William C. Hopson
1887 - 1928
“Wild Bill ”

"Wild" Bill Hopson developed quite a reputation for high jinks as well as high flying. He once entertained a large crowd by riding a bicycle down the steps of the courthouse in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania, a stop-over on the mail run from New York to Cleveland.

A more infamous escapade involved a daring flight from Bellefonte to New York. He so urgently needed to get to New York for a "romantic liason" that he bummed a ride with another airmail pilot. the mail compartment was full, so Wild Bill got onto the wing and snuggled up to the fuselage of the DH-4 and held onto the guy wires for the entire flight, more than two hours!

When asked to send in a photo of himself for the U.S. Postal Service records in 1924, Hopson included a note: "Enclosed please find photo of bum pilot. When finished with picture just post in cellar, it's guaranteed to keep away all rats, mice, and other vermin." Little did he know that this picture would become an icon of early 20th Century aviation.

William Hopson died in 1928 en route to Chicago during a transport run. He was eulogized by Will Rogers.