Viewing page 6 of 10

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

43

  ALBERT BOSHEK

Pioneer Pennsylvania Aviator

Albert Boshek was born at Scranton, Pennsylvania, September 27, 1890, where he attended local grade and high schools.  During 1911-1912, a local resident, O.E. Williams, built two early [[strikethrough]] aeroplanes [[/strikethrough]] airplanes and Boshek became interested in the Williams aviation experiments.  Williams was then chief engineer of the Hampton Power Plant of the Lackawanna Railroad.
      
The first plane Williams built was a monoplane which he attempted to fly without success.  His second plane was completed in mid-1912, a modified Curtiss-type pusher powered by a 60 h.p., 8-cylinder, Curtiss engine.  At that time Williams employed Early Bird Elling O. Weeks to fly it.  There is evidence that Boshek began to help Williams during this period, and that he was intensely interested in getting into the aviation game.  During the rest of 1912, Weeks flew several exhibitions in central Pennsylvania with the Williams plane, and Boshek was one of the troupe of helpers.

By the spring of 1913 Williams had learned to fly and discharged Weeks.  That season Williams flew some exhibitions and did considerable local flying while Boshek was still working for Williams and hoping to learn to fly.

These operations continued until August, 1914, when Williams moved his aviation business to Fenton, Michigan, where a wealthy Flint, Michigan, business-man provided the finances to organize the O.E. Williams Aeroplane Company to build planes and start a flying school.  Boshek moved to Michigan with Williams where, during the winter months of 1914-1915, he learned to fly as one of the [[left margin]]ts/at/new[[/margin]] first class of students at the new Williams School. They operated that winter off the ice of frozen nearby Long Lake, which was an ideal flying field, then the following spring a land field was established.  The students did shop work, helping to build planes as well as receiving flight training from Williams.  Early Bird Russell North was also one of Williams' graduates that winter. 

Transcription Notes:
Edited. NO INDENTS! Margin note used. Circle around number 43 on top left corner Students circled and arrow back to between "of" and "new"