Related Archival Materials note
Biographical/Historical note
Immediate Source of Acquisition note
Conditions Governing Access note
Conditions Governing Access note
Scope and Contents note
Preferred Citation note
Title: Errold G. Bahl Personal Papers
Identifier/Call Number: SDASM.SC.10011
Contributing Institution:
San Diego Air and Space Museum Library and Archives
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
0.36 Cubic feet
One (1) box, 12.5” x 10” x 5”
Date (inclusive): 1894-1930
Abstract: Errold G. Bahl (EGB, October 26, 1894 – October 26, 1930) was one of the early birds of aviation, an aircraft pilot, mechanic,
barnstormer, and entrepreneur. He attended the School of Military Aeronautics, flew in Latin America, was a mentor to Lindbergh,
and formed the Harding, Zook and Bahl Airplane Corporation. This collection includes material relating to his life in aviation,
as well as the Harding, Zook and Bahl Corporation.
Related Archival Materials note
More information on the Harding, Zook and Bahl Lark can be found in the aircraft subject files. The images from this Collection
have been digitized and placed on Flickr.
Biographical/Historical note
Errold G. Bahl (EGB, October 26, 1894 – October 26, 1930) was one of the early birds of aviation, an aircraft pilot, mechanic,
barnstormer, and entrepreneur. He attended the School of Military Aeronautics, flew in Latin America, was a mentor to Lindbergh,
and formed the Harding, Zoo and Bahl Airplane Corporation. He attended the School of Military Aeronautics, Waco, Texas, in
1917 and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant for the US Army in 1918. After World War I, he received an honorable discharge.
In the first half of the 1920s, he spent time in Honduras as pilot during a turbulent political period in the nation’s history.
He went on to form the Harding, Zoo and Bahl Airplane Corporation in Lincoln, Nebraska. There they developed an aircraft called
“the Lark,” the price of which was “about the same as that of the average good automobile” of the era. Bahl was a highly respected
pilot and ran Goodwill flights to Mexico. He was a member of the Quiet Birdmen and the Freemasons. He also served as an instructor
and barnstorming partner and mentor to Charles Lindbergh in 1922, who spoke of him prominently in his autobiography, “We.”
Bahl received his commercial license in 1928 and patented many designs for aircraft improvements, particularly regarding fuselage
form, building processes, and elevator systems. He was married with two children when he died suddenly on his 36th birthday
in an automobile accident.
Immediate Source of Acquisition note
The materials in this personal collection were donated to the San Diego Air & Space Museum in between August 1979 and October
1983. The collection has been fully processed.
Conditions Governing Access note
The collection is open to researchers by appointment.
Conditions Governing Access note
The collection is open to researchers by appointment.
Scope and Contents note
Items in this collection include personal, military, club, and business correspondence, patents, postcards, travel mementos,
and photographs ranging from 1917 to after the subject’s death in 1930.
Preferred Citation note
[Item], [Filing Unit], [Series Title], [Subgroups], [Record Group Title and Number], [Repository “San Diego Air & Space Museum
Library & Archives”]
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Bahl, Errold G., 1894-1930
Harding, Zook and Bahl Aircraft Manufacturing Company.
Lindbergh, Charles A. (Charles Augustus), 1902-1974
Harding, Zook and Bahl Lark
Stunt flying
United States. Army. Air Corps. Advanced Flying School (Kelly Field, Tex.)
World War, 1914-1918
