Charles Townsend Ludington

Charles Townsend Ludington (also known as Charles T. Ludington or C. T. Ludington; January 16, 1896 – January 19, 1968), was a businessman of Philadelphia. He was an aviation pioneer who helped establish an every-hour-on-the-hour air service between New York and Washington.

Early life

Ludington was born to Charles Henry Ludington and Ethel Mildred (Saltus) Ludington in New York City on January 16, 1896. His brothers were Wright S. Ludington and Nicholas.

Ludington attended Adirondack School of northeastern New York state and the Haverford School, and graduated from Yale University in 1919. He also attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

Ludington served in World War I. After the war, he was involved in various aeronautical enterprises.

Mid-life and career

Ludington was interested in aviation lighting and mail service by air.

In 1923, Ludington organized the Ludington Exhibition Company. A Farman Sport aircraft he promoted is restored at Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.

Ludington helped develop National Air Transport.

Camden Central Airport was formally dedicated and opened in September 1929.

Ludington offered a line of boats under the Ludington Boats Corporation between 1929 and 1931, that was formerly Ludington Aircraft – Boat Division. Jake Dunnell was a driver.

Ludington, his brother, and Eugene Luther Vidal and Paul F. Collins originated the idea for and invested in Ludington Airline. Between the four of them they managed to run Ludington Airline without government mail revenues for a few years. Their venture led to the investigation known as the Air Mail scandal. The Ludington Line was acquired by Eastern Air Transport, later known as Eastern Airlines.

In 1939 Ludington was the founding president of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association.

Personal life Ludington married Constance Guyot Cameron in 1922; they had three daughters and a son.