Jerry Summers
The acquisitions of a 2021 Cessna Skyhawk 172 aircraft by the University of the South for its flight school adds a new dimension to the historic liberal arts school and its role in aviation history in Franklin County.
In 1949 as part of a Long-Range Planning Committee of the Sewanee Civic Association headed by university historian Arthur Ben Chitty a project was initiated to build an airport at Sewanee.
It was successful and an initial 2,800-foot asphalt lighted beacon protected strip with a lounge for pilots and a hanger for planes was created.
During the Korean War the administration under Chancellor Boylston Green applied for an Air Force ROTC unit and the successful awarding of the contract in Washington took place late in 1951.
Many Sewanee students served with distinction in the Air Force and also were able to earn substantial financial benefits through the government program.
The Aerospace Studies Department, the academic program of the Air Force ROTC unit, existed until 1975 when it was discontinued since “the small size of the student body mitigated against the program being able to meet its enrollment goals.”
In the meantime, the airport runway has been extended to 3,700 feet. Disagreements with some neighbors in the Midway Community over Tennessee Department of Transportation aviation regulations pertaining to the height of trees at both ends of the runway height clearance distances have been a part of the history of the facility.
Around 2003 a young female pilot, Bethany Davis, flew into the Sewanee airport to start her career on the domain that would result in her graduating in the Class of 2007. Coming from a “family of aviators” she considered having an airport on campus to be an important asset in her college career.
The arrival of Catherine Cavagnaro to the University of the South as a professor of mathematics, aviation columnist for Pilot Magazine, and certified aerobatic flight instructor has opened a new door that is available to prospective Sewanee students wanting a liberal arts education, who also want to become an aviator, and secure their private and commercial pilot’s licenses.
There was an historical aviation incident in 1946 involving former Army Air Corp. pilot William E. Kelley, who had served in World War II. A challenge and subsequent large betting pool had arisen on the question of whether Lt. Bill Kelley could fly a plane between the existing chapel and science hall. The arguments on both sides (and betting) had gone on for two-three days.
Finally, when the financial pot got right, Kelley accepted the challenge and drove to the Cowan Airfield (no Sewanee-Franklin County Airport on the Domain was in existence), rented a plane and soared into the air toward the campus.
Sewanee historian, Arthur Ben Chitty, describes the event in his Sewanee Sampler in 1978 as follows:
A summons in 1946 from Vice-Chancellor Alexander Guerry was a call from on high, no less-or at least so thought William E. Kelley ’44. He had received the call in front of The Union from a sharply divided contingent of postwar students, mostly vets.
Former army pilot Kelley suspected that the gentleman he could see on the front porch of Fulford Hall had heard sounds of a low flying plane over the quadrangle an hour earlier and that this might be the subject of the forthcoming confrontation, but he hoped not.
Matter of fact there had been some betting going on for two or three days, and the stakes had become astronomical-a hundred dollars or more. On one side those who believed that Lt. Bill Kelley could fly a plane between the Chapel and Science Hall (the space was open then); and there were those who bet it couldn’t be done.
All of them knew in their hearts that Dr. Guerry’s underground would know all, but somehow the VC had not heard the details before Kelley left the Mountain for the Cowan airfield to take off in a rented, fourth-hand Stearman two-seater bi-plane. Kelley was airborne before Guerry got the word.
Kelley approached his aerial project with caution. He circled to check out the height of the tree on the quadrangle which he would have to dive by and calculated the maneuver which might, just might, get him back up over the trees beyond. Unknown to Kelley, Guerry was observing the stunt from the fateful front porch. The errant pilot did what had to be done. He approached from the east, over Magnolia Hall, after having noted that the steam from the Sewanee Laundry was being blown from the west. He wanted to fly into the wind, on his left wing tip, at 120 m.p.h., pulled up into a chandelle to the left and off he went. The gambler spectators were ready to receive him with The Summons when he got back from Cowan.
Kelley took the Long Walk- from University Avenue to the Vice-Chancellor’s home-dreading every step. There follows a conversation-high privileged-which is revealed here for the first time.
Dr. Guerry was a master of suspense, and it was a couple of minutes before Kelley gleaned that he might not be shipped home. Dr. Guerry wanted to know exactly how the maneuver had been planned. He thought it a splendid exhibition. “Reminded me of Alex Junior,” he murmured. (Alex had been a photo reconnaissance pilot in the Pacific, flying the suicidal P-38.) Guerry could not have been more eager to talk about the whole thing. The guys over at the Union were anguished over what was happening to Kelley. A prison sentence perhaps-certainly expulsion and disgrace.
As Kelley shook hands and left the porch, Dr. Guerry entered Kelley’s hall of immortals by saying in effect, “It was a great stunt but don’t tell the students across the street.” Kelley kept the faith - until now.
William E. Kelley ’44 to ABC. Long time ago, confirmed recently.
Vice-Chancellor Alexander Guerry not only viewed the event but also summoned daredevil Kelley to his office upon his return to the mountain.
Threatened with termination of his college career, Kelley expected the worse from the V-C. However, the head of Sewanee was more interested in the maneuver than he was in pushing the military veteran into academic oblivion.
The term “Flying Tigers” and the efforts of Tennessee Aviation Hall of Fame instructor Cavagnaro and others to encourage them to learn to fly at Sewanee creates a new meaning for the above historical title.
For additional information contact flyingtigers@sewanee.edu and “find out how Sewanee Flying Tigers can help you achieve your dreams of flight!”
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You can reach Jerry Summers at jsummers@summersfirm.com)