If you have some you'd like to share, please click this FORM to Looking for information and photographs of pilot James and his airplane to include on this page. James was a member of the Early Birds of Aviation, and a complementary biographical sketch with photographs and images of his medical and pilot certificate are at the link.

In 1934 he was made Chief Pilot and then Vice-President of Operations, for Western Air Express, later Western Airlines.' He flew regular air mail and passenger schedules, from Los Angeles, CA. At the time he was nicknamed Jimmie (Jimmy) James and was always known by that name in the aircraft industry. James was the first pilot hired in that service and piloted the first plane which carried air mail from Salt Lake City, UT to Los Angeles, CA. On April 17, 1926, the United States government established air mail service in Southern California and Charlie N. She died by suicide Main North Hollywood, California. He married JHelen Mae Beers, daughter of Samuel Perry Beers, Jr. Fire Patrol over the mountains from Pasadena to Santa Barbara, CA. He later was in the California National Guard and spent some time flying in the U.S. Flying School at March Field, in Riverside, CA as a flying instructor. He returned to South Pasadena, CA and was later stationed at the U.S. Air Service in France, and he continued in that service until the Armistice in November 11, 1918. He was sent to the Central Flying School near London, England for three months of instruction and then entered the U.S. Charlie enlisted in the Army Air Service on April 10, 1917, before the draft was issued for overseas duty. 'Charles Negus James was born Februin Springdale, Cedar County, Iowa. Backman was an attorney in Salt Lake City and active in the government of that city. A photograph of Backman from 1951 is at the link. The photograph is dedicated to Gus Backman, 'in appreciation of your service to aviation and especially for your generous support which has assisted Western Air Lines in becoming the first airline to complete fifteen years of continuous operation - Apto April 17, 1941.' In addition to James, the poster is signed by William A. The photo is labeled 'Sister ships of 19,' contrasting the changes made in air transport technology in 15 short years. Promotional Poster, 1941 (Source: Kendle) Neither of the airplanes in the photograph appears in the Register, but one of the signers seen at the bottom of the poster is Charlie N. Another photograph of C150 is at the link. Of interest, the first Douglas Sleeper, NC14988, passed through Tucson and is signed in the Register on May 4, 1936. The photo, from 1941, is of a WAE Douglas DC-3 sleeper transport, NC18102, and, in the foreground, a Douglas M-2, C150, of the type James used to fly the mail in the 1920s. Below is an image of a poster found in the garage of site visitor George Kendle. He noted in the Remarks column of the Register, 'Fullerton, Calif.'Īt right is a photograph of James next to his mail plane operated by Western Air Express (WAE). Based at Fullerton, CA, they were westbound from Lordsburg, NM to Yuma, AZ on Friday, May 17, 1935. He landed once at Tucson flying the Command Aire NC929E. (Jimmie or Jimmy) James was a pioneer airmail and transport pilot.

Douglas m2 mailplane