Chief Oshkosh was Wittman's first homebuilt racer. The Chief was
designed for closed course competition where it often held it's own
against aircraft equiped with much larger engines. Construction started
in April 1931 and was completed in time to race at the '31 National Air
Races in Cleveland. At it's premier race 'Chief Oshkosh' developed
aileron flutter at high sdpeeds and only finished two events after
dropping out of several others. After some post Cleveland redesign,
Wittman took 'Chief Oshkosh' to the New York Races where he won 5
firsts in the 350 cubic inch races and took second in the free for all
where he was bested only by Frank Hawks in a 450 hp Travel Air 'Mystery
Ship.'
In 1932 Wittman beat the Howard Pete in a race. In
1933 he won the 350 cubic inch class at the National Air Races. Wittman
placed 'in the money' in many races while flying 'Chief Oshkosh'. In
1937 Wittman/Chief set a new 'in class' world record of 238.22 mph over
a 100 km course. Due to constant improvement Chief had an enviable
record until it was wrecked in 1938. The remains were shoved in the
corner of a hanger until 1946 when the fuselage and a spare set of
wings were used along with a C-65 engine to create 'Buster'. Buster can
be seen at the National Air and Space Museum while a replica which was
made from Chief's original wings and gear can be seen at the
International Sport Aviating Museum in Lakeland, Florida.
When unlimited air racing resumed after WW II, it was dominated by
modified WW II fighter aircraft. The days of the homebuilt racer were
gone and Bonzo retired. Wittman continued racing and winning in a
variety of airplanes until his retirement in 1989 at age 85.