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Born in Hinckley, Minnesota. A former journalist (N.Y. Tribune, L.A. Times) and second lieutenant in the Army Air Corps, he wrote many short stories and some screenplays, often on the subject of aviation. He wrote and co-directed Alexander Korda`s semi-documentary tribute to flight CONQUEST OF THE AIR (1936), which starred Laurence Olivier.
Other notable screen credits (alone or in collaboration) include WINGS (1927), DAWN PATROL (1930), THE LAST FLIGHT (1931), THE EAGLE AND THE HAWK and ACE OF ACES (both 1933), DEVIL DOGS OF THE AIR and WEST POINT OF THE AIR (both 1935), and A YANK AT OXFORD (idea), THE DAWN PATROL and STAR OF THE CIRCUS (all 1938).

Saunders was Fay Wray`s first husband (1928-39) and father of their daughter, Susan. He committed suicide in Ft. Myers, Florida, in 1940.

bio from Katz`s Film Encyclopedia