Jones, Harry M. (Harry Martin), 1890-1973

Harry M. Jones was born in Providence, R.I.; in 1912 signed up for a flying course at Saugus, Mass., and became first aviator in Rhode Island at the age of 22 in 1913; became famous in the New England area as being the first and only pilot to land an airplane on Boston Common, and later being the first pilot hired as a special air parcel post carrier, flying from Boston to New York with several stops along the way. He opened a flying school in Saugus in 1915 and began flying passengers over Boston. During World War I served as a flight instructor for the U.S. Army Air Service until 1919 and afterwards was commissioned a captain in the U.S. Army Reserves. Later that year established an airport on the beach in Old Orchard, Me., which became a popular stopping-off point for trans-Atlantic flights. He operated his own flying school and passenger carrying business: Hazzard Shoe Flying Corporation (co-owned by Hazzard Shoe Company) which was taken over by Jones Flying Corporation and existed until 1933. Jones became airport supervisor for the State of Maine in 1933 and was instrumental in the development of many airports throughout the state. He later worked for Pratt & Whitney Aircraft Corp., and other companies and was also an official at the Civil Aeronautics Association.

Harry M. Jones arrived in Old Orchard Beach, Me., in 1912 in a primitive Burgess-Wright biplane, which he later flew up to the steps of the State House in Boston. For the next half century he would be a powerful presence in the aviation history of Maine and the U.S. After World War I, Old Orchard Beach became Maine's most famous airport. Jones's company serviced U.S. Army bombers and fighter planes which came in for air shows. By 1929, Jones was providing services for airplanes which took off from Old Orchard to cross the Atlantic; eventually he became Maine's first director of airports. He flew from Old Orchard for the last time in 1971.