Leon Dewey "Lee" Cuddeback was an American pilot who worked for Varney Air Lines and United Airlines. He is most known for flying the first scheduled, civilian Air Mail flight in the United States on April 6, 1926.
Personal life
Leon Cuddeback was the son of Moses Clinton Cuddeback and his third wife Cloa Kent-Irons (although Leon's death record list his mother's maiden name as Ford). He married Lois Whittaker (1899-1969) on June 21, 1929. The couple had a daughter, Florence. == First scheduled Air Mail flight ==
First scheduled Air Mail flight
On April 6, 1926, Leon D. Cuddeback, chief pilot for Varney Air Lines, completed the first scheduled commercial air mail flight in a Curtiss-powered Swallow biplane. He took off from Pasco, Washington, had a stop in Boise, Idaho, and terminated in Elko, Nevada with $1,256 worth of stamped air mail. Because the start of the contract air mail system is considered the beginning of airline service, Cuddeback's flight is cited as the first U.S. airline flight, and is also celebrated as the "birthday" of United Airlines. == Career ==
Career
Cuddeback was a pilot for Varney Air Lines which eventually became United Airlines until 1938.After the war, Cuddeback returned to the Civil Aeronautics Board and by 1949 became regional director for Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana. He retired from the CAB in May 1963 as Chief Supervisory Air Safety Investigator in Oakland, California. == Death and Legacy ==
Death and Legacy
He died in Walnut Creek, California in 1984. Cuddeback Dry Lake Landing Strip in Atolia, California is named after him. ==References==