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[[stamped]] FROM THE FLYING PIONEERS BIOGRAPHIES OF HAROLD E. MOREHOUSE [[/stamped]]

was closely allied with the Roberts Motor Company at that time. The engine company had some new higher power engines under development and Benoist was planning several new advanced type planes.

In the midst of these new expansion prospects Benoist was killed on June 14th, 1917 at age 37, in a most unfortunate accident. While on his way to work on one of the old fashioned open "summer type" street cars he had left his seat and stepped to the side running board of the still moving car ready to get off at the Roberts factory. As the car rounded a curve he lost balance, and as his body swayed outward his head struck a trolley support pole, knocking him off the running board. He was rushed to the hospital where he died three hours later without regaining consciousness. Benoist was not married and was survived by relatives in Missouri. Following a Masonic service at Sandusky his body was sent to his home in Ironton, Missouri for services and burial there. While he had not flown for some time he was known as a "safe and sane" pilot, having made hundreds of flights in connection with design experiments and development without accident.

On December 4,1953, a Memorial Service was held at St. Petersburg, Florida commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the Benoist Air Line and to Benoist himself. Many aviation notables attended to honor this occasion. A replica of the 1914 Benoist plane was made and an attempt to re-enact the first flight in January, 1954, but which reportedly was not successful.

Flying Pioneer extraordinary, Thomas W. Benoist was certainly one of the outstanding greats of early American aviation history. His ambitious accomplishments are legend as a self-taught aviator, instructor, design-builder and manufacturer of early historic aircraft. Among the many students of his school were men who later became renowned in aviation. As a modest, energetic man of marked foresight and ability Benoist will long remain in the memories of those adventuresome young men who truly carved out the very foundation of the air age of today.

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