J. Allison Buck (1897-1933) learned to fly in 1922 and bought a new World War I Curtiss Jenny (still in its crate). He went barn-storming around the country and flew in airshows to build flight time and a nest egg. When the Department of Commerce in 1926 required pilots to be licensed, Allison Buck became Delaware's first.
With a solid reputation as a skilled pilot, Buck taught many of Delaware's pioneer aviators. In October 1928, when Henry B. du Pont formed Air Service Inc. at Bellanca Field, he named Buck president. On the following day Buck incorporated his own business, Delaware Flying Service. He leased a farm along DuPont Highway across from the Delaware State Hospital and named it "Buck Airfield" (now the site of Grace lawn Memorial Park).
"H.B." helped his friend Allison finance four Wacos. With Waco and Fairchild planes, he offered aircraft sales and service, flying lessons, sight-seeing and charter flights, and glider towing. He also flew photographers around the state for aerials of industrial sites, landmarks, roads and developments. He made many trips across the continent in various aircraft types.
Buck was a part-time test pilot for Bellanca Aircraft Company This led to his death on July 15, 1933. He was testing a Bellanca CH-300 "Skyrocket" with an inspector from the U.S. Commerce department prior to delivery to Richfield Oil Company in California. The high-wing monoplane fell in pieces from an altitude of 500 feet into the Delaware River just north of the Chesapeake & Delaware Canal. Official investigation determined probable cause to be an explosion in an overhead gasoline tank. (The plane was the type that in 1931 was first to cross the Pacific nonstop.)
Buck and his wife Sarah had divorced. They had a daughter Barbara Ann.
