All Aero

William A. Ong was born December 28, 1902 at Lacon, IL. In 1910, according to the U.S. Census, Ong was seven years old and living with his parents and sister Mercedes (4) in Lakewood City, OH. In 1920, the family was living in Kansas City, MO, but his sister was not listed on the Census form. His father was employed as an “Agent” in the “Brokerage” industry.

He learned to fly at Kansas City, MO in 1927 and carried Commercial pilot certificate No. 1904. He was a captain in the U.S. Army Air Corps Reserve.

Ong had his hands in many endeavors from air racing to flight training to air transport, aircraft sales and real estate development. From 1927-28 he was vice president of Beacon Airways of America. He was sales manager for Inland Aviation Co. from 1928-29, for Rearwin Airplane Co. 1929-34 and Waco Aircraft Co. 1934-35.

From the 1930 U.S. Census, William A. Ong (age 27) was living with his wife Esther (27) and sons Donald (4) and Richard (2) at 618 West 67th St., Kansas City, MO. He owned his house, which had an estimated value of $27,500. The three-story brick home still exists. Besides a relatively expensive home, the Ongs had a live-in maid named on the form as Delphine Regan (30).

Ong won the W.G. Skelley Trophy in 1932, the Glenn H. Curtiss Trophy in 1936, the E.L. Phillips Trophy and the E.H.R. Green Trophy in 1936 at the Miami All-American air manoeuvres. He won 19 events in the All-Kansas Air Tour of 1929.

An article, authored by Ong, appeared in Popular Aviation magazine, March, 1934. It was entitled “Death Stalks the Air Races”. In September, 1933, the International Air Races (not to be confused with the annual National Air Races) were held at Curtiss-Reynolds Airport in Chicago, IL. His article exposes the vagaries of professional air racing during the Golden Age, including the seemingly senseless accidents, injuries and deaths. This article describes the demise of Florence Klingensmith, a female pilot of great skill (not a Register pilot), during a pylon event at the 1933 races.

The International Air Races spanned four days in conjunction with Chicago’s Century of Progress exhibition.

He was general sales manager for Beech Aircraft Corp. from 1935-37. In 1937 he founded Ong Aircraft Corporation and Ong Flying Schools.

The 1940 Census placed Ong and his family at 6410 Wyandotte Street, Kansas City, MO. He reduced his housing obligations, since this two-story frame building was estimated to be worth $7,000 and he no longer had hired help to help care for it. This could be the result of ten years of the Great Depression. His family was together, though. He recorded his occupation as “Owner & Manager” in the “Aviation” business. He earned $2,500 per year. From another source, his flight time in 1940 was 3,600 hours logged.

Just before the outbreak of WWII, the Civilian Pilot Training Program (CPTP) was initiated by Register pilot Hap Arnold. Ong was involved with the CPTP program at Emporia, KS. He ran a glider training school as Grand Central Flying School for U.S. Army pilots at Renner Field, Goodland, KS near the border of Colorado. The field is now Goodland Municipal Airport (GLD).

Ong was a co-founder (with Register pilot Les Bowman, December 28, 1940) and the first president of NATA.

In 1964 he won the McDonald Distinguished Statesman of Aviation Award offered by the National Aeronautic Association. In 1975, he was inducted into the OX5 Aviation Pioneers Hall of Fame.

His company, Ong Aircraft Company, got into real estate development (date uncertain) and developed Fairwood Homes in Jackson County, MO. His son, Donald, was among those appointed by Ong to form an Interim Committee to govern and administer the Fairwood Homes Association.

Ong was a member of the Quiet Birdmen, Veteran Pilots Association, Professional Racing Pilots Association, the National Aeronautic Association and the Air Reserve Officers Association.

He died in November, 1979 at 66208 Shawnee Mission, Johnson, KS. This location appears to be a University of Kansas-affiliated hospital.

The National Air Transportation Association (NATA) established the William A. Ong Memorial Award. Presented annually since 1984, it is given for “extraordinary achievement and extended meritorious service to the general aviation industry.” It is considered one of the industry’s most prestigious award. Ong and Bowman’s work with the NATA and CPTP was celebrated by House Resolution 1669 on December 1, 2010.