| Cleo Francis Pineau | |
|---|---|
| Born | 23 July 1893 Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA |
| Died | 29 May 1972 Williamsport, Pennsylvania, USA |
| Wildwood Cemetery | Williamsport, Pennsylvania, USA |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service/branch | Aviation |
| Years of service | 1917 - 1918 |
| Rank | Lieutenant |
| Unit | No. 210 Squadron RAF |
| Awards | British Distinguished Flying Cross |
| Other work | Sparked civil aviation in Pennsylvania; became executive in steel industry |
Lieutenant Cleo Francis Pineau was a World War I flying ace credited with six aerial victories.[1] He later became an executive in the steel industry.
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Pineau was the son of Thomas L. and Adele Gstalder Pineau.[2] He was a restless youth, and dropped out of school in sixth grade.[3] He was a motorcycle racer before World War I.[4] He raced Flying Merkel and Indian Motorcycles, once defeating Barney Oldfield. He also rode in the "Globe of Death" motordrome as a vaudeville performer.[5]
He joined the Royal Flying Corps in December 1917,[6] and trained at the Curtis Aviation School in Buffalo, New York.[7] He was assigned to 210 Squadron on 2 June 1918. Between 6 September and 8 October 1918, he used a Sopwith Camel to destroy four Fokker D.VIIs and drive down two others. Following his sixth win, he was shot down by a Fokker Triplane near Roulers and fell into captivity as a prisoner of war.[8]
Pineau went back to motorcycle racing in the 1920s, winning many world motordrome records.[9] Pineau did not leave aviation behind. He was instrumental in founding the Williamsport-Lycoming County Airport, and fostered it through his connections in the aviation community, including a friendship with Wiley Post.[10][11]
He began the Radiant Steel company in 1927 or 1928, as a spinoff from Darling Valve and Manufacturing Company. By 1948, he was its president; he served in this capacity until he retired in 1969. He died in 1972.[12][13]