Home of: Leslie Tower

Tom and Bonnie Eddy are relatively new full-time residents to Polson, but their familial connections to the area go much deeper than that.

Bonnie's uncle, Leslie Ralph Tower, moved to Polson in 1910, the son of original homesteader Ralph Tower. Despite passing away at the age of 33, Leslie would go on to become one of Polson's most famous historical figures, a key player in the aviation history of the United States. To commemorate her uncle's achievements, Bonnie attended a "Hangar Dance" celebration at The Museum of Flight in Seattle on June 12. The event honored the 75th anniversary of the first flight of the Boeing B-17, an aircraft Bonnie's uncle would be the first to test fly.

"He is surprisingly revered in the B-17 history," Bonnie's husband Tom said. "If you mentioned Leslie Tower to anyone [at the event], they knew who he was and his story. It surprised me how well known he is and how over the years he's become a B-17 hero."

Bonnie was surprised to learn the extent of her uncle's fame. The Tower Genealogical Society contacted Bonnie after they heard from Sara Wallick in 2009, who informed the society of a distinguished award Bonnie's uncle had won posthumously in 1982. Wallick's husband, Lew, served as Boeing's Chief Test Pilot during that time, and accepted the Pathfinder Award, designated for Leslie, because no living Tower relative could be found and contacted. When Lew passed away in 2008, Sara continued the search for a Tower relative and using the wonders of the Internet, stumbled upon Bonnie.

"She wanted to fulfill the goal of her husband to find a Tower to receive the award," Bonnie said.

Bonnie and Sara both took the stage at the Hangar Dance in front of 900 people to celebrate the event, and finally bestow the award on its rightful owner, 28 years later. Created in 1982, the Pathfinder Award "recognizes individuals with ties to the Pacific Northwest who have made significant contributions to the development of the aerospace industry." Leslie became the first recipient of the award, honorees of which are selected by a slew of aerospace industry types in the Pacific Northwest.

"It was inspiring to know that his accomplishment was so important," Bonnie said.

Les had an interest in aviation from a young age, Tom said, and after graduating from Polson High School, eventually began work at Boeing as the company's chief test pilot. When the company rolled out their prototype Model 299 aircraft in 1935, Les flew what would become known as "the flying fortress," or B-17, from Seattle to Dayton, Ohio, averaging 232 miles per hour during the 2,100 mile route.

"Upon arrival in Dayton, he was surprised that no Army Air Corps officials greeted him," Tom said. "The reason? They expected him to arrive several hours later."

On Oct. 30, 1935, Tower made the ill-fated, last minute decision to accompany an Army test pilot on a flight as a passenger in the B-17 in Dayton, where he had remained to test the aircraft. The plane took off at an awkward angle and reached 300 feet of altitude before crashing and burning. The pilot died on impact but Tower and other occupants survived the crash. Tower was badly burned and died 10 days later from his injuries.

Coverage in the Courier, the Lake County Leader's predecessor, had an update on the crash in their Oct. 31, 1935 issue: "Local Man Injured in Airplane Crash," the headline read. The Nov. 21 issue announced Tower's funeral and said "Entire community shocked to learn of the death of popular aviator." The Nov. 28 issue described the funeral as having "Impressive Rites for Noted Airman," and that more than 300 people showed up for the ceremony.

Nowadays, Tower is commemorated by a plaque in the Flathead Historical Museum on Main Street in Polson and with a headstone in Lakeview Cemetery. But with his award in its rightful place, the story has come to a close, at least for now.

Paul Fugleberg and Tom Eddy also contributed to this report.