Thurman Braniff was the second child and only son of Braniff co-founder Thomas Elmer Braniff and Bess Thurman Braniff and brother of Braniff aircraft interior designer Jeanne Braniff Terrell.
Thurman was named after his Mother's maiden name. He was born in Oklahoma City and attended Our Lady's Catholic School during his early school years. He graduated from New Mexico Military Institute in Roswell, New Mexco in 1936. Young Braniff had complete one year of college level courses during the 1937 and 1938 school year in Pomona, California.
Thurman Braniff was intrigued with aviation like his Daddy and Uncle and was learning to fly during Summer Break 1938 at Oklahoma City Wiley Post Airport. Braniff and his instructor Merrill Donelle departed on a normal training flight on July 11. The aircraft operated normally until 150 feet above the ground when control was apparently lost and crashed on airport grounds after hitting a telephone pole shearing off the left wing
Thurman Braniff was rushed to the hospital where ironically his parents TE and Bess Braniff were awaiting his arrival. They were already at the hospital overseeing their daughter Jeanne Terrell Braniff who was seriously ill. Young Braniff died of his injuries that night. He was 20 years of age.
Young Braniff was buried at Memorial Park Cemetery in Oklahoma City. On October 14, 1954 he was laid to rest in Calvary Hill Cemetery, Dallas, Texas next to his Mother Bess who had died in August, 1954, his Daddy TE Braniff who died in January, 1954 and his sister Jeanne Braniff Terrell who died in 1948.
Bio by:
Richard B. Cass, Braniff Preservation Group, Dallas, Texas
Thurman Braniff was the second child and only son of Braniff co-founder Thomas Elmer Braniff and Bess Thurman Braniff and brother of Braniff aircraft interior designer Jeanne Braniff Terrell.
Thurman was named after his Mother's maiden name. He was born in Oklahoma City and attended Our Lady's Catholic School during his early school years. He graduated from New Mexico Military Institute in Roswell, New Mexco in 1936. Young Braniff had complete one year of college level courses during the 1937 and 1938 school year in Pomona, California.
Thurman Braniff was intrigued with aviation like his Daddy and Uncle and was learning to fly during Summer Break 1938 at Oklahoma City Wiley Post Airport. Braniff and his instructor Merrill Donelle departed on a normal training flight on July 11. The aircraft operated normally until 150 feet above the ground when control was apparently lost and crashed on airport grounds after hitting a telephone pole shearing off the left wing
Thurman Braniff was rushed to the hospital where ironically his parents TE and Bess Braniff were awaiting his arrival. They were already at the hospital overseeing their daughter Jeanne Terrell Braniff who was seriously ill. Young Braniff died of his injuries that night. He was 20 years of age.
Young Braniff was buried at Memorial Park Cemetery in Oklahoma City. On October 14, 1954 he was laid to rest in Calvary Hill Cemetery, Dallas, Texas next to his Mother Bess who had died in August, 1954, his Daddy TE Braniff who died in January, 1954 and his sister Jeanne Braniff Terrell who died in 1948.
Bio by:
Richard B. Cass, Braniff Preservation Group, Dallas, Texas
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