Steadham N. Acker (March 31, 1896 – October 22, 1952) was an American pioneer aviator before

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

and a

United States Naval Aviator A naval aviator is a commissioned officer or warrant officer qualified as a crewed aircraft pilot in the United States Navy or United States Marine Corps. United States Coast Guard crewed aircraft pilots are officially designated as "Coast Guard ...

during World War I.

Early life

He was born on March 31, 1896 in

Gadsden, Alabama Gadsden is a city in and the county seat of Etowah County in the U.S. state of Alabama. It is located on the Coosa River about northeast of Birmingham and southwest of Chattanooga, Tennessee. It is the primary city of the Gadsden Metropolitan ...

to William H. Acker. He graduated from the University of Alabama's College of Engineering with a Bachelor of science degree.

Career

He was a member of the

Early Birds of Aviation Gallery The Early Birds of Aviation is an organization devoted to the history of early pilots. The organization was started in 1928 and accepted a membership of 598 pioneering aviators. Membership was limited to ...

, a small group of pilots that flew before World War I. Acker's first flight and parachute jump was made in 1914 when he was 18, and used a balloon, rather than a powered aircraft. He served as a

with the rank of lieutenant from 1918 to 1919. During his service, he organized the first night flying unit for the Navy. He was the general manager of the

Birmingham Municipal Airport Birmingham ( ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, city and metropolitan borough in the metropolitan county of West Midlands (county), West Midlands in England. It is the second-largest city in the United Kingdom with a population of 1. ...

and founded the

Birmingham Aero Club Birmingham ( ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, city and metropolitan borough in the metropolitan county of West Midlands (county), West Midlands in England. It is the second-largest city in the United Kingdom with a population of 1. ...

on 31 January 1932. Acker and Rountree founded and managed the

National Air Carnival National may refer to: Common uses * Nation or country ** Nationality – a ''national'' is a person who is subject to a nation, regardless of whether the person has full rights as a citizen Places in the United States * National, Maryland, c ...

, an annual Birmingham based airshow. In 1946 Acker became the director for the National Aviation Clinic in Oklahoma City and ran the Omaha airshow.

Death and legacy

He died October 22, 1952 in

Jefferson, Alabama Jefferson is an unincorporated area, unincorporated community in Marengo County, Alabama, Marengo County, Alabama, United States. It is the birthplace of sculptor Geneva Mercer. Demographics Jefferson appeared on the 1870 and 1880 U.S. Censuses. ...

at age 56. He was inducted in the Alabama Aviation Hall of Fame in 1984.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Acker, Steadham 1896 births 1952 deaths Aviators from Alabama American World War I pilots Members of the Early Birds of Aviation People from Talladega, Alabama University of Alabama alumni