Nicholas B. Mamer

Nicholas Bernard Mamer was born in Hastings, MN. Mechanically inclined, Nicholas became interested in all aspects of gas-powered engines. At the age of 15 he was the chauffeur for a local doctor. On June 30, 1916, Nicholas enlisted in the Aviation Branch of the US Army Signal Corps, He was sent to the Signal Corps’ new aviation training school at North Island, San Diego, to become an aircraft “mechanican”, the early term for an aircraft mechanic. Upon completion of his training, he was assigned to the 7th Aero Squadron, stationed in the Canal Zone, Panama.

Recognizing his mechanical skills, he was quickly advanced in rank and began acquiring unofficial stick time as often as possible. He applied, and was accepted, at the Military School of Aeronautics, at Princeton University, reporting on June 14, 1918. Nicholas completed his ground school training on October 5, 1918, and received orders to Kelly Field, Texas, for his flight training. On April 19, 1919, he earned his wings and was commissioned a 2nd Lt., Air Corps, R.M.A (Reserve Military Aviator). He was discharged May 1, 1919, and returned to Minnesota, an un-employed disciple of aviation.

A successful job search landed him a flying position with Clarence Hinks’ Federated Flyers, based in Minneapolis. Barnstorming, county fairs, and flight instruction kept him busy. It also led to an invitation from Clarence Paulson, a student pilot from Spokane, Washington, to come west and establish flying activities in the Inland Empire. Based at Parkwater Airport in east Spokane, Mamer operated Mamer Flying Service, he was also an early member of Washington State’s 116th Aero Squadron, and held numerous contracts with timber companies for aerial fire patrol. Mamer participated in the 1927 and 1928 National Air Races. In 1929 he and Art Walker, flew a Buhl CA-6 Airsedan, named the Spokane Sun God, on a historic non-stop transcontinental flight that demonstrated the practical use of air-to-air refueling.

In 1929, Mamer Air Transport was formed, he purchased two new Ford Tri-motors and attempted to start a Seattle to Minneapolis/St. Paul scheduled air service. Lacking the income of an air mail contract, and butting heads with Northwest Airways, Nick eventually sold the Trimotors and became a pilot for Northwest.

On January 10, 1938, Nick, his co-pilot, and eight passengers died in the crash of a Northwest Airlines Lockheed Model 14H Sky Zephyr airliner over Bridger Mountains, Montana. He is buried in Evergreen-Washelli Cemetery, Seattle, Washington. A memorial clock dedicated in Nick’s memory stands next to the terminal building at Felt’s Field, the renamed Parkwater Airport, in Spokane.