One of the most charismatic stars of the early 20th century, it seemed Will Rogers could perform any entertainment task that was required of him. He was a cowboy, a satirist, an author, an actor, and a social commentator. He was also a close friend of the famous American aviator Charles Lindbergh. Through Lindbergh, Rogers developed a keen interest in flying. Tragically, it turned out to be a fatal attraction.
Rogers and his friend Wiley Post were performing test flights across Alaska when they met with their doom. This picture was taken just before they set off on their final voyage on August 15th, 1935. Experts have never been able to agree on whether they crashed due to technical problems or pilot error, but regardless of cause, their plane ended up upside down in a lagoon near Point Barrow, having lost its right wing. Both men died instantly on impact.