Education
In 1918, Oscar graduated from the Boston School of Technology and also received his pilot"s wings that year.
In 1918, Oscar graduated from the Boston School of Technology and also received his pilot"s wings that year.
Born in Dewsbury, England, Oscar Monthan moved with his family to Canada and then, in 1900, to Arizona, the United States. The Monthan Family ranched along the Tanque Verde River until 1915 when they purchased a ranch in Vail, Arizona along the Cienega Creek. There the family diverted water from the creek to create a lake for irrigation.
The ranch was later known as Rancho De Lago.
In 1920, he became the Chief Engineer at Rockwell Field in San Diego, California. By 1921, Oscar was involved in the latest advances in Aeronautical Engineering in Dayton, Ohio.
In 1922, he was in charge of the Air Corps Engineering School at McCook Field in Dayton, Ohio. In these early years of the Army Air Corps (according to the History of the 8th Air Force, July–December 1948) Lieutenant
Oscar Monthan was known as one of the best and foremost engineers.
During this time he became acquainted with General Billy Mitchell. In 1922, Oscar married Mae Pouqette. At the time, Mae was an Army nurse
In 1923, Oscar was Chief Engineer at Luke Field in Hawaii near Honolulu.
lieutenant was also about the same time General Mitchell was reassigned to the territory of Hawaii. On March 27, 1924 Oscar and four other airmen died in the crash of their Martin B2 (NBS-1) bomber while on a training mission.
Only 15 of these bombers were made by the Army for Night Bombardment-Short Distance. lieutenant was also the bomber that General Mitchell used in the famous ship bombing trials flying out of Langley Field Virginia in 1921.
These Martin Bombers sank a destroyer, cruiser and a battleship to prove air power"s worth in aerial bombardment.
A street on Hickam Air Force Base in Honolulu, Hawaii is named “Monthan Street,” in honor of Oscar Monthan. On September 23, 1927 Charles Lindbergh dedicated Davis-Monthan Air Field (now Air Force Base) in Tucson, in honor of Lieutenant Samuel Davis and Lieutenant Oscar Monthan.
Oscar Monthan is buried in Tucson, Arizona.
At this time Oscar was considered one of the Army’s finest aeronautical engineers and was a founding member of the Order of the Daedaleans.