Emilio Carranza (1905 - 1928)

Born 9 Dec 1905 in Saltillo, Saltillo Municipality, Coahuila de Zaragoza, Mexico [uncertain]

Ancestors

Husband of Maria Luisa Corbala — married 1928 in Mexico

Died 12 Jul 1928 at age 22 in Mount Holly, Burlington County, New Jersey, United States

Biography

Emilio Carranza is Notable.

Captain Emilio Carranza was a noted Mexican aviator and national hero, nicknamed the "Lindbergh of Mexico". He was killed on the return part of a historic goodwill flight from Mexico City to the United States. He crashed in New Jersey shortly after take-off from New York.

Messenger of Peace. Once a year, at 1:00 P.M. on the Saturday closest to July 12th, Emilio Carranza is honored. American Legion Post 11 drives out to the monument from Cherry Hill, New Jersey, along with representatives from the Mexican consulates in New York City and Philadelphia. There, they hold a ceremony for the Lindbergh of Mexico. For one afternoon Carranza is again a hero, although he might have preferred to be remembered for something other than this. SOURCE: https://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/2165

Emilio Carranza was born in Villa Ramos Arizpe, Coahuila, Mexico [NOTE: location of birth on his memorial page is Saltillo, Saltillo Municipality, Coahuila de Zaragoza, Mexico] , on December 9, 1905 [NOTE: Date of birth on his memorial page is 9 December 1905]. His father was Sebastian Carranza who was an attache at the Mexican consulate in New York. His mother was Maria Dolores Rodriguez Gomez. As a child he lived for some time in San Antonio, El Paso, and Mexico City. He was fluent in English. He attended the Military Academy at Mexico City and graduated in 1924 with honors. He married Maria Luisa Corbala in 1928 four months before taking the flight to the USA. Following his death, He left a wife and unborn child. The child, Emilio Carranza, Jr. was born after his crash. The child died at age 6 of an appendicitis. He was the great-nephew of President Venustiano Carranza of Mexico and his elder second cousin was Mexican aviator Alberto Salinas Carranza, whom he called "uncle." At age 18, he took part against the Yaqui rebellion in Sonora and helped to put down the de la Huerta rebellion.

The "Lindbergh of Mexico," Emilio Carranza Rodriguez, will forever be bound to a patch of forest in the New Jersey Pine Barrens.

Captain Carranza. In 1928, Emilio Carranza Rodriguez was 22 years old and a hotshot hero of Mexican aviation. Charles Lindbergh's transatlantic flight the previous year and his subsequent dramatic flight to Mexico City made a powerful impression south of the border. Influential men in Mexico decided that their country should have its own flyboy glory. A plane was built, the Mexico-Excelsior (an exact copy of Lindbergh's Spirit of St Louis), and it was announced that Captain Carranza would fly from Mexico City to New York and then back again.

The trip to New York was done in stages and went smoothly. But the return flight was going to be a non-stop, grueling test of endurance. Carranza delayed his departure for three days because of bad weather, and then abruptly flew off on the evening of July 12, 1928, in a wild thunderstorm.

Rumor has it that he was forced to leave on orders from a jealous Mexican general, whose telegram to Carranza was reportedly later found in the aviator's pocket.

Aztec bird. "Leave immediately," it read, "or the quality of your manhood will be in doubt."

Carranza only got about 50 miles south before his flight ended in the Pine Barrens of southern New Jersey, a vast stretch of pine trees and sand. His body was discovered the next day by some locals picking blueberries. Carranza had a flashlight in his right hand -- literally in his right hand, as the force of the impact had driven it into his palm. He had apparently been looking for a place to land when he crashed into some trees.

The heartbroken children of Mexico contributed pennies to build a monument, inscribed in both English and Spanish, to mark the spot where their hero had died. It still stands today, an arrow on one side pointing skyward, an Aztec eagle on the other plummeting to earth. Eerie footprints have been carved into the granite to signify Carranza's final touchdown. "THE PEOPLE OF MEXICO," its inscription reads, "HOPE THAT YOUR HIGH IDEALS WILL BE REALIZED."

The ground where Carranza met his end is as empty today as it was in 1928. A lonely road leads past the monument, through miles of pine trees. The closest neighbor is several miles up the road, the "Life Skills and Leadership Academy," a boot camp for teen criminals. Perhaps they draw inspiration from Carranza when they police the grounds around his memorial, but otherwise this is a lonely place.

Messenger of Peace. Once a year, at 1:00 P.M. on the Saturday closest to July 12th, Emilio Carranza is honored. American Legion Post 11 drives out to the monument from Cherry Hill, New Jersey, along with representatives from the Mexican consulates in New York City and Philadelphia. There, they hold a ceremony for the Lindbergh of Mexico. For one afternoon Carranza is again a hero, although he might have preferred to be remembered for something other than this. SOURCE: https://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/2165

United States President Coolidge offered the Battleship Florida to return the body. President Calles, the President of Mexico, declined the offer and the body was returned to Mexico via train transport amid full military honors. The military guard were dispatched from Governors Island. When transferred to the train at Penn Station, the coffin was led by six black horses in a caisson with 10,000 troops marching to a muffled drum beat down Broadway. It was estimated that 200,000 people lined the route to see the coffin draped procession. Every Mexican military officer was ordered to wear crape on his sword hilt and a black brassard on his arm in honor of Carranza. National flags were flown at half-staff for a week.

Emilio Carranza was buried in Dolores Cemetery. 100,000 Mexicans marched in the procession to the cemetery to the Rotunda of Illustrious Persons ("Rotonda de los Hombres Ilustres") where he was placed to rest. The rotunda is reserved for national heroes. Military offices linked arms to keep the family viewing space clear. Airplanes flew overhead in honor of his death. He was posthumously promoted to General.

In July 1929, Mexico issued stamps to commemorate Emilio Carranza's Good Will Flight on the first anniversary of his death. A 20c brown and blue black 50c brown red & blue black, a 1p blue black & brown, a 5c olive green & black, a 10c black & brown red, a 15c violet & dark green.

In July 1947, to mark the twentieth anniversary, Mexico issued a 10 pesos stamp honoring Emilio Carranza's Good Will Flight.

In August 1978, Mexico marked the 50th anniversary of Elilio Carranza death with the release of an Air Mail stamp.

In 2007, documentary filmmaker Dr Robert A. Emmons Jr. completed and premiered a feature-length documentary (Goodwill: The Flight of Emilio Carranza) which detailed the life of Carranza and the role of the American Legion Post 11 as well as the town of Chatsworth, New Jersey's involvement in his recovery and memorial. According to Emmons Jr: "Goodwill, the documentary film, presents Carranza's life and the legacy he has left in both Mexico and the United States of America. The film goes further as it investigates the differences between Carranza's legacy in these two nations brought on by social, political, and historical factors. Finally, the film is meant to be bring another layer to Carranza and Lindbergh's goal of establishing a lasting goodwill between these two nations."

In April 2009, J&J Video Producers of Chicago premiered their documentary film titled "FLYING WITH EMILIO". The documentary details the life of Emilio Carranza and the continued role of the American Legion Post 11 of Mount Holly, NJ's involvement in his recovery and their annual Memorial Service.

On July 11, 2015, the 87th annual Tribute was attended by Commander of the Mexican Air Force, Lt. Gen. Carlos Antonio Rodriguez-Munguia and Maj. Gen. Victor Aguirre-Serna who presented a wreath. A portrait and model of his airplane were on display during the ceremony.

Sources

Find A Grave: Memorial #30592996 Emilio Carranza

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emilio_Carranza