Freddie Lund Card

Scope and Contents

This single-item collection consists of a business card used by exhibition pilot Frederick Melville "Freddie" Lund, circa 1930. The card is in the form of a brown-toned black and white print photograph trimmed to 2 x 7 inches and folded in half to form a 2 x 3.5 inch business card. Front reads, "Freddie Lund; Exhibition Flying, Acrobatic Instructions, P. O. Box 296, Troy, Ohio." Card opens to show (on right half) two vignetted views: an aerial view of an inverted biplane in flight, and a full-length view of Lund posing in his heavy leather flight suit in front of his biplane (possibly a Waco Model 10). Right side has inscription "Best Wishes To Bill From Freddie Lund." Back of card is signed by air race pilot Mary "May" Haizlip, the second woman in the United States to receive her commercial pilot's license and an impressive competitor in air races, including the Powder Puff Derby; and Wichita-based pilot A. E. Merriam, who served as the National Aeronautics Association (NAA) governor for Kansas in 1929.

Arrangement

No arrangement.

Biographical / Historical

Frederick Melville "Freddie" Lund was born in Minnesota in 1897. In 1913, he enlisted and became a member of the 4th Pursuit Squadron at Toul, France. Following World War I and a difficult battle against tuberculosis, Lund joined the Gates Flying Circus. As an exhibition or "stunt" pilot, Lund earned the nicknames "Fearless Freddie" and "The Man Without Nerves." When flying circuses began to wane in popularity, Lund became a test pilot for the Waco Aircraft Company. In 1929 he married fellow exhibition pilot Elizabeth Leeanne "Bettie" (Elkins) Lund. He completed the first outside loop using a commercial plane and became World Aerobatic Champion in 1930. Lund died on October 3, 1931, near Lexington, Kentucky, as a result of a mid air collision. Lund was inducted into the Minnesota Aviation Hall of Fame in 1991.