Roscoe Turner learned to fly during WWI and logged over 10,00 hours by 1944. He won recognition as a sensational transcontinental speed pilot in 1929, carrying passengers from New York City to Los Angeles in 20 hrs., 20 min. and returning in 18 hrs., 30 min. In successive years – 1932, 1933, 1934 – he established new continental speed records. Roscoe Turner won the Thompson Trophy Race three times and landed in second place in the Speed Division of the MacRobertson International Air Race, London to Melbourne in 1934. In 1939, he set a world’s record for a closed course at 299 mph. He owned and operated the first large-size Sikorsky transport plane. Race sponsors included Gilmore Oil, Heinz, and 20th Century Fox. A majority of his races were won flying the Wedell-Williams Model 44. A complete history of his racing in the Model 44 is available in Wedell-Williams Air Service.
Roscoe Turner loved his lion Gilmore which he took flying until the lion was too large. Gilmore is now in cold storage at Silver Hills. The coat and gloves worn in the image by Roscoe appears to be lion-related. Because he had Gilmore stuffed when he died, they must be from another lion!