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Wall of Honor Level:
Air and Space Friend

Honored by:
Ms. Karla Driemeier

Captain Dean W. Copeland
October 22, 1920 - June 3, 2002
In 1940, Captain Dean W. Copeland received his pilot's license through Gainesville Texas Flight Service at the age of 19 and continued flying his entire adult life.
He flew for the ATC (Air Transport Command) during WWII ferrying many different makes of fighter and bomber planes all over the world (12-single engine, 14-twin engine, and 4-four engine).
He next became a "Hump" pilot, flying much needed fuel and supplies across the Himalayan Mountain Range into China. Due to this outstanding flying record, the U.S. Army awarded him the prestigious job of MATS (Military Airline) pilot, delivery the U.S., Army men home at the close of WWII.
Two years later he contracted to fly for the AEC (Atomic Energy Commission) transporting people and atomic supplies in highly secretive work. On part of his job included flying AEC scientists over atomic explosions to measure atomic blast fallout. Probably his most significant contribution came as a result of an emergency landing due to engine failure in the Arizona desert by the Harquahala Mountain Range. Because of this incident, and his personal suggestions, all single engine planes flying across the desert, were required to carry a canteen of water and a packet of tools for assistance in an emergency. Later this regulation advanced to the FAA requiring installation of ELT -- Emergency Locator Transmitter, on all airplanes. Captain Copeland's work for the AEC is housed in the Los Alamos Archives of the Atomic Energy Commission.
Copeland completed his professional aviation vocation as a commercial pilot for Ozark Airlines, based in St. Louis, MO. He ended his lofty aeronautical career in 1980 with an unblemished record and a total greater than 33,000 flight hours.
This profile was submitted by his daughter, Karla Driemeier