William Hopson

William C. "Wild Bill" Hopson ( – October 18, 1928) was an American pilot known for flying airmail for the United States Postal Service between 1920 and 1927.

Early life William C. Hopson was born to Edward F. Hopson. Hopson attended elementary and high school in Decatur, Illinois. He graduated high school in 1905 and delivered mail for and worked in the newsroom of the Decatur Herald.

Career Hopson served in the United States Navy during World War I.

Hopson went by the nickname "Wild Bill". He flew airmail for the United States Postal Service from April 14, 1920, until September 3, 1927, when airmail service was transferred to private companies. He initially flew in New Jersey and later flew a route from Omaha, Nebraska, to Chicago. During his service, he flew over 4,000 hours and over 413,000 miles. Hopson was known for making forced landings and his popularity allowed him to get away with it. In the year 1926 alone, he reportedly made at least 13 forced landings that his managers declared as acceptable.

Crash and death Hopson died instantly on October 18, 1928, at the age of 41, near Polk, Pennsylvania, in a plane crash while flying on his contract airmail route between New York City and Chicago. Hopson's plane was carrying about in diamonds. Only about of the diamonds were recovered.