NORTH DAKOTA

AVIATION HALL OF FAME

Palmer “PT” Foss Inducted: 2002

Palmer “PT” Foss grew up on a farm near

Devils Lake. He first joined the Army as a

paratrooper in 1942. He began a life dedicated

to aviation after he received his commission

and wings following his transfer and training to

the Air Corp in 1943. He was assigned to 449th

Fighter Squadron of the 14th Air Force in the

Burma/India Theater. His was shot down on his

fortieth mission parachuting into the hills of

what is now North Vietnam. He was held

captive for sixty days and released when news

of the Japanese surrender arrived. In early

1946, he was rotated home and discharged as a

highly decorated First Lieutenant.

PT returned to the farm near Devils Lake. He

purchased his first Super Cub in 1948 and

primarily flew for pleasure and flight

instruction. In 1950 he started an aerial

application operation based at his farm and

continued the dual operation for the next 12

years.

In 1961, PT and Bob Meier began a twenty-five

year partnership by forming Foss & Meier Inc.

Initially an aerial application service, Palmer

left the farm in 1963 and moved into Devils

Lake and, along with Bob, devoted himself to

the business which expanded into a full service

FBO. The Civil Air Patrol was one of “PT’s”

favorite aviation activities outside of his

livelihood.

Palmer was instrumental in the formation of the

Devils Lake Airport Authority and served on

the Board for eleven years. His leadership,

insight and broad knowledge of the industry

and his interest in effective airport operations

were instrumental in molding the Devils Lake

Municipal Airport into an outstanding regional

airport facility.

In addition to being an active member of the

NDAA and the NDAAA, Palmer, with a career

spanning forty years, quietly and effectively

developed civic support of aviation by

presenting a positive image of the industry and

its importance to the community.

Palmer died in 1987 and left a mark in the

aviation community that lives on.

Palmer “PT” Foss grew up on a farm near Devils Lake. He first joined theArmy as a paratrooper in 1942. He began a life dedicated to aviation after hereceived his commission and wings following his transfer and training to theAir Corp in 1943.

He was assigned to 449th Fighter Squadron of the 14th Air Force in theBurma/India Theater. His was shot down on his fortieth mission parachutinginto the hills of what is now North Vietnam. He was held captive for sixty daysand released when news of the Japanese surrender arrived. In early 1946, hewas rotated home and discharged as a much decorated First Lieutenant.

PT returned to the farm near Devils Lake. He purchased his first Super Cubin 1948 and primarily flew for pleasure and flight instruction. In 1950 hestarted an aerial application operation based at his farm and continued the dueloperation for the next twelve years.

In 1961, PT and Bob Meier began a twenty-five year partnership by formingFoss & Meier Inc. Initially an aerial application service, Palmer left the farm in1963 and moved into Devils Lake and along with Bob devoted himself to thebusiness which expanded into a full service FBO. The Civil Air Patrol was oneof “PT’s” favorite aviation activities outside of his livelihood.

Palmer was instrumental in the formation of the Devils Lake AirportAuthority and served on the Board for eleven years. His leadership, insight andbroad knowledge of the industry and his interest in effective airport operationswere instrumental in molding the Devils Lake Municipal Airport into anoutstanding regional airport facility.

In addition to being an active member of the NDAA and the NDAAA,Palmer, with a career spanning forty years, quietly and effectively developedcivic support of aviation by presenting a positive image of the industry and itsimportance to the community.

Palmer died in 1987 and left a mark in the aviation community that lives on.

Plamer “PT” Foss1918-1987