Early Birds of Aviation, Inc.
 
MARCEL TOURNIER
-1960
 

 
 
I need a photo of him. If you can help, please contact me.
 

 
 
Cicero Airmail
 
 
Cicero Airmail
"The first airmail shipment from Cicero Field to Wheaton and Elmhurst, Illinois. Postmaster MacDonald of Cicero is swearing in pilots Max Lillie, Paul Studensky, and Marcel Tournier. Pioneer aviator Jesse Brabazon from Delavan, Wisconsin, who owned the album from which this photograph was copied, recalled attending the event and helping to carry mail bags to Max Lillie's Wright Model B."
Editor's Note: This paragraph describes a photograph which may be seen by clicking on:
Wisconsin Historical Society
I think the photo shows, left to right, Max Lillie, Marcel Tournier, Postmaster MacDonald and Paul Studenski.
 

 
 
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES
via email from Jean Tournier, 1-7-06
Bonsoir !
Je suis le petit-fils de Marcel Tournier. Je m'appelle Jean Tournier, je réside à Rabat depuis 1946. Je viens de confier un dossier (articles de presse, photos, le journal "l'Aéro de 1913" concernant mon grand-père avec photos et coupures de journaux à un membre du Cnam (Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers à Paris). Le Cnam a un musée. Vous pourrez vous connecter sur le site du Musée très bientôt.
Son fils, mon père, est né à Cicero le 24 novembre 1912, lors du séjour de mon grand-père à Cicero qui avait signé un contrat avec Newport comme pilote d'essai et pilote "aéropostal". En 1911 il avait été le premier pilote à relier Reims à Mourmelon à 1000 mètres d'altitude après l'obtention de son brevet de pilote (le 1er du genre).
Il est né à Enghien et est mort à Goussainville en 1960.
Si mes informations vous intéressent, vous pouvez me joindre à l'adresse e-mail ci-dessus.
Je me tiens à votre disposition pour toute autre information, qui, si elle est en ma possession, pourra vous être communiquée.
Bien à vous.
Jean Tournier.
English Version
Translation by BabelFish
Good evening!
I am the grandson of Marcel Tournier. I am called Jean Tournier, I reside at Rabat since 1946. I have just entrusted a file (articles of press, photographs, the newspaper "Aéro of 1913" concerning my grandfather with photographs and newspaper cuttings to a member of Cnam (Conservatory National of Arts and Métiers in Paris). Cnam has a museum. You will be able to connect yourselves on the site of the Museum very soon.
His son, my father, was born in Cicero on November 24, 1912, at the time of the stay of my grandfather with Cicero which had signed a contract with Newport as test pilot and "air-mail" pilot. In 1911 he had been the first pilot to connect Rheims to Mourmelon with 1000 meters of altitude after obtaining his pilot's licence (1st of the kind).
He was born in Enghien and died in Goussainville in 1960.
If my information interests you, you can join to me above to the address e-mail. I am at your disposal for any other information, which, if it is in my possession, could be communicated to you
Yours sincerely.
Jean Tournier.
Editor's Note: I am very grateful to Jean for the information regarding his grandfather. I will gladly accept his offer to share other materials about Marcel which remain in his hands.
     I was unaware of the existence of Cnam, (Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers à Paris), but will be on the lookout for its appearance on the net and will make a link to it for our mutual benefit..
 

 
 
HIGHLIGHTS A QUARTER OF A CENTURY AGO - 1912
from the Early Birds of Aviation
CHIRP
June, 1937 - Number 20
     This is an extract from the complete article. It offers a brief reference to Marcel Tournier. If you want to read the whole story month by month, click on the title above.
SEPTEMBER
     Jules Vedrines (Dep-140 Gnome) won the fourth Gordon Bennett international plane race at Chicago, establishing many new American records. A Chicago syndicate had financed the construction by the Burgess Co. & Curtis of a special monoplane cup defender but no pilot seemd anxious to fly it. Following the race at the great Chicago Meet, with Lillie, DeLloyd Thompson, W. C. Robinson, Prevost, Mars, Gill, Tournier, Montero, Dougherty, Kearney, Beech, Sjolander, Mestach, Wiggin , Fish and Engle, Leo Stevens demonstrated his "life pack" with Rodman Law jumping from Harry Brown's Wright.
from CHIRP - JUNE, 1937- NUMBER 20
courtesy of Steve Remington - CollectAir
 

 
 
ONLINE RESOURCES
     If you search for "Marcel Tournier +aviation", using the Google search engine, (5-16-04), you will find just one important link has been added since November, 2003.
 

 
 
Sky High Online Exhibit Image - Cicero Airmail
     This new page on the Wisconsin Historical Society website is quite a remarkable resource. It offers a photograph in which several familiar early aviators are seen. A description of the event is as follows:
 
     "The first airmail shipment from Cicero Field to Wheaton and Elmhurst, Illinois. Postmaster MacDonald of Cicero is swearing in pilots Max Lillie, Paul Studensky, and Marcel Tournier. Pioneer aviator Jesse Brabazon from Delavan, Wisconsin, who owned the album from which this photograph was copied, recalled attending the event and helping to carry mail bags to Max Lillie's Wright Model B."
 
     You can access the page by clicking on the title above.
 

 
 
Cicero-Elmhurst-Wheaton Ill. Triple City Aviation Meet
1912, May 30-31, Jun. 1-2.
     This page on the website of the Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, Inc., offers one of the few references to the career of Marcel Tournier which I have been able to find. The extract below is from the description of a cover which is being offered for sale.
 
     On Jun. 1, Marcel Tournier began the route, but crashed just after leaving Elmhurst for Wheaton, delaying the mail for 24 hours until Paul Studensky's plane arrived on the next day's route, enabling it to finish its journey to Wheaton where it was held overnight before returning to Cicero by conventional means on Jun. 3."
 
     To access the page, click on the title above. If time permits, you will be rewarded to sample some of the many other offerings of the Gallery. You can start on the homepage by clicking on the name of the Gallery above.
 

 
 
1913 Aviator Marcel Tournier, Autographed, Monoplane
     On May 15, 2004, Steve Bartlett alerted me to a post card which was being offered for sale on eBay. The bidding is over on May 22, 2004, so don't be surprised if it is gone. The DESCRIPTION follows:
 
"Early aviation postcard titled Aviator Marcel Tournier and his Monoplane Nieuport. The unique thing about this card is that it is autographed by Marcel Tournier which I assume to be genuine. The writing says "Souvenir de la Traverse du Pacific, April le 16, 1913, Marcel Tournier." The photo is by A. E. Roberts but this is a printed card, not a Real Photo card. The card is postally unused and in VG++ condition with only very minor corner wear."
 
     You can access the page by clicking on the title above.
 

 
 
 
 
Marcel Tournier was born in Enghien and died in Goussainville in 1960.
Peersonal communication from Jean Tournier, 1-7-06
 
Editor's Note:
If you have any more information on this pioneer aviator
please contact me.
E-mail to Ralph Cooper
 

 
 
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