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- [S926] Find-A-Grave, (www.findagrave.com).
Lawrence B. "Larry" Hirschinger
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Birth: Sep. 3, 1914
Elwood
Madison County
Indiana, USA
Death: Feb. 4, 2003
Muncie
Delaware County
Indiana, USA
Larry Hirschinger, who began flying in 1935 and managed Muncie's airport for many years before retiring in 1983, died Tuesday, age 88, at Ball Memorial Hospital, after being stricken during a speech at the Muncie Rotary Club meeting in the Radisson Hotel Roberts. Hirschinger's interest in flying was piqued in 1927 by Charles Lindbergh's solo flight across the Atlantic. He made his own first solo flight in May 1935 at the Indianapolis Municipal Airport.
He began his aviation career as a flight instructor, working for Weir Cook, the man for whom the Indianapolis airport was later named. Hirschinger then managed the Inter City Airport at Hobbs (between Tipton and Elwood). He taught people to fly, flew charters himself, and barn-stormed to make a living. He came to work at the Muncie airport the day after Christmas in 1939.
During World War II, he trained 2,400 pilots through the Civilian Pilot Training Program, the War Training Service and the Navy's V-5 officer training program. He did this, in Muncie without accident or serious injury--a record of which he was immensely proud. Among those pilots was Alex Vraciu, who became a top Navy air ace.
In 1961, Hirschinger left Muncie to manage Sky Harbor Airport in Indianapolis. By then he had accumulated 19,000 hours of flying time, more than 2 full years in the cockpit. He returned 3 years later to take over as manager of Muncie's airport and remained here until retiring in 1983 with 48 years in the flying profession and more than 2 1/2 years aloft. During those years he survived spins, frozen fuel filters, the collapse of a wing assembly and a stubborn onboard fire, but his closest call was a mid-air collision over an airport in Cartersville, Ga. A newspaper account said Hirschinger was making an unscheduled stop to avoid bad weather when the other plane struck his from below. Hirschinger managed to bring his aircraft under control and belly-land it, escaping with just scratches on his leg. He then climbed out and ran to help the two people in the other craft, who were critically injured when a propeller cut into their cockpit and the plane cartwheeled onto the airport grounds.
After retirement, Hirschinger remained active in numerous aviation organization. In 1991, he was inducted into the OX-5 Club of America Hall of Fame.
The Star Press, Wednesday, February 5, 2003.
Lawrence B. (Larry) Hirschinger, 88, died unexpectedly Tuesday afternoon at Ball Memorial Hospital. He was born in Elwood, the son of George and Barbara Rupp Hirschinger, and graduated from Elwood High School in the early 1930s. He came to Muncie in 1939 and trained pilots at the Muncie airport during World War II. He later was manager of Muncie Airport until retiring in 1983 after 48 years in the flying profession.
He was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church; Knights of Columbus, the former Muncie Club; and Halteman Village Club. He was a member and past director of the Muncie Rotary Club and the Muncie/Delaware County Chamber of Commerce, and he served on the executive board of the Delaware County Council of the Boy Scouts of America.
Mr. Hirschinger was a member of the International Fellowship of Flying Rotarians, International Flying Farmers, OX-5 Aviation Pioneers, Quiet Birdman, Silver Wings Fraternity, American Association of Airport Executives, National Aviation Trades Association, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association and National Pilots Association. He was also a charter member of the Aviation Hall of Fame, a former member of the American Meteorological Society, director of the Indiana Airport Officials Association and the Aviation Association of Indiana. He was chairman of the board and past president of the Indiana Aviation Trades Association, a charter member of the Indianapolis Aero Club; and a member of the Delaware County Aero Club.
In 1970, he received the National Pilot's Association's second-highest safe piloting award for logging 20,315 consecutive accident free hours, and was named Indiana's Aviation Man of the Year. In 1968, he received the F.A.A. National Airport Beautification Commendation.
Surviving are two daughters, Sharon Williams (husband: Michael), Sherwood, Wis., and Carole Hooper, Fishers; his son, Chuck Hirschinger (wife: Shelly), Carmel; and six grandchildren, Tobin Williams (wife: Nicole), Kate Jacobs, Larry Jordan, Carrie Steele (husband: Sam), and Whitney and Tyler Hirschinger; and four great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife of 53 years, Marilyne M. Hirschinger, who died in 1992; his parents; three brothers, and two sisters.
Mass of Christian Burial will be 10 a.m. Saturday in St. Mary's Catholic Church. Burial will follow in Elm Ridge Cemetery. Friends may call at The Meeks Mortuary from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday, with a scripture service at 4 p.m. Memorials may be directed to The Rotary Foundation or to The American Heart Association.
The Star Press, Thursday, February 6, 2003.
Note: Edmund F. Ball's book "Rambling Recollections of Flying & Flyers," Volume I, c 1993, includes information about Larry Hirschinger.
Family links:
Parents:
George H. Hirschinger (1874 - 1954)
Barbara Rupp Hirschinger (1876 - 1971)
Spouse:
Marilyne M. Hirschinger (1920 - 1992)*
*Calculated relationship
Burial:
Elm Ridge Memorial Park
Muncie
Delaware County
Indiana, USA
Maintained by: Mary
Originally Created by: DSON1492
Record added: Dec 27, 2012
Find A Grave Memorial# 102704897
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1914 - 2003 (88 years)