Page 25 - Volume 11 Number 11

Meanwhile, back at Santa Monica’s Clover Field, H.C. Lippiatt looked up from his desk and greeted his friend Arthur C. Goebel, Jr. Lippiatt was a dealer for Travel Air and was considered by Walter Beech to be an important part of its West Coast sales and marketing organization, along with D.C Warren in the Oakland area. Both Lippiatt and Warren were among the company’s earliest agents and the airplane business was good for both men thanks to California’s wealthy residents, particularly those who made their fortunes in film.
Goebel and Lippiatt soon found themselves talking about the upcoming Dole competition. Art was well known within the tight-knit aviation community as an excellent pilot. He had been flying since 1920 and was sometimes employed temporarily as one of many “stunt” pilots for National Pictures, Inc. Art was a member of the
famous “Thirteen Black Cats” – a group of local airmen who flew a motley assortment of colorful but old Curtiss Jennies. The “Cats” performed various stunts at local events and July Fourth celebrations as well as creating aerial scenes for Hollywood movie camera crews.
Their most spectacular stunt was the intentional (and carefully-executed) mid-air collision between two biplanes (a $1,500 deposit in advance was required). In addition, Goebel also operated a small aviation repair shop on Clover Field and proved to be a successful businessman.
Woolaroc’s sister ship was the Oklahoma, also sponsored by oilman Frank Phillips of the Phillips Petroleum Company. Pilot Benny Griffin faced an uphill battle convincing Beech to construct a second Travel Air for the race.
(FRANK PHILLIPS MUSEUM)
NOVEMBER 2017 KING AIR MAGAZINE • 23