Holger "Hold Your Horses" Hoiriis: Barnstorming, Crossing the Atlantic, and Fighting Nazis in the Catskills

Part 3 of All Bones Considered: Laurel Hill Stories #078

 

In 1924, Danish-born Holger Hoiriis moved to the United States and bought an airplane. After barnstorming for a few years, he hitched up with German American photographer Otto Hillig who wanted to cross the ocean. Holgier thus became the first pilot to carry a paying customer across the Atlantic. He was also the first pilot to complete night airmail delivery for the US Postal service. After the war and when Holger was no longer around to confirm or deny, Otto spun a tale about being hijacked by Nazi agents in their hanger at Grossinger's in the Catskills.  This led to a futile treasure hunt more than 50 years later. Holger is buried at Laurel Hill East.