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Notable people · Aviation · Explorer · Military

Walter Hinton

Born on a farm in Pleasant Township, Van Wert County, Hinton was co-pilot of the Navy's NC-4, the first aircraft to cross the Atlantic, in May 1919. He later explored the Amazon and flew Arctic and South American expeditions.

At a glance

Born
1888
Died
1981
Known as
Aviation, Explorer, Military
Organizations
US Navy

Life story

Walter Hinton was born in 1888 on a farm in Pleasant Township, Van Wert County. He joined the Navy after seeing a recruiting poster and took part in the 1914 landing at Veracruz, Mexico, before moving into naval aviation.

In May 1919 he flew as co-pilot with Elmer Stone aboard the NC-4, the first aircraft to cross the Atlantic. Portugal made him a knight of the Order of the Tower and Sword, and the US gave him the Navy Cross and, in 1929, a Congressional Gold Medal.

In the 1920s he joined Arctic balloon flights, made the first flight from North America to South America, and led seaplane expeditions on the Amazon.

He retired to Pompano Beach, Florida, where he told flying stories to local children. Late in life he rode the Concorde across the Atlantic in under four hours; his crossing in 1919 had taken 19 days. He died in 1981 and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

Timeline

  • 1888: Born on a farm in Pleasant Township (Van Wert County, OH) source
  • 1914: Takes part in the occupation of Veracruz, Mexico (Mexico) source
  • 1919-05: Co-pilots the NC-4 on the first transatlantic flight (Atlantic) source
  • 1929: Awarded the Congressional Gold Medal source
  • 1981: Dies; buried at Arlington National Cemetery source

What Walter is known for

  • Co-pilot of NC-4, first transatlantic flight (May 1919)
  • Navy Cross; Congressional Gold Medal (1929)
  • First flight from North America to South America
  • NC-4 transatlantic flight, 1919

Honors and things named for them

  • Navy Cross
  • Congressional Gold Medal (1929)
  • Knight, Order of the Tower and Sword (Portugal)

Ohio places

Where Walter Hinton was born, lived, worked and is remembered, with the ZIP code, town and county pages for each.

Further reading

Sources

Confidence. Medium: the main facts were confirmed, but some details (often an address or ZIP code) were not.

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