Written by AMA Staff (12/1988); Transcribed by JS (06/2008)
Bill Gough and his remarkable models have been written up frequently in Model Aviation magazine. If you retain back issues, check out June 1980, September 1983, and July 1986. Take a look at the photos. You will see some ingenious, unusual, handsome, flyable model aircraft. Bill has been designing, building, and flying models since 1925.
He has been a competitive flier for more than 50 years. Starting in 1932 as a Junior Birdman, he competed for years in Chicago area contests. Later, his AMA Nats participation commenced and continued right up until 1984. His record of wins and successes is too long to describe here. Bill has designed many models. From 1935 to 1938, he developed balsawood models for Comet. In the plastics field, he designed aircraft for both Lindberg and Monogram. With Warwick Electronics, he experimented with many radio and phonograph prototypes and was involved in TV cabinet design. His inventive mind was always looking for the next challenge. In club matters, he put in years of service as secretary/treasurer for the Illinois MAC. In the 1930s, he helped to establish a new club and then taught building classes at the Lincoln-Belmont YMCA. His generously shared expertise in building and flying was passed along to the participants, and many successful fliers owe their start to Bill.
For many years, he was a contributing columnist on model aviation to Sunday newspapers. At one time, 17 national newspapers were carrying his articles. Other stories by Bill Gough appeared frequently in Model Airplane News and Air Trails magazines. One of his most notable efforts, and one that is still remembered, was a microfilm-covered Gee Bee – and it flew!
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