Robert Nietzel Buck | |
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 Buck after his record-breaking flight | |
| Born | (1914-01-29)January 29, 1914 |
| Died | April 14, 2007(2007-04-14) (aged 93) Berlin, Vermont, US |
| Occupation | Aviator |
Robert Nietzel Buck (January 29, 1914 – April 14, 2007) broke the juniortranscontinental air speed record in 1930 and for a time was the youngest licensed pilot in theUnited States.[1]
He was born inElizabeth, New Jersey, on January 29, 1914, to Abijah Orange Buck (1869–1932) and Emily Nietzel. Emily was Abija's second wife, and she was the daughter of Elizabeth Bellingrath.[2][3][4]
In 1930 at age 16 he took lessons in aFleet Aircraft using aKinner engine. He received theUnited States Department of Commerce license #13478.
On October 4, 1930, he beat the juniortranscontinental airspeed record ofEddie August Schneider in his PA-6Pitcairn Mailwing he named "Yankee Clipper". His time was 23 hours and 47 minutes of elapsed flying time. The junior record only counts time in the air and excludes time spent on the ground.[5][6][7][8] Robert said on February 6, 2005: "I was the youngest to fly coast to coast and that record still stands. I had my license at 16 and after that, they raised the minimum age to 17. With that change no one could break my record."
In December 1933, he flew to the Yucatan with Bob Nixon.[9] As part of that trip, they stopped in Los Angeles and spoke at a meeting ofAlpha Eta Rho, an aviation fraternity.[9] They also participated in a cattle round up inSanta Rose, New Mexico.[9]
In 1937 he began flying forTWA. Buck became a Captain in 1940, then was promoted to TWA's chief pilot in 1945.[2][4][10] In September 1957, Buck piloted the first nonstop flight from Los Angeles to London, flying the long-rangeLockheed L-1649 Starliner. The following year, he wrote an extensive description of the flight published byAir Facts magazine.[11]
In 1965, he flew around the world from pole to pole in aBoeing 707. This was done with several other pilots in shifts.[10] In 1970, he flew TWA's firstBoeing 747 on Flight 800 fromNew York City toParis,[10] and in the same year wroteWeather Flying.
Buck married Jean Pearsall in 1938.[4] He retired fromTWA at age 60 on January 28, 1974[1][10] and moved to Vermont, where he wroteFlying Know-How,Art of Flying, andPilot's Burden.
He died on April 14, 2007, inBerlin, Vermont, after complications from an accidental fall.[1]
He was inducted into theAviation Hall of Fame of New Jersey in 1981.
Robert N. Buck, a distinguished pilot who in the 1930s crossed the continent at record speed, flew a light plane higher than anyone had done before and photographed ancient ruins of the Yucatán from the air for the first time — all by the age of 20 — died on April 14 inBerlin, Vermont. ...
Was Long Chief Practitioner of Singer Manufacturing Company in Elizabeth, New Jersey. Served As Major In War. Army Training Camp Where He Was Medical Officer Had Lowest Grip Death Rate. Aviation Enthusiast.
North Fayston resident Bob Buck, an aviator who set flying records in the 1930s, made an airline career with TWA to include the position of chief pilot, conducted severe weather research, flew with Hollywood stars, worked for Howard Hughes, was an advocate for aviation safety and industry consultant as well as a noted author, passed away April 14, 2007, at age 93. He died of complications from a broken hip. Bob was born in Elizabeth Port, N.J., January 29, 1914. ...
Editor's Note: Bob Buck was one ofAir Facts most popular writers in the 1950s and 60s, beloved for his first-hand accounts of the changing airline world… In our latest trip through theAir Facts archives, we fly from Los Angeles to London via the polar route, as told from the left seat of a Connie.
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