Born to a prominent family April 27, 1891, in Topeka, Kansas, Louis Philip Billard learned to fly at an early age. Topeka aviator and aircraft builder, A. K. Longren, was his instructor and provided aircraft for Billard to fly.
Billard's flights around the capital city were frequently mentioned in the Topeka papers. This attention was due partly to the public's fascination with this new invention and to the fact that Billard was the son of Topeka mayor, J. B. Billard. His father was quoted in 1912 the Topeka Daily Capital as being "opposed to his son purchasing the racing biplane, because of the dangers of flying, but Phil wanted something that was faster than an auto. . ."
His father's concerns about the dangers of flying were well founded. Many pilots had accidents in these early aircraft.
Billard volunteered for service as a pilot when the U.S. entered World War I. He trained in Colorado, California, and New York, before he was assigned the duty of test pilot in France. While serving as a test pilot and instructor during World War I in France, Billard died July 24, 1918, when his plane disintegrated. In 1940 the Philip Billard Airport in Topeka, Kansas, was dedicated to his memory.
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Our 15th Annual POW/MIA Memorial Golf Tournament is happening this year on Saturday August 19th, 2023 at 8:30 am. We'll be having it at Cypress Ridge Golf Course in Topeka, KS. If you haven't signed up yet with your team or to be a sponsor, please do so! POC for team registration and sponsorship is Brian, he can be reached at btritsch1@cox.net.
Our programs support our service members while they are on the front line, as they are being discharged and long after they return. Your tax-deductible donation will be immediately directed to the VFW programs where your support is most urgently needed.
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