They were a big Irish family in Hamilton, Ohio. I’m not sure if Bernie or Joe was the oldest, but Art and Bill came along about 10 years later with another brother and three sisters somewhere in between. In 1929, after a neighboring farmer, “Pop” Muhlburger, taught the two oldest boys to fly in his Waco 10, the Hogan family bought both Muhlburger’s farm and the Waco. By the early 1930s, Art and Bill were flying and their sisters were helping run what had now become an airport. To paraphrase Gill Robb Wilson’s poem, the springing turf of that green meadow became a catapult from which, 86 years later, men are still leaping.
Unusual Attitudes: A Big Irish Family
Key Takeaways:
- The Hogan family established and ran a successful and iconic airport in Hamilton, Ohio, for 50 years, known for their independence, skill as pilots and mechanics, and close-knit, resourceful nature.
- Bill Hogan, the youngest brother, was a particularly colorful figure, celebrated for restoring a P-51H and a Taperwing Waco, which he extensively modified for aerobatic performances.
- A critical incident occurred when Bill and his son Terry crashed the modified Taperwing due to a misunderstanding of its unique fuel system and an improper takeoff, from which they miraculously escaped.
- Despite selling their original airport, the Hogan family's aviation legacy continues through the next generation, who operate a shop and flying school at the Butler County Regional Airport today.
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