Gordon Darnell

His siblings were Roscoe Eugene (1904–1906), Kathryn (1907–1997), Cecil (1911–2001), Willis Mack (1913–1935), and Glenn (1921–2009).

Darnell spent his childhood in Little Rock, Arkansas.

Most of his early days were spent along with the other local kids hanging out at Edgar E Elliott's Garage repair shop near his home.

He was one of the more talented kids, according to Elliott, for whom he began working.

Little did either of them know this was the beginning of a path that would lead to his career in aviation.

One of the other notable children that hung around the garage was Dick Powell.

Darnell also spent some time driving a traveling salesman around the area.

Gordon Sprigg Darnell (October 7, 1905 – November 21, 1997) was an American auto mechanic, airplane mechanic, Army officer, Army pilot, airmail pilot, airline pilot, volunteer fireman and one of ten recipients of the Airmail Flyers' Medal of Honor.

Gordon Sprigg Darnell was born on 7 October 1905 in Little Rock, Arkansas, the second of six children born to Roscoe "Ross" Wesley Darnell of Maywood, Indiana (now a suburb of Indianapolis) and Clara May Sprigg of Searcy, Arkansas.

He received training in the vocational department of Little Rock High School, graduating in 1922 as a certified automobile mechanic.

With his new status as a certified automobile mechanic, and permission from his parents due to being a juvenile, in 1922 Darnell went to work for the Arkansas National Guard as a driver and mechanic.

He worked on the Guard unit's staff car, which was a hand-me-down Cadillac left over from World War I. Darnell also participated in weekly drills and summer camp with the Guard.

On 24 October 1925, Darnell was promoted to the rank of Technical Sergeant (Tech Sgt.), the same day the 154th Aero Squadron was reformed as the 154th Observation.

In November 1925 Tech Sgt Darnell was taken for his first airplane ride by one of the pilots.

He later qualified as an aircraft mechanic.

He received his high school diploma from Morris Preparatory School, Little Rock College in July 1926.

Darnell was almost 21 at the time, which aroused questions when he began his flying career.

Darnell went through the Air Corps Primary Flying School from 1 March 1927 to 5 August 1927, Brooks Field, San Antonio, Texas.

He then attended Air Corps Advanced Flying School from September 1927 to 4 February 1928 (Pursuit), Kelly Field, San Antonio, Texas.

On 9 February 1928 Major Curtis R Barham, QMC, wrote a letter which recommended Lieutenant Darnell of the Air Corps Reserve, a commission in the 154th Observation Squadron.

While flying with the 43rd School Squadron Darnell was lucky to escape serious injury on 1 February 1928 when his Curtiss AT-4 trainer on landing came to rest with its undercarriage pointing skyward and one broken wheel.

He might have been shaken but Darnell was not held at fault and graduated from Primary Flying School just three days later.

On 21 August 1928 the Little Rock Chamber of Commerce appointed Lt. Darnell as a member of the Fields Directions, Information and Itinerary Committee for the Arkansas Air Tour to promote aviation across the state.

He also did his first work for Paul R Braniff, Inc, and Braniff took notice of the young pilot.

In September 1928 Darnell spent two weeks working for his new friend, Braniff, flying between Oklahoma City and Tulsa.

On 21 April 1929 Lt. Darnell, flying in a 154th Observation Squadron Army plane out of Little Rock, was landing at the Municipal Airport in Fort Worth when his plane was struck by another aircraft.

Henry Woods was piloting the other aircraft and preparing for takeoff when the two planes collided.

Both planes were damaged but no one was hurt.

In May 1929 Texas oil driller Carl G. Cromwell hired Darnell as his personal pilot, flying a Lockheed Vega.

Later, when Cromwell started his own airline in San Angelo, Texas, Darnell became his chief pilot and later the operator and manager.

To man the new airline Darnell hired Jimmie Mattern and James Walker as pilots.

Darnell bought two Stinson SM-6B Detroiters as the new fleet aircraft and used the existing Vega as a backup aircraft.

The inaugural flight took off at 8am on 1 November.

On 10 November while flying one of the new Stinson planes from Detroit Michigan, Darnell stopped at the Curtiss-Wright headquarters at Stout Field while on his way to San Angelo.

Cromwell had a setback on 7 December 1929 when Hangar No. 1 at Dallas Love Field burned down.

The hangar belonged to Good and Foster Aero Service Company, who leased space to both private operators and transport companies.

Most of the hangar and 12 aircraft were destroyed, including one of the SM-B6 Detroiters (NC-484H) belonging to Cromwell.

By July 1930 Cromwell Airlines had folded.

Darnell flew the remaining Detroiter (NC-407M) aircraft to Oklahoma City in order to sell it to Oklahoma businessman John J Harden and his Lea-Mex Development Company working in New Hobbs, New Mexico.

The development company of Lea County, New Mexico was involved in the newly incorporated Hobbs.