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Oran Stroud LANHAM, was born in Jackson County, near Martha, Oklahoma. Oran Stroud Lanham was born 13 December 1916, 5:30 a.m., at home on the Green County farm (on the river), located two miles south and one and a half miles west of Martha, Jackson County, Oklahoma to T.B. Lanham ^[1] (see The Thomas Berry (T.B.) Lanham Family). Dr. R. Z. Taylor of Blair, Okla., was the attending physician. ^[2]

In 1919 the family bought and moved to a farm located two miles south and two and a quarter miles east of Martha, or four miles north and three quarters west of Altus, Okla., where he lived until after graduating from the Martha School in 1933. In his senior year 1932-33 he drove a school bus for the school, being only 15 years old at the beginning of the school year. Tennis was his sport in high school. He and Earl Douoghty teamed up to win the Doubles Championship of Jackson County in the spring of 1933 for the School.^[2]

Stroud was always interested in flying, and since the Altus Municipal Airport or landing field was located only one half mile east of their home, he could be found up there just anytime that an airplane was there. He was known to ride up there on a horse and trade horseback rides for a short flight in the airplane, or help the pilot any way he could in order to get a ride or fly it some. Some of the aircraft in those days were: Jenny, American Eagle, Eaglerock, Swallow, Waco, Curtis Robin, Bellanca, Stinson and Travel Air. He made many model aircraft with no plans, by whittling all parts out of soft pine from orange crates. His first flying model was of his own design, a biplane, rubber powered. He used flat tooth picks for the construction and covered with paper. It would fly about 20 to 30 feet.^[2]

After graduating from High School he enrolled at the Hill’s Business University, W. Main St., Oklahoma City in December 1933. While at Hill’s he worked at various jobs, from dish washing in Cafe’s to bus boy and pantry man at the Huckins Hotel Coffee Shop and janitorial work at the Hill’s school to pay for room and board and tuition. After graduating from Hill’s Jr. Accounting Course in 1935, was employed by the George C. Wright Lumber Co., of Altus, Oklahoma as the bookkeeper until 1942. ^[2]

Stroud married Oleta Colbath of Altus, 15 May 1937 ^[1]. ^[2] (Pay day and Saturday).

Oleta was a daughter of Adrian Alford Colbath and Altus Oleva (Williams) Colbath, and was born in Hess, Oklahoma Community, 13 October 1917.^{[4] [5]} See The Adrian Alford Colbath Family.

They paid $15.00 per month for house rent, groceries were budgeted for $15.00 per month, plus payments on all of the furniture which was purchased with no payment, and paid for in one year, for the sum of $80.00 per month salary. In 1939, Stroud and Oleta built and moved into a new house (see photo) at 708 East Cypress Street, Altus, OK.^[2]

The floor space was approximately 1200 square feet. The house and the lot cost $2,800.00 and the payments were a little less than $ 23.00 per month. They lived here during the 1940 US Census.

Another bed room and bath were added in 1947. The place was sold for $10,000 in 1955, when the family moved to Dothan, Alabama.^[2]

Stroud and Oleta had the following children:

(i.) Son, Clifford Wayne LANHAM was born at the Altus Hospital, Altus, Oklahoma 7 February 1939. He graduated from the Dothan High School in 1957 and Jacksonville State University, Jacksonville, Alabama in 1962. Cliff spent most of his career in the U.S. Army since graduating from college, and has been stationed at numerous bases, including two tours of duty in Viet Nam. He retired with the rank of Lt. Colonel, opened his own business (commercial printing) sold the business, and taught for the school district of the City of Virginia Beach, VA. He resides in Madison, Alabama. See The Clifford Wayne Lanham Family for details.

In 1941, Stroud finally managed to enroll in the Civilian Pilot Training Program (CPT), which was conducted at the Altus Municipal Airport by Getchell, the flight operator and the Altus Jr. College. He completed the flight and ground school course 26 August 1941, receiving a Private Pilots License No. 132640. His flight instructor was Mack C. Womack, aircraft used was the Interstate S-14 with 65 H.P. Continental engine.^[2]

In December 1941, Stroud with three other fellows from Altus decided to buy a 40 H.P. J-2 Cub airplane from a man in Amarillo, Texas. He left Amarillo on Saturday, 6 December however he had some problems and also a head wind and didn’t arrive at Altus until Sunday morning, 7 December 1941. The news of Pearl Harbor was out and of course this ended their plans of buying the plane. Stroud did fly the plane some and was well pleased with the condition and the way it flew. The plane had a tail skid, instead of the modern type with a tail wheel, and no brakes. The price of the plane was to be about $400.00.^[2]

In June 1942, he resigned his position with the Geo. C. Wright Lumber Co., to enroll in a Flight Instructor Course at the Aircraft Sales Co., Meacham Field, Ft. Worth, Texas. The owner of the company was Les Bowman. Two of his flight instructors were Joe C. Taff, license No. 2570 and Henry L. Woods, license No. 509. Aircraft flown were the: Interstate S-1A, Ryan STA, Timm and Stinson Voyager. Course was completed and Commercial License with Instructor Rating received 2 September 1942. After receiving his Instructor Rating, he returned to Altus and worked for Jack Walker, dba Southwest Aviation Service, in the War Training Service Program, (formerly CPT) instructing in the J-5 Piper Cub and Taylorcraft aircraft. In May 1943 he went to work for the Hunter Flying Service, at Victory Field, Vernon, Texas, instructing Army Primary in the PT-19 Fairchild aircraft. Paul Brown, formerly of Altus was the Director of Training for the school.^[2]

In 1943 Stroud purchased from Jack Walker, a cracked up J-5 Piper Cub Cruiser NC 40699, had it rebuilt and licensed. It was a real beauty, Blue and Cream color with a hand rubbed finish with wheel pants and a unique mechanical bungee starter on the now 85 H.P. Continental engine. After joining the Ferry Command in 1944, had to sell the airplane. In June 1944, Stroud joined the 5th Ferry Group, Love Field, Dallas, Texas as a Ferry Pilot on Civil Service status, ferrying numerous aircraft throughout the U.S. ^[2]

In August was sent to Randolph Field, San Antonio, Texas for Instrument training in the BT-13 Aircraft Course completed and received Standard Army Instrument Rating 10 September 1944. From here he went to Ellington Field, Houston, Texas for twin engine transition flying AT-10 (Beechcraft) with two 285 H.P. Lycoming engines. Course completed and graduated as a Flight Officer, U.S. Army Air Corps, with Service Pilot Rating, 16 October 1944. Service Pilot wings had a S in the middle, denoting Service Pilot, which meant that the pilot had previous flight time prior to entering service, sometimes referred to as “Snake Pilot”. In November 1944, was sent to Homestead Air Base, Florida, for four engine training, flying the B-24 and C-54. Course completed and returned to Dallas to receive orders for overseas by way of Nashville, Tennessee, with a delay en route to spend Christmas at home, and then continued train trip to Nashville.^[2]

Here he was teamed up with Captain Vernon D. Wedemeyer as first pilot and Stroud as co-pilot on a C-54 to Tezgaon, India (CV). To get there, from Nashville on 6 Jan 1945, he went to the following places:^[2]

Total flight time was 74:00 hours. While stationed at Tezgaon he made 62and1/2 trips over the “Hump”.^[2]

The 1/2 trip represented a flight where they developed engine trouble and had to return to home base. His total “Hump” time was 759 hours, which included, 90 hours actual instrument time (AI) and 230 hours night time. 601/2 trips or flights into China, their cargo was gasoline, 1 flight of wool socks, and 1 flight of ammunition. He made his first “Hump” flight 24 February 1945 and the last flight completed 31 October 1945.^[2]

Weather in this area was known to be the worst in the world, plus inadequate navigational facilities. One night in February 1945, some 30 aircraft failed to return to their bases in that area, due to the abnormally severe weather. Winds were often checked at 100 MPH.^[2]

Radio beacons ( homing stations) were the only means of navigation and at best, most flights would have a period of one to two hours out of reach of any station, where they just flew headings until they could pick up the next station. Tezgaon (CV) was originally the home base of the "Flying Tigers" earlier in the war. Some of the more prominent bases in China where deliveries were made included: Kunming, Chengtu, Luliang, Luichow, and Shanghai. After the Japanese surrendered, Chinese troops were transported into Shanghai for occupation. Stroud made his first flight in to Shanghai carrying Chinese troops 19 September 1945. There were still quite a number of Japanese being used to help operate the field, and upon landing they had to immediately shut down the outboard engines, because so many people were lined along the runway.^[2]

After completing the required 750 hours "Hump Time", he was rotated back home as a passenger by air, by way of Casablanca, Azores, Newfoundland and New York City to Dallas. He departed India 22 November 1945 and arrived in the USA 3 December 1945. After spending Christmas at home again, returned to Love Field, Dallas For the remainder of his active duty time.^[2]

Stroud entered active duty 16 October 1944, was discharged 16 June 1946 as a Flight Officer, Serial No. T-193508, Service Pilot, four Engine MOS 0917. He received the Air Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with 3 Bronze Stars (China Offensive, Central Burma, Indian Burma) and the Victory Medal. ^[2]

The following article was published in the "Hump Express" paper, 15 November 1945. Since ICD inception in 1942, 594 aircraft were expended over the Hump. A total of 910 crew members and 130 passengers were killed or are listed as missing, according to General Tunner. ^[2]

After discharge from the Air Corps, returned to Altus and worked again for Jack Walker at his private airfield, one and a half miles west of Altus, doing flight instruction and charter flights until 1947. During this time in conjunction with the Daily Oklahoman newspaper, on an experiment, he flew a twin engine Cessna T-50 ( photo at right)to Oklahoma City on a Saturday afternoon and loaded it with the Sunday, Daily Oklahoman, and delivered then back to Altus, so that the papers were on the street in Altus and Mangum by about 9:00 pm. This was the first time for this and later it became a regular procedure for the Daily Oklahoman. ^[2]

In 1947 Stroud decided to try something other than flying, and accepted a position as salesman for the Goodman Furniture Co., of Altus. Just in case and to stay in touch with flying he purchased part interest in an Ercoupe airplane, NC 87399. The four owners kept it busy until 1953, when they sold it to John Neher of Altus. ^[2]

In 1949 there was some controversy about the operations of the surplus Altus Air Base. (This base had been deactivated after WWW II. After the Mayor, Ryan Kerr and some of the Council members talked to Stroud, he accepted the position as manager for the air base, at a salary of $350.00 per month. The highest paid city employee at that time. Most of this time was devoted to clearing the land, repairing buildings and rental of land and the buildings and promoting aviation in general for the betterment of the city. (Tidbit- Some time in 1946 or 1947, Stroud was the co-pilot on the B-17, Memphis Belle Taken from Altus to Memphis, Tenn.) ^[2]

Early in 1951, Mayor Kerr received a telegram from the Air Force, stating that a survey team would be in Altus on a certain day to evaluate the base for possible reactivation. They stated and reemphasized no publicity of information be given out regarding the visit in advance. When the evaluation arrived, Stroud met them and toured the field to include the buildings, and all other facilities. They were then shown and given drawing and blue prints showing locations of all buildings, streets, utilities and other facilities which had been consolidated on to one sheet by Stroud. After the Captain in charge had looked over the prints he remarked, "this is it, I think this will be the clincher." Before the team departed Altus they called a news conference with the news media, the Chamber of Commerce and gave them the story and that it would be some time before the final selection would be made. Needless to say the Mayor and Stroud were in the doghouse with most everyone for not leaking the story before the teams arrival. After a few weeks another team came and reviewed all the information and facilities. At this time Stroud was advised confidentially that it was almost a sure thing that the Air Force would reactivate the base. A short time later an official announcement was made and work began a few months later. ^[2]

Stroud resigned as manager of the Altus Airfield in May 1951, prior to the official announcement and purchased the Boswell Cafe at 119 E. Broadway, Altus, for the sum of $10,000. The purchase price included all equipment and fixtures and good will. The cafe’s name was changed to Lanham’s. The total cash they had to open was his two weeks leave pay from the city. There were many rough and long days for all until 26 February 1955, when they finished paying off everything and then sold out.^[2] The good times and the hard times of owning your own business is difficult to explain to those that have never experienced ownership.

During the time 1947 through 1955, he continued to fly and instruct in various aircraft on a part time basis. After sending a resume and an application to the U.S. Army Aviation School Camp Rucker, Alabama, he was called to take a check flight which did and passed 26 April 1955. Stroud was now a GS-9 grade Flight Instructor for the Department of Fixed Wing Training. He would be flying the L-19 Birddog made by Cessna. The L-19 was used mainly for observation and operated out of short improvised strips and roads, many of the strip were less than 1000 feet length. Some of the training strips were bound by pine trees 50 to 100 feet in height. This type of training was necessary to prepare the pilots for duty in a war in Vietnam. This type of flying did not impress him; so he moved up to Instrument and Transition training as soon as possible. For some time after flying his regular students a half of the day he would take the second half of the day to teach instrument flying to other instructors who did not have an instruments rating. This type of instruction was done in the LC-126 (Cessna 195) and the L-20 Beaver. ^[2]

Of the three towns surrounding Camp Rucker, Dothan, Alabama was selected over Enterprise and Ozark as a place to live. The family moved to Dothan in August 1955 and rented a house at 202 Madison Avenue until a new house was constructed at 517 Gardenia Dr. The house was completed on the family moved in during December. House and lot cost $13,700.00. The house was about 1350 square feet of floor space. ^[2]

Stroud completed the written test and passed flight check for FAA Airline Transport Rating, 2 December 1956. He was made an Army Instrument Examiner, 27 February 1957. During this time he also got his FAA Ground School Instructors rating for: Federal Air Regulations, Navigation, Meteorology and Link Trainer Operator. ^[2]

While at Rucker he flew and instructed in the following aircraft: L-19 Birddog, L-20 Beaver, LC- 126, CV-2 Caribou, T-42 Baron, U-8 Seminole and the U-21 Ute, a Turbo-Prop, for a total of approximately 8,000 hours. Total career flight time approximately 12,000 hours. ^[2]

In addition to instructing, the civilian instructors were called on to perform many flight missions, such as Administrative flights, aircraft demonstrations, formation fly-bys and medical evacuation. ^[2]

And then there was the “Battle of Mississippi”. James Meredith, a black was enrolled by the Federal Government, in Ole Miss University at Oxford, and at this time created quite a disturbance. It was the first week in October 1962. Stroud was working in the CV-2 Caribou at the time, he worked the afternoon shift that Monday, and when he got home he was advised to return to Cairns Airfield, (Ft. Rucker) immediately, with clothes for three or four days. Upon arrival he was informed that the Army was sending the Caribou aircraft to the Naval Air Station, in Memphis, Tennessee, to support the mission of maintaining peace and stopping the riots going on at Oxford. During the week he made numerous trips into the Oxford Airport delivering troops, ammunition and supplies and other flights in support of the mission. They were instructed not to wear name tags and under no condition talk to any reporters. From Sunday night until returning home on the following Saturday morning, he had a total of about 16 hours sleep, and 4 hours of this was sleeping on the floor of the airplane while on standby at the Oxford Airport. ^[2]

Beginning in 1965 Stroud was used quite often to fill in as Education Specialist in the Department of Fixed Wing Operations and did less flight instructing on a regular basis, but did continue to give check flights and fill in when needed on the flight line. Stroud was later transferred to the Quality Control Branch of the Fixed Wing Dept., and for two years was the Chief of Quality Control, the only Civilian Chief in the Fixed Wing Department. ^[2]

During his tenure at Ft. Rucker, he received 6 Outstanding Performance Awards, 2 Sustained Superior Awards and one Suggestion Award for $807.00. He was in the next to last step, GS-13 at retirement. ^[2]

In December 1973 after taking the annual flight physical, he was advised that he could no longer pass the physical due to excessive hearing loss. He was released of duty in February 1974, and after using accumulated sick leave was retired effective 26 February 1975. ^[2]

After taking a course in Real Estate in early 1975, he passed the Alabama Real Estate Commission test and received a Real Estate Brokers License. He worked for the Realty Leasing Corp., of Dothan, from September 1975 to June 1976. ^[2]

At this time he decided to let the rest of the world go by and spend his time doing yard work, gardening, playing tennis, and working on this book. Stroud was the elected Treasurer of the Dothan Elks Lodge #1887 from 1965 to 1975, and was elected the Lodge Secretary in 1976 and 1977. ^[2]

Stroud’s getting interested in genealogy was an evolution. Starting with the local relatives and working backwards the Lanham Book became a project of some 15 years. He published his first edition in 1984 and provided copies to the family. On many occasions he tried to get his son Clifford interested but to little or no avail. Understand this was 1975 to 1990 and Stroud was not interested in learning how to operate a computer and or travel the Internet. Now traveling in the car or van to visit a library, probate records or land records some where was just fine and travel Stroud and Oleta did! Up and down the east coast to visit Lanham’s in Maryland to Kentucky was exciting and interesting in gathering his data. Census records were screened in the Dothan library as were microfiche records. Hundreds of letters he wrote to correspond with relatives and folks all over the U.S. These records are on file now with his son, Clifford W. Lanham. This personal research filled up three drawers of a filing cabinet. This Lanham research has been a cherished legacy for the Lanham family.

Oran Stroud Lanham was a loving father and grandfather. Stroud died Sunday, 15 December 1996 ^[6] at his home in Dothan, Alabama.

Oleta died on 15 Jun 2006 and is buried next to Stroud.

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