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This Winchester S/N 987754 was carried by Swallow (#4) biplane pilot Franklin E Rose (later Brigadier General USAF) during his return US Airmail flight from Elko, NV to Boise, ID April 6, 1926.
It was sold in 2019/2020 after 94 years by grandnephews of Leon D Cuddeback, chief Varney Airline pilot from his Estate heirs. United Airline holds the second know rifle in its collection given them from the Varney Airline business manager in 1976. It was miss identified as a Remington in the UAL Age of Flight book.
Cody Firearms museum certified records shown both rifles were assembled in January, 1926 (4 days apart). Franklin E Rose told his story to Vintage Airplane Magazine July, 1978. He carried a .45 Auto and a .3030 Carbine when force landed by weather and low gas in the Owyhee desert, ID. He overflew two horse wranglers, landed in a muddy meadow and was confronted by them. They acused him of being a prohibition agent since U.S Airmail CAM 5 was stenciled on his biplane. He ship then mired in mud made his return flight lost for two days carrying 98 lbs of mail.
More to come, if interested. This story needs to be told as the 100 yr anniversary of the flight will occur in 2026. A US postage stamp was created for the 50th anniversary with a re-enacted flight of Leon D. Cuddeback on the initial eastward flight from Pasco. WA to Boise, ID to Elko, NV.
