Holger Hoiriis

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Holger Hoiriis (often written Højriis) was born in 1901 in Brabrand, Denmark. He moved to the United States in 1924 at age 23, learned to fly on Long Island, bought a plane, and soon performed acrobatic shows to earn money. People nicknamed him “hold your horses Hoiriis.” He later worked as a flight instructor at Bellanca Airfield and as a test pilot for Bellanca. He helped start the All American Aviation mail pickup service and, in 1939, demonstrated the world’s first night pickup service. He also received the nickname “willy nilly.”

Hoiriis married Miss Boynton, and they had three daughters. He died in 1942 from typhoid complications and is buried at Laurel Hill Cemetery in Philadelphia.

Atlantic flight: Through photographer Otto Hillig, Hoiriis planned a transatlantic flight from the U.S. to Denmark. Hillig financed most of the project, and Hoiriis was the pilot. On June 24, 1931, they flew from Newfoundland in a Bellanca Pacemaker named Liberty, carrying 600 gallons of fuel for a 3,150-mile journey. Bad weather and fog caused them to become off course. After a long, exhausting flight, they landed at Krefeld Airport in Germany near the Dutch border. The next day, thousands gathered at Copenhagen’s airport to celebrate their achievement, and Hoiriis and Hillig received medals, including one from King Christian X. When they returned to the United States, they were welcomed by cheering crowds.