Eddie Martin, O.C.’s Pioneer Aviator, Dies

Eddie Martin, a pioneer aviator who founded Orange County’s first airport in 1923 when flying was still a daring pursuit, died Tuesday night at St. Joseph Hospital in Orange. He was 88.

Friends said Martin, who came to Orange County in a covered wagon in 1903 from San Jacinto, Calif., had been in failing health in recent months. A hospital spokeswoman said Martin was admitted Monday night and died about 9 p.m. Tuesday.

Martin, known for his honesty and even temper, bought his first airplane, a Curtiss Jenny, in 1921 and began flying from a field in the Irvine Ranch. He charged customers $5 a ride in his World War I-era plane that took off and landed at the end of 4th Street in what is now Santa Ana.

The makeshift airstrip was about a mile north of today’s main runway at John Wayne Airport, where the existing passenger terminal was renamed the Edward (Eddie) J. Martin Terminal in 1988 by the county Board of Supervisors. The honor came on Martin’s 87th birthday.

In recent years, living in his small Santa Ana home, Martin worked on his memoirs, and family members say he was driven to complete the book as he battled cancer.

“He didn’t want to go yet,” said John W. Martin, one of Eddie’s nephews who lives in Santa Barbara. “He came back several times (from his sickness). He wanted to see his book published. He didn’t want to go to the hospital.”

Martin’s nephew said the aviator loved adventure and challenge. Eddie raced motorcycles, was an accomplished chef and had a passion for dancing. But he was at his best when airborne.

“He was a man of the earth and the sky,” John Martin said. “He knew them both and loved them both.”

Said County Supervisor Don R. Roth: “Orange County will lose a legend in aviation with the death of Eddie Martin. I’m sure he’ll be deeply missed. He did some amazing things--everything from flying to wing-walking.”

Martin’s first flying license was signed by Orville Wright.

In 1921 he founded Martin Aviation, now the oldest and largest general aviation operator at John Wayne Airport.

Two years later, he leased a dirt landing strip from the Irvine family and opened Eddie Martin Airport. In 1926, he built the first hangar at the airfield, and then bought a French World War I-era plane in which he flew stunts over Santa Ana to drum up customers for his fledgling flight school.

By the 1930s, Eddie Martin Airport was recognized as one of the most modern in the country with restrooms, a restaurant and runway lights.

But in 1939, to meet the increasing air travel demands of a growing agricultural and commercial region, county officials arranged a land swap with the Irvine Co. to build a new, bigger airport about a mile from Martin’s strip.

By then, Martin had sold Martin Aviation to his younger brother, Floyd, who along with Martin’s longtime mechanic, Joe Hager, also took over operation of the new county airport.

Martin went on to become a pilot for Western Air Express (the forerunner of Western Airlines), American Airlines and MacMillan Petroleum Corp.

During World War II he was a production test pilot at Lockheed Aircraft Corp., where he flew all types of aircraft including the then-new P-38 twin-boomed fighter plane.

After the war, Martin quit commercial flying and turned his interests to automobiles, real estate and ranching.

Although ownership of Martin Aviation has been out of the family since 1963, Eddie Martin was a frequent visitor at the company’s John Wayne Airport offices, often taking new employees to lunch, regaling them with stories about the county’s early aviation days.

Several years ago, Martin described himself as a “plain-spoken man” who showed little emotion. Of the three Martin brothers, Eddie was the most business-minded, known for his cool, cautious behavior. He also had two sisters, and he grew up in what is now Fountain Valley where his father was a prosperous rancher.

“He left his mark on aviation in Orange County. He set a lot of firsts when it came to flying,” said Don Smith, a former newspaper reporter whose wife is an aviation historian.

Because of his role as a pioneer aviator, many people, including Martin himself, thought the county’s airport should have been named for him rather than the late actor John Wayne. When the new passenger terminal at Wayne Airport is completed, the Martin Terminal will become administrative office for general aviation operations.

In recent years, Martin had lived in a house filled with model airplanes and sepia-toned photographs of old friends and their flying machines.

Martin was married for a time, but his marriage to Peggy Hall ended in divorce and the couple had no children.

He is survived by a sister, Margaret L. Schools of Garden Grove.

Funeral arrangements are pending.

Times staff writers Matt Lait and Ted Johnson contributed to this story.

EDDIE MARTIN

Birth date: Aug. 31, 1901.

Birthplace: Family farm near the present-day Newhope Street and Heil Avenue in Fountain Valley.

Resided: Santa Ana.

KEY DATES:

1923: Eddie Martin and brother Johnny founded an airfield near Main Street and Newport Avenue that quickly came to be known as Eddie Martin Airport. The Martin brothers offered $5 joy rides and flight instruction at $15 an hour.

1928: Aviator Charles Lindbergh dropped in, looking for what was to become Midway City.

1939: County Board of Supervisors arranged land swap with the Irvine Co. to build new airport about a mile from the Martin operation. Granted brother Floyd Martin and Joe Hager, his partner, a 17-year exclusive lease to operate the new county airport. Moved Martin Aviation to the new county airport--a business that still flourishes there and at two other locations.

Other jobs: Pilot for Western Air Express (predecessor of Western Airlines), American Airlines and MacMillan Petroleum Corp.; test pilot for Lockheed