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47
CALEB S. BRAGG
Pioneer Wealthy Martin Sportsman Pilot

Caleb S. Bragg was born in Cincinnati, Ohio November 23, 1885. He graduated from Yale University with a B. A. degree  in 1908, then took an engineering course at Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1909. In his youth he had a love for automobiles and became an expert driver.

While in college he started racing cars, entered numerous racing events and became a well-known driver. In 1912 he defeated the internationally famous Barney Oldfield on a California track and set a new United States speed record. That year Bragg also won the Fourth International Grand Prix in Wisconsin for the Vanderbilt Cup.

In 1913 Bragg was a Vice-President of the United States Auto Polo Association in New York. To play polo by automobile, one man drove the car and the mallet man stood on the side in competition with several other cars. At that time polo contests were held on the Hempstead Flying Field on Long Island.

In 1914 Bragg became an attache' at the United States Embassy in Paris. For some time he had been interested in aviation and while in France had his first airplane ride. As a result he became determined to learn to fly.

Returning to the United States Bragg became a Director and Vice-President of the Glenn Martin Company in Los Angeles, California, and in April, 1915 began to take flying lessons at the Martin School from instructor Floyd Smith. Business activities evidently interfered and he did not complete his training at that time. He attended the automobile races at Indianapolis on May 30th and flew as a passenger with DeLloyd  Thompson who was flying there. Thompson made some loops while Bragg was flying with him.

Later that summer Bragg ordered a Martin Model S, 52-foot-span biplane with special Hall-Scott motor. The plane was to be convertible from land to float gear. It seated a pilot and two passengers and was specially equipped.