Stites was born in a place called, Grass Township, in Spencer County, Indiana. It's so rural, that it's not even a town or a city, but an unincorporated area. The population of Grass Township in 1890 was 2,100 people. The population today is 1,200 people.
Above is a map from 1880 and 1900 showing where the Stites former family farm was.
Above are present day views of the former Stites farm from Google. There is no current building on the property. It is all agriculture farm land off an unmarked county road. In the street-view image, the former Stites land is right of the blue line.
"Frank Stites"
(Long Beach Library - Early Aviation 1910s Archives)
"Frank Stites"
(Long Beach Library - Early Aviation 1910s Archives)
"Frank Stites"
(Long Beach Library - Early Aviation 1910s Archives)
Stites landing on Long Beach between 1910-1915
(From the book, "Images of Aviation - Early Aviation in Long Beach." Arcadia Publishing 2009. Originally from Mary Gore. Her relative was the photographer and had this image in their collection)
Stites flying over Long Beach around 1908?
(From the book, "Images of Aviation - Early Aviation in Long Beach." Arcadia Publishing 2009. Originally from Mary Gore. Her relative was the photographer and had this image in their collection)
"Frank Stites"(I believe from his first pilot license in 12-13-1911)
(National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian)
"Frank Stites"
(National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian)
Frank Stites' Curtiss-type biplane on track, near spectators in cars. Third Aviation Meet 1912.
(CSU Dominguez Archives)
From left to right; Frank Champion, Harry Holmes, Frank Stites, Earl Daugherty (Seated pilot), and three "judges." Specific event not noted. Circa 1910's.
(Long Beach Public Library)
Stites' right before landing in San Bernardino, California in 1912
San Bernardino 2-23-1912
February 15th, 1912 - the first wedding on an aeroplane! It took place at the Dominguez aviation field in Los Angeles, California during the big aviation meet. Frank Stites was in attendance and can be seen in the above two images on the left; no hat, light shirt, striped tie.
(San Bernardino Daily Sun 3-1-1912)
Stites' plane north of the Ocean Park Bath House on the beach in Venice, California - Postcard 4-16-1912
I believe Stites to be the man holding the propeller wearing the white shirt, dark pants. I cannot confirm this.
The name of early flier, "Frank Stites," is written on image back. Circa 1914.
(Long Beach Public Library)
1914 Postcard. "FRANK STITES W.O.O.M. PICNIC, LONG BEACH, CAL. 1914"
Photograph 1915 - Back says, "Tommy with Frank Stites."
Los Angeles Express 1915
The following three images were given to historian, Marc Wanamaker (Bison Archives) when he purchased an old 1940s camera from someone in Michgan in 1981. At the bottom of the box were two identical photo albums given to, "Universalites" as a favor to remember Universal City's Opening week celebrations in March, 1915. These three images of Stites were among those images.
Frank Stites (left) and Carl Laemmle (right) at the opening of Universal City, California 3-15-1915.
(Marc Wanamaker, Bison Archives)
Frank Stites moments before he crashed his plane on the Universal backlot. Universal City, California 3-16-1915
(Marc Wanamaker, Bison Archives)
Frank Stites moments after he crashed his plane on the Universal backlot. Universal City, California 3-16-1915
(Marc Wanamaker, Bison Archives)
This is the last image ever taken of Stites alive. He is the pilot flying above, the smoked dummy plane below.
(Taken by U. K. Whipple, staff photographer for the Universal Newsreel, The Animated Weekly)
This is the last image ever taken of Stites alive. He is the pilot flying above, the smoked dummy plane below.
(Taken by U. K. Whipple, staff photographer for the Universal Newsreel, The Animated Weekly)
There are mixed reports to if Stites died at the scene of the crash, on the way to the hospital, or shortly after he arrived at the hospital. We know that he was legally pronounced dead at the Universal City Hospital (pictured here in 1915). If he died at the hospital, these rooms are where he took his last breath.
