Fairchild 24H

The Fairchild Aviation Corporation was founded in 1924 in Farmingdale, NY. It later acquired the assets of the Kreider Reisner Aircraft Company and moved into their Hagerstown, MD facilities in 1929. Fairchild developed a reputation for their cabin aircraft designs and despite the Great Depression, managed to prosper. The Fairchild 24 was an improvement over the earlier 22 model. The roomy automotive-like interior carried design elements inspired by Raymond Loewy. Military versions of the 24 were used by the US and England during WWII. Nearly 1,800 Fairchild 24s were built through 1948.

In 1937, this aircraft was a $10,000 Christmas gift from a New York stockbroker to his wife. The husband stipulated that his wife always be accompanied by a professional pilot. Numerous trips were made to Chicago, Florida, and Mexico. Finally, one of the pilots purchased the aircraft. During World War II this machine flew submarine patrols carrying two, one-hundred-pound bombs. One sub-sinking was claimed. It found its way into the hands of Cole Palen who gave it to his wife Rita as a “St. Swithin’s Day” gift (also with stipulations).

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