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Bob Reeve: 2005 Hall of Fame Inductee

Bob Reeve Bob Reeve

Bob Reeve Timeline of Accomplishments


1902 Robert Campbell Reeve was born March 27
1917 Joined the Army and soo thereafter paid $5 for his first airplane ride
1926 Earned his commercial pilot and aircraft mechanic certificates
1929 Arrived in South America where he mastered mountain flying and the Fairchild 71 became one of his favored aircraft
1932 Stowed away on an Alaska bound steamship, settles in Valdez and begins a bush flying business. It is during his time in Valdez that Reeve earns his reputation for courage and skill by hauling over 1 million pounds of freight and making over 2000 glacier landings. This feat earned him the nickname "Glacier Pilot".
1937 Reeve makes one of his last glacier landings as part of the Washburn Expedition
1939 A fire destroys the Reeve hangar and his airplane putting him out of business until he buys another Fairchild 71
1941 A contract with the CAA enables Reeve to buy three more aircraft as he prepares for work with the military
1942 Reeve contracts with the Alaska Communications System and becomes the only civilian pilot authorized to fly in a combat zone
1946 Bought his first DC-3 and converted it to a 21-passenger civilian aircraft
1947 Reeve Aleutian Airways is incorporated
1948 Reeve steps down as company pilot, lets his license expire and never renews it
1972

Named "Alaskan of the Year"

1975
Inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame

1980

Inducted into the International Aerospace Hall of Fame. Bob Reeve passes away