Bill Arthur's life-long, passionate, interest and involvement in aviation was nearly genetic. His second cousin was pioneer aviator and Fort Wayne, Indiana's "Bird Boy," Art Smith. Like Art, Bill grew up in Fort Wayne. As a toddler, Bill was always thrilled to visit his uncle Otto Smith, Sr. who owned his own airport, taught flying, and raced in six Jennies and Standards in nearby Lynn Grove, Indiana. Although Otto died when Bill was four, at the age of nine, with Otto's son, Junior, Bill took his first airplane ride in a Waco OX-5. At thirteen, Bill took his first lesson, from Bert Benninghof, at Smith Field, and at sixteen he soloed in a BC-12D Taylorcraft. His instructor was O. B. "Red" McVey, who had been taught by Uncle Otto. "Red" also taught Junior and future fighter ace Walker "Bud" Mahurin. At that time flying lessons cost $8 an hour for the plane, fuel, and instructor. It took eight hours to solo, and no formal ground school was required.
From the time ten year-old Bill witnessed the forced landing of a 94th Pursuit Squadron Curtis Hawk P-6E, he knew he wanted to join the Army Air Corps. The dream came true in 1942. Stationed at Moody Field, Valdosta, Georgia, Bill started instructing in AT-10's. Bill continued instructing after the service from 1945 until 1984. He held his pilot's license until 2001.
In 1957 Bill and his young family moved from Fort Wayne to Scottsdale, Arizona. There his passion for flying continued unabated. He rebuilt two Tri-Pacers and a BC-12 Taylorcraft in addition to owning and flying various other planes sharing the wide open spaces and blue skies of the American Southwest and Mexico with his wife, Ann.
A seventeen year stint on the Planning Commission for Scottsdale started in 1958. There, in 1963, as Chairman, Bill worked closely with George Tewksbury in obtaining Thunderbird Field as airport for the growing town. In 1977 Bill started the Scottsdale Airport Commission and served as Chairman for six of his seven year service. He and Tom Van Sickle were involved in the extension of the runway that brought the Scottsdale Airport into prominence and the development of the Airpark as a major economic engine in the Valley of the Sun.
A member of the Commemorative Air Force, the Air Force Association, the Arizona Aviation Historical Society, Bill continues to work toward bringing a first-rate Museum of Aviation in Scottsdale, AZ.