When St. Mary’s Church asked Cincinnati bishop Joseph Binzer to officiate at a “Blessing of Aircraft” ceremony at Grimes Field in Urbana, Ohio, Bishop Joe demonstrated remarkable faith in divine providence and flew with me in 72B to this central Ohio town. It was September 18, the feast day of a 17th-century Italian monk famous for praying so fervently that he’d levitate off the ground. So although it would be several hundred years before the rest of us — fervent or otherwise — would levitate in flying machines, Joseph of Cupertino became the patron saint of aviators.
Unusual Attitudes: Saints, Rabbits’ Feet, Garters and Boomerangs
Key Takeaways:
- Aviators throughout history have adopted a wide array of superstitions, charms, and rituals, from invoking patron saints like Joseph of Cupertino to carrying personal good-luck tokens, to seek safety and reassurance in the inherently risky act of flight.
- These practices evolved across different eras, with WWI pilots using items like garters and animal mascots, WWII fliers adopting dice and Capri bells, and modern aviators employing lucky boots or specific pre-flight routines.
- Superstitions extend beyond individual pilots to include commercial airlines (e.g., avoiding unlucky flight numbers or row 13) and even astronauts (e.g., specific card games before launch).
- Despite significant technological advancements in aviation, the human inclination to employ good-luck charms and rituals persists, highlighting a continuous psychological need for control and good fortune in the face of uncertainty.
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