Fearless Freddie Lund defies death (1921)
“Fearless Freddie” Lund is shown in a daring moment, dropping from an airplane into a moving car. Freddie was a WWI Air Service veteran who served with the 4th Pursuit Squadron in Toul, France. After WWI, Lund joined the Gates Flying Circus, later moving into Hollywood stunt flying. His bravado led him to a test pilot career at the Waco Aircraft Company. He displayed his stunt skills at exhibitions, completing the first commercial plane outside loop.
In 1930, he won the World Aerobatic Championship, but his stunt career was cut short in October 1931. During an air race in Kentucky, he collided with another plane. His plane bisected, and Freddie died from his injures. His wife, fellow pilot and exhibition partner Betty Elkins, said the accident happened so fast he didn’t even have time to cut the switch, as his experience and expertise taught him to do.
