Will Rogers: ambassador of good will, prince of wit and wisdom (1935)

FLYING WITH WILEY POST 215 That crowd of hardy pioneers in the wilds of Alaska was Will Rogers' last audience. Showman Rogers — he left them roaring with laughter. Post stood almost forgotten while Rogers played his final "stand," but as far as the humorist was concerned, the bushy-haired flier from Oklahoma was the greatest of flying men and he paid tribute to him whenever the opportunity afforded. Above all, Rogers admired the grit and determination that had won Post his wings among the ace fliers of the world. Rogers and Post, both flying enthusiasts, met while the flier was being feted for his around-theworld trip, which he accomplished in 1931 in eight days, fifteen hours, fifty-one minutes. The comedian flew with Post at that time, and from then on the two were the closest of friends. The two were direct opposites. Rogers was voluble; Post always taciturn. One thing they both had in common was the love of speed. Post piloted a plane as Rogers rode horses — full speed ahead. The Oklahoma flier was one of the few pilots that was equal to the strain of flying hour after hour with a "full gun"; that is, with the engine going always at its maximum speed. Post, however, liked his speed in air. On the ground he was content with thirty miles an hour in an automobile. THEIR LAST TAKE-OFF After the flight to the Matanuska project, which was made in a Lockheed plane placed at their disposal by Joe Crosson, chief pilot of the Pacific