Jimmie Bodard and Ronnie Peterson of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, suffered from continual wanderlust. Jimmie wanted to go to New Mexico, and Ronnie wanted to go to Shamrock, Texas, but they disagreed on how they were going to get to their destinations. Ronnie wanted to hitchhike, but Jimmie wanted to fly. Neither had enough money for a plane ticket, but Jimmie had another idea. Once before, when they were overcome by wanderlust, Ronnie had talked Jimmie out of borrowing an airplane, but Jimmie was more convincing this time. As most thieves do to minimize their actions, Jimmie called it borrowing rather than stealing. That evening in May 1948, Jimmie and Ronnie walked to Oklahoma City’s downtown airpark which was open to the public. They agreed that they would wait until the following day to steal an airplane and spent the night in one of the many airplanes in the airpark’s hangar. Rather than getting an early start on their trip, they spent most of the day deciding which plane to take. While browsing, they stole a pair of headsets and microphones which they needed for their flight.

Finally, a little after 5 p.m., Jimmie and Ronnie pushed their plane of choice out of the hangar and onto the runway. In the cockpit, Jimmie started the engine and opened the throttle. The airplane gained speed, Jimmie pulled back on the yoke, and the airplane lifted off. It was a textbook takeoff. Just after the plane got off the ground, the engine sputtered. Jimmie reassured Ronnie that airplanes always did that on takeoff. Ronnie was unconvinced until, just as Jimmie had said, the engine smoothed out. Jimmie aimed the plane westward toward their destinations. Their plan was for Jimmie to drop Ronnie off near Shamrock and then continue to his destination in New Mexico. Jimmie and Ronnie took turns flying the plane until Ronnie decided he had had enough. He told Ronnie to land so he could get out. They found a large field and landed just northwest of Cheyenne, Oklahoma, about 40 miles from Ronnie’s intended destination. Just after touchdown, the front wheel of the plane got stuck in the field. They had no choice but to abandon the airplane.

Undeterred, Jimmie and Ronnie stole a saddle horse from the farmer in whose field they had landed and rode toward Cheyenne. At the Washita River, the horse refused to cross, so they abandoned the horse, swam across the river, and continued on foot. Soaked to the bone, Jimmie and Ronnie drew so much attention in Cheyenne that someone notified the sheriff. The sheriff questioned Jimmie and Ronnie, but they told the sheriff they had hitchhiked into town. The sheriff arrested them after he learned that they were wanted by the highway patrol, but not for stealing the airplane. A confused farmer located the airplane in his field the following day and called the police. Investigators traced the airplane back to the airport, but no one at the airport had realized the airplane was missing. Finally, after some tough questioning, Jimmie and Ronnie confessed everything to the shocked sheriff. You see, Jimmie and Ronnie, the airplane and horse thieves, had run away from home. They were fifth graders; Jimmie was 11 years old, and Ronnie was 12. They had learned how to fly an airplane by reading comic books.

Sources:

Pawhuska Journal-Capital, May 21, 1948, p.1.
The Daily Oklahoman, May 22, 1948, p.30.