LUMBER CAREERS George \(/. Gorman

One of the best known and universally liked of the younger executives of the Pacific Coast lumber industry is George W. Gorman, sales manager for the Hammond Lumber Company at the San Francisco offr,ce.

An Oregonian, he was born in Multnomah County, near Portland in 1894, and moved with his family to Edmonton, Alberta, in 19 O 6 , where his father engaged in machinery business which included sawmill and other kinds of machinery.

He made his first contact with the lumber business when he sold machinery to Western Canada sawmills as assistant to his father.

His business career was interrupted by the Great War, when in L9l7 he joined the Royal Flying Corps, and after the very thorough training in Canada, England and Scotland, required of members of that famous organization, went to France in the spring of 1918 as a scout pilot with the rank of First Lieutenant.

George is very reticent about his exciting experiences as a war aviator in what was undoubtedly a greater adventure than had ever befallen men at any time before in the world's history. However, in spite of his contention that the war could have been won without his parti,cipation, this paper's reporter has unearthed some fa,cts about this part of his career that will be interesting to readers.

As a scout pilot in France he flew a Sopwith Camel, a single seater fighting machine, now .commonly known as a pursuit machine. During all his time in France he was attached to a mobile squadron that operated on the battle frorit all the way from the seacoast down as far as Rheims.

One of the most exciting periods was when he was sent to Chateau Thierry in July, 1918 and remained there during all that shorv where the fighting was most intense. A large part of the airmen's work there was "ground strafing", and escorting bombers, as well as the regular offensive patrol. It can be said here that the R. F. C. was always on the offensive. "Ground strafing" was most dang'erous, but devastating and effective work, the airmen fl>'rng low and raking enemy troops with gunfire.

In the line of duty George engaged in numerous squadron combats, and in individual combats from which he emerged as victor, bringing down several enemy planes. All of the work of the Royal Flying Corps took place over the enemy's territory, and practically all of it anywhere up to 25 miles across the enemy's line, so it is natural that the causualty list was high and that he had many narrow escapes. On one o,ccasion he landed after a fight with his gas tank riddled with bullets.

His flying career in France ended on August 8, 1918, when he was shot down in ,combat at the second battle of Amiens. He escaped with light injuries and was a prisoner of war in Germany for about three months until the Armistice. The desperate nature of the fighting can be judged from the fact that the Allies lost more than 100 fighting planes that day alone. He had a marvelous escape from what seemed certain death. His engine was put out of commission by anti-aircraft gunfire, and he made a dead stick landing on rough ground, with 100 pounds weight of bombs. underneath his machine which he was unable to drop owing to the jamming of the releasing pin. If he lives to 100 he will never have a closer 'call.

George returned to \Mestern Canada following the Armistice and engaged in exhibition and commercial flying for about two years, bringing his total hours in the air to well over 1000. Among the most interesting episodes of his commercial flying work were several flights up to the newly dis'covered oil fields in the Mackenzie River, near the Arctic Circle. On these flights he used skiis for landing in winter and pontoons in summer. This was real pioneer flying, and all in the day's work without anything more than local publicity.

In 1922 he came back to Oregon and married Miss Marion Ide of Portland. He then retired from active flving and went to work for the Whitney Lumber Company of Garibaldi, Oregon. Here he accumulated an all round experience in the various departments of lumber manufacturing. Later he came to California as sales representative for Northern California for the company.

When the Whitney Lumber Company was ,consolidated with the lfammond Lumber Company in 1927 George went with the Hammond organization as salesman. He later became assistant sales manager, and in 1932 succeeded the late Henry Faull as sales manager at the San Francisco office, where he devotes those sterling qualities that made him a good fighter in the air to the job of rnarketing Redwood lumber, a material he believes has no equal for many uses and no superior for numerous others, in the building field.

Mr. and Mrs. Gorman have three children, Bill, aged 12, John, 10, and Virginia, 7. They make their home in Alameda.

M. V. Johns Named Manager of Redwood Sales Co.

Milton V. Johns was appointed manager of the Redwood Sales Company, San Francisco, effective May 3, succeeding Russell D. Baker, who was manager for the past several years.

Mr. Johns became associated with the'company in 1919, and later had charge of the Chi'cago office for three years until that of,fice was closed. He then returned to the general of;frce in San Francisco.

Since receiving his new appointment Mr. Johns has received many letters of congratulations from 'customers, friends and competitors all over the United States. He is well equipped for the work by his wide knowledge of and a,cquaintance in the Eastern territory.

The Redwood Sales Company handles the Eastern sales of three well known Redwood manufacturers, Dolbeer & Carson Lumber Company, Holmes Eureka Lumber Company, and Hobbs, Wall & Company. Henry M. Hink is president of the organization.

Loans for Modernization Under NHA Can Now be Made up to $50,000

The signing of the HOLC bill by President Roosevelt c'n May 28 'n'hich carried amendments to the National Flousing Act, extends the operation of the modernization credit plan until April 1, 1936. It was originally provided that this section of the act would pass out of existence on January 1, 1936.

Further news which it is anticipated will be a stimulus to repair and modernization activity was included in the amendment permitting financial limits for modernization and repair up to a maximum of $50,000 in the field of income producing and certain other large properties. The limit for home improvement remains at $2,000 but the larger maximum allows such properties as apartments, hotels, offices, business or other ,commercial buildings, hospitals, orphanages, colleges, s.chools, or manufacturing or industrial plants to participate in the benefits of the National Housing Act.

Full rules and regulations for credit under this extended form of Modernization Credit rvill be announ'ced shortly.

That Easle Bird

The wild eyed stranger 'clutched my sleeve, "There was a ship," quoth he, "The eagle on her mizzen mast Was blue as blue corlld be; And there were nine black crorvs," he gasped, And shuddered there in fright;

"They tore that eagle from his perchIt was a fearsome sight !"

The wild eyed stranger shrieked at me, "That bird's a total loss; I ought to know for I'm the man Who shot the albatross ! He lies supine upon the deck, Devoid of life and motion, As silent as a painted bird Upon a painted ocean."

"Be calm, be calm, my sailor man," Said Files on parade, "We're in the good old U. S. A., No use to be afraid; Just give the creature time, I says, Perhaps he will revive; Maybe he'lI sprout new feathers soon And manage to survive."

The wild eyed stranger gaped and fledHe seemed like one distraught, Who feels that all the race has won Will shortly come to naught; But Files and I pursued our way, Engaged in conversation; "There ain't no use in gettin' scairt," Was Files observation

-A. Merriam Conner.

On Oregon Trip

Carl R. Moore, in charge of the San Francisco offi,ce of Moore Mill & Lumber Company, is on a lGday trip to the company's sawmill at Bandon, Ore. He will also visit Portland, and expects to be back at his desk about June 20.