Vernon Dorrell Collection

Vernon Dorrell (1906-1949) completed his flight training in 1924 and entered the aviation business as a commercial pilot for Lincoln Air Lines, working for flying schools including the California School of Aeronautics, and working in aircraft sales and service. In 1929, Dorrell joined Pickwick Airways as an airline captain on its Latin American routes. In 1930, he joined Pan American Airways (PAA) as an airline captain and he was assigned to their Latin American routes in Mexico and Central America. PAA promoted Dorrell to the position of Division Operations Manager in charge of affiliate company operations between Mexico City - Los Angeles, and Mexico City - El Paso. Dorrell resigned from PAA in 1936 and worked for Lockheed and Vega Aircraft companies as a sales representative and as a demonstration pilot for transport aircraft in England, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. Later in 1936 he became employed by Mid-Continent Airlines as Operations Manager, where he remained, except for a leave of absence in 1938 to work with Vega Airplane Company, until ordered to active duty with the Navy in 1942. He served in the Naval Air Transport Command (NATS) throughout the war, first as the Executive Officer of NATS Squadron One, then as Commanding Officer of NATS Squadron Three (where he later was promoted to the rank of Commander) and finally as the Commanding Officer of Air Transport Squadron 13. When he was released from active duty on December 9, 1946, Dorrell began working for Thomas Ryan, Chairman of the Board of Mid-Continent Airlines. Dorrell then established his own firm of aviation consultants and sales representatives, the Aviation Maintenance Corporation. In 1949, Dorrell crashed his Vultee BT-13 Valiant at Thomas Ryan's ranch in New Mexico; at the time of his death he had over 12,000 flight hours.