About Royal Leonard
Lived 1905 – 1962 (aged 57). Royal Leonard was an American aircraft pilot.
Captain Royal Leonard (April 3, 1905 – June 21, 1962), was a Texan pilot who previously flew for TWA between 1935 and 1941. He was first the personal pilot of Zhang Xueliang, and then that of Chiang Kai-shek. He was born on April 3, 1905, in Wisconsin.
In 1935 Leonard was first to fly the new Gee Bee Q.E.D. in the Bendix Race. However, Leonard was forced to land in Wichita, Kansas, due to engine troubles.
In 1942, he published an autobiography called I Flew for China.
He died on June 21, 1962, in Los Angeles, California, at age 57.
Legacy In 2011, Barry S. Martin published a book titled Forgotten Aviator: The Adventures of Royal Leonard.
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Important facts
People in Royal Leonard's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Related people
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Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Royal Leonard's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Royal Leonard?
American aviator (1905-1962)
When was Royal Leonard born?
Royal Leonard was born on 3 April 1905 in Wisconsin.
When did Royal Leonard die?
Royal Leonard died on 21 June 1962 in Los Angeles.
What was Royal Leonard's occupation?
Royal Leonard was an aircraft pilot.
What nationality was Royal Leonard?
Royal Leonard was American.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Royal Leonard. https://biography.guide/royal-leonard/
MLA: "Royal Leonard." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/royal-leonard/.
Chicago: "Royal Leonard." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/royal-leonard/.
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