Archie Twitchell

Archie Twitchell, an American actor and pilot, made more than 110 film appearances. Born in Pendleton, Oregon, in 1906, he took his first solo flight in 1923. Acting began for him two years later, and he went on to work in over 100 movies and television shows. His height and coloring were suited to the camera, and he was occasionally credited under variations of the name Michael Brandan. Flying remained part of his life between film jobs. In 1936 he toured the country for air shows, and in 1942 he received a second lieutenant's commission in the Air Force. According to the Associated Press, he tested fighters and flew transports in North Africa during World War II. He tested aircraft in Israel for that country's air force in 1951. From February 1955 he was a production test pilot for Douglas Aircraft, and his last screen role came that same year. He died in 1957.