Dr. A. L. Strand with a Voyager 150 plane which he was learning to fly. August LeRoy Strand served as president of Oregon State University from 1942-1961. Strand helped create the Oregon State College Foundation in 1947 and introduced the idea of an OSU golf course.
Described by his flight instructor as an apt pupil, President Strand took his first solo flight on September 19th, 1947, 29 years to the day after his first solo flight as a US Navy sea plan pilot during World War I. Dressed for the office, Strand went to the Corvallis Airport regularly for an hour or so of early morning flying in a 150-horsepower enclosed 4-passenger Stinson Voyager.
Marked on reverse with Oregon Stater 29 pica wide, for publication in Oregon State College magazine, 1951 date listed. Photograph is marked: "Photographic Laboratory, US Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Florida." Photo includes four Naval officers, three wearing life vests with survival gear, talking under the wing of aircraft. Navy aircraft in background is the PBM Martin Mariner seaplane, in dark sea blue camouflage from 1945-1955 period. Tail markings of "E E", also of post-war vintage. Of special note is a navy seaman hanging/swinging from the rear of the fuel tank of the aircraft. Photo is found in the Oregon Stater Magazine, February 1952, page 8.
