Topliff Olin Paine

Topliff Olin "Top" Paine (April 26, 1893 – April 30, 1922) was an American airmail and Army Air Corps pilot. Paine Field, an airport in Snohomish County, Washington, is named for him.

Biography Paine was born on April 26, 1893, in Orwell, Ohio, to Everett M. Paine and Lucy Jane (Olin) Paine; Topliff was the youngest of three brothers. The Paine family moved to Everett, Washington, in 1903, and Topliff graduated from Everett High School in 1911. Paine attended the University of Washington for two years, majoring in civil engineering, and later worked as a park ranger for the United States Forest Service.

Paine enlisted in the Army in 1918, undergoing pilot training under the Air Corps and receiving a commission as a second lieutenant. After his discharge in 1919, Paine flew planes for various companies until joining the Air Mail Service in 1920. He and fellow aviator Ray Crozier were granted a license in 1919 to operate the self-described first commercial international mail and passenger air service in North America, between California and Baja California.

During his air mail career, Paine became nationally recognized for his accomplishments while flying through rugged terrain and snowstorms in the Rocky Mountains. On April 30, 1922, Paine died of an accidental gunshot wound to the head sustained at his home in Salt Lake City. A bust of Paine was installed at the base's clubhouse in 1955, but later disappeared.