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