Nevada Aerospace Hall of Fame

Declaration of Enshrinement

November 7, 2012

Maurice F. Graham

On April 17, 1926, Maurice F. Graham piloted the first airmail flight to land in Las Vegas during the first Western Air Express eastbound flight from Los Angeles to Salt Lake City.

Graham flew his last flight on January 10, 1930, landing in Las Vegas to refuel while en route to Salt Lake City. In spite of his knowledge of severe weather and heavy snowfall conditions between Las Vegas and Salt Lake City, he decided to press on. He vanished while circling St. George, Utah. The howling snowstorm forced his biplane plane down in the Kanarra Mountains during the night and in the dead of winter. Six months later, on June 24, local ranchers located Graham’s plane where he had survived the landing, possibly sustaining a head injury. He had died after several days while trying to get off the mountain.

For having flown piloted the first airmail flight to Las Vegas, and placing the city on the airmail map, Maurice F. Graham earned his place in the Nevada Aerospace Hall of Fame.

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TD BARNES, Executive Director

Nevada Aerospace Hall of Fame