Rolly had grown up with the Cole Brothers Air Show, a world famous aerobic team with his father and two uncles as the pilots and his mother as the wing-walker. He was an excellent aerobatic pilot, and on August 2, 1964, Rolly was practicing in his Stearman for a forthcoming international aerobatic competition in Spain.
He had Mel Stickney, airline and race pilot, as his passenger in the front cockpit. It appeared that there was an instantaneous breakup in the engine that caused great vibration. Stickney was trapped when a wing folded back. Although there was altitude for Rolly to jump, evidence is he delayed to rescue Stickney. When Rolly finally jumped, it was too late. Both men died. Rolly's parents witnessed the accident. Rolly's dad, the famous Duane Cole, wrote a book, "Roll Around a Point" in his son's memory.
Bio from Find A Grave contributor Sue
He had Mel Stickney, airline and race pilot, as his passenger in the front cockpit. It appeared that there was an instantaneous breakup in the engine that caused great vibration. Stickney was trapped when a wing folded back. Although there was altitude for Rolly to jump, evidence is he delayed to rescue Stickney. When Rolly finally jumped, it was too late. Both men died. Rolly's parents witnessed the accident. Rolly's dad, the famous Duane Cole, wrote a book, "Roll Around a Point" in his son's memory.
Bio from Find A Grave contributor Sue
Rolly had grown up with the Cole Brothers Air Show, a world famous aerobic team with his father and two uncles as the pilots and his mother as the wing-walker. He was an excellent aerobatic pilot, and on August 2, 1964, Rolly was practicing in his Stearman for a forthcoming international aerobatic competition in Spain.
He had Mel Stickney, airline and race pilot, as his passenger in the front cockpit. It appeared that there was an instantaneous breakup in the engine that caused great vibration. Stickney was trapped when a wing folded back. Although there was altitude for Rolly to jump, evidence is he delayed to rescue Stickney. When Rolly finally jumped, it was too late. Both men died. Rolly's parents witnessed the accident. Rolly's dad, the famous Duane Cole, wrote a book, "Roll Around a Point" in his son's memory.
Bio from Find A Grave contributor Sue
He had Mel Stickney, airline and race pilot, as his passenger in the front cockpit. It appeared that there was an instantaneous breakup in the engine that caused great vibration. Stickney was trapped when a wing folded back. Although there was altitude for Rolly to jump, evidence is he delayed to rescue Stickney. When Rolly finally jumped, it was too late. Both men died. Rolly's parents witnessed the accident. Rolly's dad, the famous Duane Cole, wrote a book, "Roll Around a Point" in his son's memory.
Bio from Find A Grave contributor Sue
