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Wall of Honor Level:
Air and Space Friend

Honored by:
Mr. William L. Pedersen III

In January 1918, Glen W. Neel enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps and reported to Carruthers Field, later earning his "Wings" and commission as a Second Lieutenant at Barron Field, both near Austin, Texas. After the Armistice, he returned to civilian life, maintaining a Reserve Commission, during which time he was engaged in barnstorming, flight instruction and commercial flying. In 1929, he returned to active duty at Langley Field, and was assigned to the Second Bombardment Group, where he logged time on the Keystone Bomber, formerly the country's largest bombardment craft.

In April, 1930, under the command of Major Hugh J. Knerr, Glen flew one of nineteen "gigantic" Curtis Condor LB 7's with the Second Bombardment Group in the first Aerial Armada ever to fly in formation across country from Langley Field to Mather Field in Sacrament, Ca. The distance of 3,850 air miles was made in one week with no night flying and stops at Montgomery, Al, Shreveport, La., Midland TX., El Paso, TX., Tucson, Az., and Riverside, Ca. At Sacramento, they participated in aerial maneuvers - 145 planes comprising every type of aircraft in the Army Air Corp. The bombers were bi-planes, each with two 625 horsepower engines.

Between the wars, Glen was with the Department of Commerce - later renamed the Civil Aeronautics Authority (now the FAA) and was the first Aeronautical Inspector in the Montana area. While stationed in Montana, he was sent on an extended trip to Alaska to establish Federal flight regulations for that "territory".

He was the Supervisor of General Inspection in the Kansas City, Mo, division and became the 3,085 member of Q B (Quiet Birdman) - an association of pilots.

He retired in 1946 with the rank of Lt. Colonel and a "Command Pilots" rating, the highest rating obtainable for an Air Force Officer.

Glen loved flying; however, once he retired, he had no desire to fly again.