Paul Revere Braniff

Paul Revere Braniff (August 30, 1897 – June 1, 1954) was an American entrepreneur. He was a co-founder of Braniff International Airways with his brother Thomas Elmer Braniff. He served as a mechanic in World War I in the United States Army and then as a pilot in World War II.

Early years and family

Paul Revere Braniff was born in Kansas City, Kansas. He grew up during the early era of aviation, and, as a youngster, became fascinated with the new way of transport. His family moved to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, in 1900.

Marriage Braniff married Marie Agnes Maney on April 29, 1920.

Marie Agnes Maney was born on May 2, 1898, in El Reno, Oklahoma. She was the daughter of James W. Maney, who was an Oklahoma Territory Pioneer. He built thousands of miles of railroads throughout the Western United States. His occupation was Civil Engineer and was President of the Clinton and Western Oklahoma Railroad and founded a chain of grain elevators in the Enid, Oklahoma, area. Marie Maney grew up at Maney House in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, that is now a historically protected property. She attended and graduated from schools in Baltimore, Maryland.

Marie Braniff was highly interested in her husband's work. When he founded Paul R. Braniff, Inc. and then its successor Braniff Airways, Inc., she traveled with him scouting new routes. Her love for Paul and his aviation interests led her to compile a very detailed archive on the history of Braniff Airways. She remained highly interested and involved in the preservation of Braniff history even after Paul Braniff's death in 1954.

In Mexico

In 1929, Braniff left the United States to go to Mexico to help someone build a struggling Mexican airline company (apparently this person was Alberto Braniff, but no evidence of this, nor of Alberto Braniff being related to the American Braniff brothers, has ever been reported).

Braniff remained in Mexico until 1930.

Braniff Airways, Inc.

While in Mexico, Braniff gained airline industry expertise. He returned to the United States with innovative ideas for a new Braniff airline, including the use of faster aircraft that he knew would help the airline by bringing quicker turn-around times and, as a consequence, enable the airline to carry more passengers.

With that idea, Paul R. Braniff convinced Tom Braniff and the other four investors to buy two Lockheed Vega aircraft. Braniff Airways, Inc. was formed in November, 1930.

Paul R. Braniff headed to Washington, D.C. in 1934, being called to testify before the congress, which was heading an investigation against air mail services. He returned to St. Louis with a contract for Braniff Airlines to carry mail, the first time the airline had obtained an airmail contract.