Theodore (Ted) Knickmeyer

Theodore (Ted) Knickmeyer was born on August 7th, 1918 in El Paso Texas. His family moved to St. Louis when he was three and he lived the remainder of his life there. After graduating from Normandy High School, he worked at the Fisher Body plant on the production line and later at Western Supplies as an apprentice die maker. When WWII started, he became involved with the Civilian Pilot Training Program. He trained at Lambert Airport on Piper Cubs. Part of the agreement of receiving the pilot training was that he would apply for one of the armed services flying divisions, so he applied to the Army Air Corp.

After the attack on Pearl Harbor, he enlisted into the Army Air Corp and was eventually assigned to pre-flight school at Lackland Air Base. He trained mainly in PT-19s. After graduating Primary Flight School, he was assigned to basic flight school at Randolph Field, San Antonio where he learned to fly BT-12,14, and 15 aircraft, and trained in instrument flying and night flying.

Upon receiving his commission as 2nd lieutenant and his wings as an Army Air Corp pilot, he was assigned to the Fifth Ferrying Group of the Air Transport Command, Dallas Texas. His assignment was to ferry different types of airplanes from factories to training fields or staging areas.

While in Dallas he volunteered to enter a B-25 program at Rosecrans Field, St. Joseph Missouri, where he received more instrument training and learned to fly the B-25.
In 1946 Ted married the love of his life, Mary Sandmeyer. He completed college at Bradley University and began a teaching career as an Industrial Arts teacher at O’Fallon Technical High School. He later obtained his Master’s Degree in school counseling and worked at Beaumont High School and for the Kirkwood School District. Ted always carried the love of flying in his heart and spoke fondly of his experiences as a pilot.

Biography