me— and discharged by Magistrate MacQuade next morning. TheAero Club of America suspended my license for six months."[12]
He was a demonstration, stunt and test pilot and performed in various movies. For one film, the script called for him to crash an airplane. Gilpatric did so and survived the crash. However, the footage did not come out well, so he had to repeat the stunt.
When the United States enteredWorld War I in 1917, Gilpatric enlisted in theU.S. Army Air Service as afirst lieutenant. He was stationed overseas as an engineering officer in the First Aero Squadron,American Expeditionary Forces (AEF). He then became a journalist in France for some time before moving toAntibes, where he worked as a publicity agent. It was there that he got the inspiration for his Mr. Glencannon stories, which were published in theSaturday Evening Post. In 1940, he and his wife Louise returned to the US. In 1943, his bookAction in the North Atlantic was made into a film.
Gilpatric is best known for his short stories about Scottish ship engineerColin Glencannon, published in theSaturday Evening Post and bundled in numerous books. A 39-episode TV series starringThomas Mitchell as Colin Glencannon was produced in 1959.
Other works includeAction in the North Atlantic, which was made into a movie starringHumphrey Bogart, and which was nominated for anAcademy Award for best story in 1943. InFlying Stories Gilpatric describes the adventures of his early years as a pilot. His collection of short stories entitledBrownstone Front takes place in New York City during the end of the 19th century and the start of the 20th. His novelFrench Summer is a humorous romance which revolves around vacationers at theFrench Riviera in the late 1920s.
His character Francis X. Olvaney, illustrated as a crookedTammany Hall politician responsible for dangerous slum areas, appears in stories contained in bothBrownstone Front andFlying Stories, lending credence to the opinion that many of Gilpatric's short stories are autobiographical in nature.
In 1938, Gilpatric publishedThe Compleat Goggler (the archaic title a jocose reference toIzaak Walton'sThe Compleat Angler), considered the first comprehensive guide tospearfishing. It outlines methods of constructing equipment, and techniques for spearing and cooking the fish. It was republished in 1957 as a free giveaway with an annual subscription toSkin Diver Magazine. It is now out of print, and copies sell for up to $1000.[citation needed]
In the late 1930s Gilpatric was living andspearfishing in theFrench Riviera where he influenced diving pioneers likeJacques-Yves Cousteau andHans Hass to begin spearfishing.[2][13]
When his wife, Maude Louise Gilpatric, learned that she had breast cancer in July 1950, they decided tocommit suicide together.[14] While waiting for the diagnosis to be confirmed, they explored the confusing array of treatment options withmultiple experts. He shot her in the back of the head, then shot himself. They left notes for friends and family, saying they chose "mercy bullets" over "magic bullets".[15] Their bodies were found in theirSanta Barbara home by a house guest.
Although it was never proven, it is widely believed that the doctor had read the wrong medical chart and that Maude did not have cancer.[16]
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