Clifford Ball (aviation): Difference between revisions

| birth_place = [[Banksville (Pittsburgh)|Banksville]], [[Pennsylvania]], USU.S.

| death_place = [[Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|Pittsburgh]], USPennsylvania, U.S.

'''Clifford Ball''' (November 29, 1891 – June 2, 1972) was aan American farmer, soldier, [[bookkeeper]], [[clerk]], [[automobile dealer]], airplane dealer, airline owner, airline operator, airline executive, radio manufacturer, [[Civil Air Patrol]] officer and chaplain, and aviation pioneer.

CliffBall was born November 29, 1891, in [[Pittsburgh|Banksville]], Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. He was one of ten children born to Thomas Ball and Charlotte Ann Burrows. Both of his parents and three of his siblings emigrated from England to the US in 1879.<ref>{{cite census|url = https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MGQQ-CKC |title=Clifford Ball|year=1910|location=Dravosburg, Pennsylvania|roll=T624 1293|page=17A|line=25-29|enumdist=51|filmnum=1375306|accessdate=September 15, 2017}}</ref> CliffBall graduated from [[McKeesport]] High School in 1910. CliffBall spent time working at his father's supply company delivering coal, operating a hoist, shoveling sand and gravel, and dispatching trucks making $90 a month. During this time his father was taking money out of his paycheck and setting it aside for CliffBall. CliffBall also worked as a clerk for a bank, and an insurance company. CliffBall continued his education by taking evening courses at [[Duquesne University]] and business courses at Duffs Iron City College. CliffBall joined the Aero Club of Pittsburgh when he was 18 years old,<ref name= "Fascination with flying">{{cite news|title=Parachute Jumpers made him airminded in youth|newspaper=The Pittsburgh Press|date=April 23, 1933}}</ref> according to an early story. The club however, was founded in 1909 to promote an aerial demonstration, and was dormant until 1920 or so when it was restricted to WWI pilots and observers. It was not until a decade later that non-military pilots were accepted.

His first air minded friend was Madame Alice Zeno. [[Madame Zeno]] was one of the early [[aeronaut]]s to entertain crowds at fairs and other events at [[Calhoun Park]] (now Lincoln Place) in Pittsburgh between 1890 and 1909. She would hang from a [[trapeze]] suspended from a [[parachute]] attached to the bottom of a [[hot air balloon]]. Madame Zeno would ride the balloon to a height a few thousand feet above the crowd and then release the parachute from the balloon. Zeno would then ride the wind back to the earth. The first child to locate her landing spot would be rewarded with a quarter and CliffBall was one of the children that often collected on that reward.<ref name="Fascination with flying" />

CliffBall joined the Army [[National Guard of the United States|National Guard]] July 16, 1917, in Pittsburgh. CliffBall attempted to become a pilot when he enlisted but was rejected due to poor eyesight. He served during World War 1 with Troop H, 1st [[Cavalry]] Pennsylvania National Guard for a month before being transferred to the Headquarters Company of the 107th [[Field Artillery]] until he was released May 21, 1919. CliffBall served overseas from April 30, 1918, until May 11, 1919 (Serial # 1249860).<ref name= "PA Veterans Compensation Form">{{cite book|title=Pennsylvania Veterans Compensation Form|date=March 9, 1935|publisher=U S Government|location=Dravosburg, Pennsylvania|edition=Application #193939}}</ref>

During WWII CliffBall served as a Captaincaptain and Chaplainchaplain in the [[Civil Air Patrol]] and managing director of district fields for [[Graham Aviation Flying School]] with its headquarters at [[Butler County Airport|Butler Field]].<ref name="WW2 Draft Card">{{cite book|title=WW2 draft registration card|date=April 27, 1942|publisher=U S Government|location=Dunbar, Pennsylvania|edition=Serial # U1974}}</ref> On July 2, 1942, CliffBall was commander of the 315th group at Butler Field where he organized three [[Squadron (aviation)|squadrons]] of civil pilots, 7 of the 68 fliers were woman. Many served as coastal patrol in spotting submarines, such as Jacob Schlager, who returned from Atlantic Patrol Duty at the end of June 1942.<ref>{{cite news|title=Civil Air Patrol Keeps Watch Here|newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|at=Daily Magazine, p. 1|date=July 2, 1942}}</ref>

After the war CliffBall returned to bookkeeping for a bond office for a while. He used the $5000 his father had saved for him and opened an automobile [[Car dealership|dealership]] called Diamond Motor Sales Company located in McKeesport. CliffBall became an agency for the [[Hudson Motor Car Company|Hudson]] – [[Essex]] auto manufactures as well as dealing in used cars.<ref name="Fascination with flying" /> During his time as an automobile dealer, CliffBall had been fascinated by aerial demonstrations held in a field across the [[Monongahela River]] from McKeesport. The field was owned by local farmer [[Harry Campbell Neel|Harry C Neel]]. A friend and neighbor of Neel, [[David Barr Peat|D Barr Peat]], had made arrangements with Neel to use his property for aerial demonstrations. Peat had cleared a landing area for barnstormers to use for exhibitions and sightseeing on weekends and holidays in exchange for part of the profits they made.<ref name= "Pitcairn Field">{{cite web|title=Pitcairn Field 1927 – 1942|url=http://pitcairnfield.org/people/ball_cl/|website=Pitcairn Field|publisher=Delta Mike Airfield Inc.}}</ref> In July 1919 CliffBall had an encounter with a pilot. The pilot was in a group of traveling barnstormers that were performing in a county-wide exhibition. The pilots name was [[Eddie Stinson]] (founder Stinson Aircraft Co). CliffBall paid for a ride with Stinson. This $10 or $15 investment for a ride turned CliffBall's focus back towards aviation.<ref name="Aeronautic Exhibition">{{cite news|title=Post-Sun Aeronautic Exhibition|newspaper=The Pittsburgh Post|date=July 18, 1919|page=1}}</ref>

CliffBall and Peat became partners with a common goal. They had several meetings with local [[Congressman]] [[Melville Clyde Kelly|M Clyde Kelly]] to convince Kelly of the benefits in bringing aviation to the Pittsburgh area.<ref>{{cite journal|title=Legacies, by: Mary S Gilbert|journal=Western Pennsylvania History|date=2002|issue=Spring|pages=66, 67|url=https://journals.psu.edu/wph/article/view/7657/7430}}</ref> CliffBall and Peat would continue to lobby for aviation with local business men while Kelly took it to congress. In 1924 CliffBall and Peat began to raise money to expand the airfield. CliffBall m[[mortgage loan|mortgagedortgaged]] everything he owned and they borrowed the rest. They used the money to buy the [[property]] from Neal for $35,000 in August 1925. (Neal used this seed money to start Jefferson Memorial Cemetery nearby) CliffBall was Presidentpresident and Peat was Vicevice-Presidentpresident of the new [[Bettis Field|Pittsburgh-McKeesport air field]] PMA.<ref name= "Pitcairn Field"/> PMA started out on 25 acres. They used the leftover money from the purchase of the property along with additional funding, from [[Samuel J Brendel|Sam Brendel]], Neel and CliffBall's brother Albert Ball, and they erected a building that was used as a combination [[machine shop]], [[concession stand]] and living quarters for pilots. Peat cut down trees and ran a [[tractor]] filling in ditches adding an additional 18 acres of useful space to the airfield.<ref name= "The Path of the Eagle">{{cite journal|title=The Path of the Eagle, by: Kurt Rand|journal=Popular Aviation|date=February 1940|pages=Pg 13–18}}</ref> CliffBall would stage [[Aerobatics|aerial stunts]] and plane rides as well as running the concession stand. In 1925 CliffBall hired a secretary, [[Helen Marie Stinner]] (later his wife), who also acted as [[gatekeeper]] and ticket taker.<ref>{{cite news|title=Lebanon Woman Helped Inaugurate U S Air Mail Service|page=C-6|newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|date=August 26, 1993}}</ref>

The traveling barnstormers charged $5 a plane ride and the PMA received $1 of that. In a week the airfield made about $250.<ref name= "Clifford Ball Airline Win">{{cite news|title=Clifford Ball Airline Win|at=News section, p. 7|newspaper=The Pittsburgh Press|date=March 9, 1930}}</ref> In August officials of the local [[American Legion]], Burt Foster post No. 361, signed a contract with PMA to hold an airplane meet.<ref name= "Tube City Plans Air Meet">{{cite news|title=Tube City Plans Air Meet|page=7|newspaper=The Pittsburgh Post|date=August 26, 1925}}</ref> With the money from the Legion contract CliffBall expanded the airfield from 43 to 85 acres.<ref name="Clifford Ball Airline Win" /> CliffBall bought his own plane from the [[Robertson Aircraft Corporation]] of [[St Louis]], whose pilot and instructor was named [[Charles A Lindbergh]]. The plane had been named "Fly Today" and was a [[Standard J-1]] in rough shape. It was suggested by Lindbergh based on the money CliffBall had to spend. CliffBall hired a local stunt flyer named [[Romer Weyant]] to fly his airplane for the Sunday and Holiday events.<ref name="Fascination with flying" /> In September PMA attempted to bring more interest to the new airport by hosting "The Battle in the Clouds" which was a reenactment of a French Balloon being shot down from 8,000 feet by hostile planes. Stunt flying and Army Air Planes were also on site for the crowd to enjoy.<ref>{{cite news|title=The Battle in the Clouds|at=sec. 3, p. 7|newspaper=Pittsburgh Gazette Times|date=September 27, 1925}}</ref> PMA held the Legion Aviation Meet on October 17/18, 1925. The Legion meet was termed the largest air meet ever held in the state of Pennsylvania. It was estimated that more than 10,000 people attended. Over 100 planes came from across the country, with military and commercial aces, to participate. The crowd was witness to races, stunts, [[wing walking]], [[skywriting]], and [[Parachuting|parachute jumps]]. The meet was held with the co-operation of the Aero Club of Pittsburgh and the Technical Data Section of the [[Army Air Service]].<ref>{{cite news|title=American Legion Air Meet|volume=2|issue=267|newspaper=The Warren Tribune|date=October 17, 1925}}</ref>

In January after the passing of what became known as the [[Airmails of the United States|Kelly Airmail Act]], Pittsburgh [[Postmaster]] George W Gosser recommended PMA as the best local field to use as a feeder line for receiving and shipping the US Mail.<ref name= "Federal Airport">{{cite news|title=Federal Airport|page=2|newspaper=The Daily Republican|date=January 14, 1926}}</ref> As president of PMA, CliffBall went on a tour of the Airports along the transcontinental Airmail route to inspect aircraft, equipment and best practices to bring back for use at PMA. During this trip CliffBall visited the [[Swallow Airplane Company]] in [[Wichita, Kansas]], to inspect a new fleet of Air Mail planes being produced.<ref name= "Transcontinental Airmail Route">{{cite news|title=Ball Leaves to Tour Air Ports|page=4|newspaper=Pittsburgh Gazette Times|date=January 18, 1926|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=LYVRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=oGgDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5956%2C5375782}}</ref> In preparation for bidding on one of the air mail routes CliffBall founded the "Skyline Transport Company" (STC), better known as "Clifford Ball, Inc", and submitted a bid on March 25 for [[Airmails of the United States|Contract Air Mail route 11 (CAM-11)]] to fly Airmail between [[Pittsburgh, PA]] and [[Cleveland, OH]].<ref name= "Federal Airport"/> Late in March the Postal Authorities notified CliffBall they would visit PMA to inspect the facility prior to any contract being awarded.<ref>{{cite news|title=Postal Authorities Visit McKeesport Airport|page=7|newspaper=The Pittsburgh Post|date=March 26, 1926}}</ref> CliffBall continued searching for ways to bring business into the Airport and in January he was able to convince the [[Swallow Airplane Co]] to build an assembly plant at the Airport. Immediately they began shipping airplane parts to be assembled at PMA. Some planes were assembled and CliffBall acted as a local distributor and salesman for the new Swallow aircraft selling a few planes while waiting for the new plant to be built. However the plant never materialized.<ref name= "Transcontinental Airmail Route"/> On March 27, 1926, STC won the bid for CAM 11 and was awarded the Government Contract starting on May 1. CliffBall was the only bidder on the route and planned to begin operations on July 1 with three Swallow Aircraft.<ref>{{cite news|title=Pittsburgh-Cleveland Air Mail Contract Awarded Only Bidder|page=1|newspaper=Pittsburgh Gazette Times|date=March 27, 1926}}</ref>

CliffBall had flown over 100 hours but the contract from his bondman for STC stated he could not fly for five years. PMA "informally" opened to the public on June 19, 1926, with a free exhibition of acrobatic flying by the air mail pilots. The airmail service official opening was delayed by a Government requirement for heavier planes.<ref>{{cite news|title=Air Mail Field Informally Will Be Opened Today|page=15|newspaper=Pittsburgh Gazette Times|date=June 19, 1926|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=X2dSAAAAIBAJ&sjid=G2kDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2911%2C6413138}}</ref> PMA "officially" opened to the public on July 20, 1926, by holding an Air Circus with 10 stunt fliers to entertain the crowds with acrobatic maneuvers, altitude flights and races. CliffBall announced that this will be the Headquarters of the Pittsburgh-Cleveland Air Mail service slated to start in about 2 months after acquiring appropriate planes.<ref>{{cite news|title=Pittsburgh-McKeesport Airport Officially Open|at=sec. 1, p. 4|newspaper=The Pittsburgh Post|date=July 20, 1926}}</ref>

On May 31, 1928, PMA hosted the National Elimination Balloon Races with more than 150,000 people in attendance. The added seats for the event were widely used on future weekends and holidays for people to sit and watch the airport activities. It was around this time that the first requirements of the [[physical exam]] for a [[pilot license]], even for students, were created.<ref name= "Local Aviation">{{cite news|title=Local Aviation|at=Auto Section, p. 9|newspaper=The Pittsburgh Press|date=June 10, 1928}}</ref> Pilots across the state begin bringing their damaged planes to Bettis for repairs due to the growing reputation of PMA.<ref name="Local Aviation - NAA making planes">{{cite news|title=Local Aviation|at=Auto Section, p. 5|newspaper=The Pittsburgh Press|date=July 1, 1928}}</ref>

Less than four months after the official opening of PMA the name was changed. On November 26, 1926, approximately 75 Airplanes were used in the formal dedication of Bettis Aviation Field, named for Lieutenant [[Cyrus K. Bettis]], a well known aviator that was killed in a crash near [[Bellefonte, PA]]. After a dedication speech was made former [[Squadron (aviation)|squadron]] mates of Bettis took to the sky in there [[Curtiss P-1|Curtiss P-1 Hawk]] pursuit planes to make their dedication to him above the crowd. Some of the aircraft on display at the event were the [[Douglas C-1]], a huge twin-motored [[Martin NBS-1]] [[Bomberbomber]], and a Fokker Special monoplane. In attendance were Ithrene Bettis, sister of the fallen aviator; Myrtle Peacock, his fiancée; Congressman M Clyde Kelly; [[William Petterson MacCracken, Jr.|William P MacCracken, Jr]], assistant secretary of commerce and director of commercial aviation; George W Gosser, Pittsburgh postmaster; [[George H Lysle]], mayor of McKeesport; Colonel [[H C Fry]], chairman of the aviation board of the Pittsburgh [[Chamber of Commerce]]; and Captain [[Thomas S Voss]], in charge of Rodgers Airfield northeast of downtown Pittsburgh.<ref>{{cite news|title=Bettis Aviation Field|at=sec. 1, p. 10|newspaper=The Pittsburgh Post|date=November 14, 1926}}</ref>

CliffBall ordered four new [[OX-5]] powered [[Waco 9]] type [[biplanes]] to meet the new government requirements and by the morning of April 19 two were at the field. CliffBall sent his Chief Pilot and head of the Operating Division, [[Merle A "Moup" Moltrup]], on a test run. Flying the new Waco 9, "Miss Pittsburgh", from Bettis to Youngstown and then on to Cleveland and back while CliffBall and the postmaster timed the run in preparation for the opening. Two of the new Waco 9's had arrive and a third was expected.<ref>{{cite news|title=Three New Bi-Planes|page=1|newspaper=The Pittsburgh Press|date=April 19, 1927}}</ref>

The new Pittsburgh-Cleveland, via Youngstown, Air Mail route was inaugurated on April 21, 1927. "Miss Youngstown" ”Miss Pittsburgh" and "Miss McKeesport" flew out of Bettis on the 20th to partake in celebrations at Cleveland and Youngstown. The three planes were then loaded for the first mail to return to Bettis. Some of those on hand were the Directordirector of [[Bettis Field]], Clifford Ball; Superintendentsuperintendent of the field, D Barr Peat; Superintendent of Air Mail contracts of Washington, [[Earl B Wadsworth]]; Local postmaster, George W Gosser; Superintendent of Mail, [[L E Palmer]], a veteran of the mail service for 55 years; Assistant Postmaster, James B Anderson; Superintendent of motor vehicles, David B Wilson; Assistant Secretary of Commerce in charge of Aeronautics, William P MacCracken, Jr and Congressman Clyde Kelly, father of the airmail bill.<ref>{{cite news|title=Cheering Host Greets First Postal Plane out of West|pages=1, 9|newspaper=Pittsburgh Gazette Times|date=April 22, 1927|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/11652343/ |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}} {{openaccess}}</ref>

Undaunted by rain a crowd of 5000 to 7000 cheered the arrival of two little speaks emerging from the storm clouds, drowning out the brass band. "Miss Youngstown" piloted by "Moup" with [[Arthur J Lynch]], traffic manager, as a passenger were first to land with the first airmail for Pittsburgh. "Miss Pittsburgh" piloted by [[Dewey L Noyes]] landed soon after. Miss Carrie Dickson officially christened "Miss Pittsburgh" while Miss Louise Helmstead officially christened "Miss McKeesport" once the delayed plane arrived piloted by [[Kenneth F "Curly" Lovejoy]]. Miss Youngstown followed by Miss Pittsburgh were re-loaded and took off for their outbound trips. Planes from the [[US Army Reserve]] field at [[Aspinwall, Pennsylvania|Aspinwall]] escorted them to Youngstown. The escort including Capt Thomas S Voss, commandant of Rodgers field; Col [[Harry C Fry Jr]], chairman of the aviation committee of Pittsburgh chamber of commerce; Capt [[John Dake]], [[Frank J Ambrose]], [[John A Broderick]], [[J J Feery]] and [[E W Thompson]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Daring Mail Flyers Defeat Storm|page=2|newspaper=The Pittsburgh Press|date=April 22, 1927}}</ref> On April 4, 1929, pilot Dewyey Noyes made the first night flight on the airmail route.<ref>{{cite news|title=Pittsburgh Anniversary Program|newspaper=The Pittsburgh Press|date=May 15, 1938}}</ref>

On June 25, 1927, pilot [[Clyde Emerick]] crashed at Bettis. Emerick worked for [[Johnson Airplane and Supply Co.]] at Al Johnson's Wilmington Pike airfield in the downtown [[Dayton, Ohio]], area. The plane was taking off and one of the two engines of the [[Johnson – 60]] type failed about 100 feet off the ground. The plane crashed to the ground throwing the pilot into the spinning [[Propeller (aeronautics)|propeller]]. He was rushed to McKeesport Hospital in an ambulance suffering a [[compound fracture]] of the skull. The plane had stopped at Bettis for the night and was resuming the following morning when the crash occurred. The plane had minor damage with wrecked landing gear. Clyde Emerick succumbs to his injuries and died July 6 at McKeesport hospital, his wife by his side. His passenger G F Gerber, of [[Johnstown, PA]] crawled from the wrecked plane unhurt.<ref>{{cite news|title=Pilot May Die|page=11|newspaper=The Evening News|location=Wilkes-Barre, PA|date=June 25, 1927}}</ref>

The popularity of aviation was growing fast and on August 23, 1927, Bettis field got another boost when Charles Lindbergh landed at the field in his Ryan monoplane during his 22,000-mile, 82 -city tour Goodwill Tour. The airfield was packed to overflowing with people waiting for the arrival of Lindbergh. People lined the roads from Bettis field to downtown Pittsburgh to get a look at the new hero as his motorcade headed to the reception area. Lindbergh required that his airplane be hangared. Because of its wingspan, it had to be slid in sideways on greased rails. Lindbergh left the next day to the cheers of more than 30,000 people.<ref name="Pittsburgh's First Airfield">{{cite journal|title=Bettis: Pittsburgh's First Airfield|journal=Homestead & Mifflin Township Historical Society newsletterNewsletter|date=April 2002|volume=2|issue=4|page=5}}</ref>

With the Airmail contract secured, in June CliffBall added a flying school at the field called "Pittsburgh School of Aviation", formerly known as Bob Trader's Flying School.<ref>{{cite news|title=Local Aviation|at=Auto Section, p. 6|newspaper=The Pittsburgh Press|date=September 8, 1929}}</ref> The school had both a ground and flying course. CliffBall organizing the school patterned after the flying clubs of England and the United States. Students were trained in the Waco aircraft, as Bettis was a distribution center for the manufacture, Advance Aircraft Co of Troy, Ohio.<ref>{{cite news|title=Local Aviation|at=Auto Sec., p. 5|newspaper=The Pittsburgh Press|date=July 1, 1928}}</ref> The students were called the "Bettis Field Cadets" and by April it was co-ed. Catherine and Louise Reiff, Collett Rohaus, Olive Herskovitz, Helen Richey, Mrs Ida Snyder Wilson, and Mrs Edna Wolf were some of the early female student fliers.<ref>{{cite news|title=Woman Learn to Fly|at=Auto section, p. 7|newspaper=The Pittsburgh Press|date=September 22, 1929}}</ref>

Along with the Aviation School CliffBall added a Passengerpassenger Serviceservice. Expanding from the two -seat Bi-Planesbiplanes, CliffBall first purchased a [[Ryan Brougham]] (#5552).<ref>{{cite news|title=Aerial Express Service|page=6|newspaper=The Pittsburgh Press|date=April 24, 1928}}</ref> When the route was lengthened, CliffBall added a [[Pitcairn Mailwing]] with a [[Wright R-790 Whirlwind|J-5]] engine and a J-5 powered [[Travel Air]], the first plane equipped with landing lights, navigation lights and flares.<ref name= "The Path of the Eagle"/> CliffBall continued to expand service by making connections with other airlines, such as Stout Airlines, to extend service to the public.<ref name="Open Airline to Washington">{{cite news|title=Open Airline To Washington|at=Part 5, p. 6|newspaper=Detroit Free Press|date=October 6, 1929}}</ref> In June CliffBall ordered three [[Fairchild FC-2]] Cabincabin Monoplanemonoplanes, with the first being delivered on the 9th.<ref name="Local Aviation - NAA making planes"/> In August 1929 the passenger service was then extended to [[Washington, D C]] landing just across the [[Potomac River]] at [[Hoover Field]].

By January 1929 CliffBall, now the sole owner of the CAM 11 contract, had run successfully for two years. At that time the government exercised its option to extend the contract for the full eight years. With the guarantee of another six years of airmail service CliffBall built a new hangar to hold 22 aircraft with a second to be built the following month. At this time CliffBall had six planes in the airmail service to Cleveland.<ref name="Pittsburgh's First Airfield"/> CliffBall expanded his growing list of aircraft with a [[Ford tri-motor]], another Fairchild FC-2, five [[New Standard D-25|New Standard D-27]], and seven Waco 9's as payment for a storage charge.

On April 28, 1929, the first passengers, 4 men in a Fairchild FC-2 from Pittsburgh to Cleveland, opened the newly named "Path of the Eagle" passenger service.<ref>{{cite news|title=Local Aviation|page=9|newspaper=The Pittsburgh Press|date=November 14, 1929}}</ref> This date is used by the [[National Safety Council]] to mark the commencement of the unmatched safety record that Cliff,Ball and succeeding companies have made over this route.

In August CliffBall had pilot Frank Dayton take him to Harrisburg for a demand certificate to operate a taxi service there. Along for his firsts plane ride was Pittsburgh Postmaster George W Gosser.<ref>{{cite news|title=Post Master Takes Ride|page=1|newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|date=August 21, 1929}}</ref> During the first week of October Clifford Ball Inc expanding its "Path of the Eagle" offerings from Detroit to Washington, DCD.C., connecting with Stout Air Lines at Cleveland.<ref name="Open Airline to Washington">{{cite news|title=Open Airline To Washington|at=Part 5, p. 6|newspaper=Detroit Free Press|date=October 6, 1929}}</ref>

After the passing of the Air Mail Act of 1930 many small Airlinesairlines were forced to merge in order to meet the new government requirements. CliffBall merged his Cleveland-Pittsburgh-Washington passenger line with the new [[Pennsylvania Air Lines]] (PAL). Officers of the new "Path of the Eagle" were Cliff Ball as Presidentpresident and general manager; [[R Park Marshall]] as Vicevice-Presidentpresident and Directordirector; [[Arthur Ball]] as Secretarysecretary and Treasurertreasurer; and [[W C Smith]] as Director.<ref name= "Local aviation">{{cite news|title=Local aviation|page=23|newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|date=May 7, 1930}}</ref> The merger would keep Pittsburgh on the feeder line connecting the transcontinental route.<ref>{{cite news|title=Two Airlines involved by merger|page=21|newspaper=The Pittsburgh Press|date=May 5, 1930}}</ref> Synchronizing the "Path of the Eagle" allowed travel from [[Oakland, CA]] to NY using connections with [[Boeing#Before 1930|Boeing]] Lines, [[Pittsburgh Airways]], [[Stout Air Lines]], and [[Western Air Express]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Coast airline open|page=58|newspaper=The Pittsburgh Press|date=May 16, 1930}}</ref> With the merger came new services and rates encompassing all CliffBall's business. CliffBall added passenger service to Cleveland, Chicago, [[St. Louis]] and [[Saint Paul, Minnesota|St. Paul]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Cleveland, St Louis service|page=1|newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|date=August 28, 1930}}</ref> Service between New Castle, Chicago, and Washington was added.<ref>{{cite news|title=New Castle service|page=21|newspaper=New Castle News|date=May 7, 1930}}</ref> The [[Akron]], Youngstown, and New Castle line was inaugurated by the Tri-motored Ford piloted by [[R L Baker]]. And the use of the new [[Adams airmail pick-up device]] in cities between Pittsburgh and Cleveland was started for the smaller towns without airfield.<ref name= "Local aviation">{{cite news|title=Local aviation|page=23|newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|date=May 7, 1930}}</ref>

Another first for Pittsburgh was the new service of Week-end air trip [[excursions]] to Cleveland and Washington and Sunday Service. Because of improved [[patronage]] and equipment CliffBall reduced rates four times within one year.<ref>{{cite news|title=Weekend excursions|agency=The Pittsburgh Press|page=9|date=August 31, 1930}}</ref>

Clifford Ball Aviation Company was purchased by [[Pittsburgh Aviation Industries Corporation]] (PAIC), a holding company, November 4, 1930, after the president of PAIC, [[George R Hann]], and Ball came to an agreement. No changes or additions to the service were made and the new organization would continue to operate under the name Pennsylvania Air Line, Inc (PAL). Ball was retained as Vice-President in charge of Operations and general manager.<ref name= "The Path of the Eagle"/> PIAC executive secretary [[Richard W Robbins]] was made President.<ref>{{cite news|title=Ball aviation company is sold|page=8|newspaper=The Kane Republican|date=November 4, 1930}}</ref> PAIC had established the [[Pittsburgh-Butler Regional Airport|Pittsburgh-Butler airport]], the [[Penn School of Aviation]] and the [[Pittsburgh Aerial Surveys company]] and had recently affiliated with [[Transcontinental and Western Inc]] to establish a coast-to-coast all air passengers' service via Pittsburgh.<ref>{{cite news|title=Pioneer plane service system changes hands|page=1|newspaper=Bradford Evening Star and Daily Record|date=November 4, 1930}}</ref>

CliffBall transferred all of his PAL [[stock]] to PAIC and resigned from PAL on October 2, 1933, without any explanation. CliffBall had been vice-president in charge of operations since selling his "Path of the Eagle" passenger and airmail line to PAIC. CliffBall gave no reason for his withdrawal from PAL only stated he was going on an indefinite [[leave of absence]], going to the [[World Series]] and then heading to Florida for a rest.<ref>{{cite news|title=Father of air commerce here resigns post|page=1|newspaper=The Pittsburgh Press|date=October 2, 1933}}</ref>

Ball testified before the Congress at the [[Air Mail scandal|Air Mail Cancellation Hearings]] that [[Richard W Robbins]] and George R Hann, of Sewickley Heights, in colluding with Postmaster Brown schemed to defame him in order to award his contract to their PAIC, which took over Ball's Pennsylvania Air Lines.<ref name="Air Line Head Charges Plot to Defame Him">{{cite news|title=Air Line Head Charges Plot by Brown to Defame Him|page=1|newspaper=Oakland Tribune|date=February 26, 1934}}</ref> PAIC was supposedly allied with the Mellon interests.

CliffBall was charged before the Senate airmail committee that former Postmaster-General Walter F Brown and officials of the PIAC, participated in "a well planned scheme to defame"<ref name="Air Line Head Charges Plot to Defame Him"/> his character in 1930.

CliffBall testified that Brown fined him $5,000 for carrying "unlawful" mail. This accusation was made to Ball directly and among friends and acquaintances by George R Hann and Richard W Robbins of PAIC. The scheme was to defame Ball in order to carry out their plan of transferring the mail contract to PAIC even though PAIC did not operate an airline at the time, which was a requirement.<ref name="Air Line Head Charges Plot to Defame Him"/> According to CliffBall and other witness testimony during the meetings on Airmail Hann stated,

In 1938 CliffBall is listed as Vicevice-Presidentpresident of Hotel Radio & Equipment Company and [[Voco Radio Manufacturing Company]]. He remained active with the Radioradio Equipmentequipment business until 1947 based on Pittsburgh directories of the time.<ref name= "Man of the Year">{{cite news|title=Man of the Year|page=3|newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|date=January 3, 1948}}</ref> Voco was located in the old Point Building at the intersection of Penn and Water, currently [[Point State Park]]. Albert M Greenfield & Co leased space on the fourth floor of the Point Building for the Point Land Company to the Voco Radio Manufacturing Company, Inc., for the manufacture, sale and servicing of radios and radio equipment.<ref>{{cite news|title=Voco Radio Manufacturing Co., Inc rents fourth floor of Point Building|page=19|newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|date=May 14, 1938}}</ref>

CliffBall spent some time working for [[Taylorcraft Aircraft]] of [[Conway, PA]] and was a member of the airport advisory Committeecommittee before being brought in as the first [[Building superintendent|superintendent]] of the [[Pittsburgh International Airport|Greater Pittsburgh Airport]] (GPA), which opened April 23, 1952.<ref>{{cite news|title=Clifford Ball Heads New Airport Here|pages=1, 4|newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|date=April 24, 1952}}</ref> CliffBall was chosen as Vicevice-Presidentpresident in charge of operations of the GPA beginning May 15. The airport was touted as the second largest in the nation at the time. CliffBall was in direct charge of pilots and planes. His office was equipped with all the latest meteorological instruments so that he had the news on the weather from 42 different stations. He held this position until October, 1955, when he went to the [[Allegheny County Airport]] as manager/ and director until 1958.<ref name= "Aviation Pioneer Dies">{{cite news|title=Aviation Pioneer Dies|page=D-11|newspaper=The Pittsburgh Press|date=June 4, 1972}}</ref>

CliffBall started the OX-5 Club after Charlie Carroll, the operator of the [[Latrobe, PAPennsylvania]], airport, came to the Aero Club of Pittsburgh in June of 55' with the idea of arranging a rally for OX-5 pilots. At the first meeting officers were selected and CliffBall was made Nationalnational Secretarysecretary. To CliffBall's surprise 107 pilots registered for the first gathering of the new club. By the end of '56 that numbers had reached 990 and in '57 it was 4,249. By 1980 membership of the OX-5 club had grown to more than 12,000 members.<ref>{{cite news|title=Pilots to form association|page=3|newspaper=The Plain Speaker|location=Hazleton, PA|date=August 15, 1955}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=OX5 Membership|url=http://ox5.org/|website=OX-5 Aviation Pioneers}}</ref>

CliffBall died of heart failure at his office in the OX-5 club and Aero Club headquarters in downtown Pittsburgh June 2, 1972.<ref name= "Aviation Pioneer Dies"/> According to Flora Balmer, the secretary for decades, CliffBall simply collapsed at his desk.

*May 31, 1936: CliffBall was honored with a lifetime pass by D Walter Swan, Central's Vice-President in charge of traffic, during a banquet in Cleveland held by [[Central Airlines]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Ball Given Lifetime Pass|at=Society Sec., p. 13|newspaper=The Pittsburgh Press|date=May 31, 1936}}</ref>

*CliffBall was a member of [[VFW]] post number 285.<ref name= "Aviation Pioneer Dies"/>

*CliffBall was a member of the Aero Club of Pittsburgh joining in 1919 and was elected President for 30 years.<ref name= "Aviation Pioneer Dies"/>

*In 1965 the [[Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics]] and their mechanics' school dedicated its $80,000 Clifford Ball Academic Building and CliffBall was honored as Pittsburgh's "Grand old man of aviation."<ref name= "Aviation Pioneer Dies"/>

*Allegheny County Port Authority buses carried an image of Cliff Ball and his name on the side of buses for a time.

* [https://books.google.com/books?id=TyraGxyMgzcC&pg=PT48&lpg=PT48&dq=D.+Barr+Peat&sourcepg=bl&ots=Tmfn1aPwFH&sig=nDovpptaxMTpIyriM5F2pT9rAto&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiL2Ki2puXPAhUGLSYKHZBvCKUQ6AEIHDAA#v=onepage&q=D.%20Barr%20Peat&f=falsePT48 A Place in the Sky]

* [https://books.google.com/books?id=ar_izeo-9LMC&pg=PA41&lpg=PA41&dq=airline+clifford+ball&sourcepg=bl&ots=8Ky4VFIeWI&sig=ogBEQ-zDCIQJwDRbeUeBw-O6PW8&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjT9uCklvnPAhVLwmMKHcRwCeg4ChDoAQggMAE#v=onepage&q=airline%20clifford%20ball&f=falsePA41 Flying mag, Oct 1964, Early Airlines-Clifford Ball, Inc]

* [https://books.google.com/books?id=sqwfBgAAQBAJ&pg=PA25&lpg=PA25&dq=airline+clifford+ball&sourcepg=bl&ots=H-PHYMyS1n&sig=d3OqBrVbDj4a7TJNqJWsttD9X30&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjT9uCklvnPAhVLwmMKHcRwCeg4ChDoAQg4MAY#v=onepage&q=airline%20clifford%20ball&f=falsePA25 Airlines & Airmail, University Press of Kentucky]

* [https://books.google.com/books?id=ipKPBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA279&lpg=PA279&dq=airline+clifford+ball&sourcepg=bl&ots=CGAKKBxdcf&sig=JHDWn0INi7c0jvJpSGO47muzFUI&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiCnoiBmvnPAhUD0GMKHUdyANE4HhDoAQgrMAQ#v=onepage&q=airline%20clifford%20ball&f=falsePA279 (Over Empires and Oceans: Pioneers, Aviators and Adventurers, Forging the International Air Routes 1918 – 1939]

[[Category:AmericanUnited militaryStates Army personnel of World War I]]