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WILLIAM S. "BILLY" BROCK

Pioneer Thomas Brothers pilot - Instructor

William S. Brock was born at Gladstone, Ohio, February 3, 1896.  When he was a small boy the family moved to Springfield, Ohio, where he attended grade and high schools.  As a boy he made model boats and kites.  After graduating from high school he decided to study for the ministry and attended Wittenberg Academy.

When he learned of the Wright Brothers flying at Simms Station he walked there, about twenty miles, to see them.  Flying interested him and after more visits Brock was determined to learn to fly, but his parents disapproved.  After much persuasion they finally gave consent and Brock left college and started working in a foundry with his father to earn enough for flying lessons.

After saving sufficient funds Brock enrolled for a flying course at the Thomas Brothers school at Ithaca, New York, in the early spring of 1915 and was taught to fly off the ice of Lake Cayuga by instructor Frank Burnside. Also in the class were Lawrence Lyon, B. C. Harrington, S. S. Boxhall and Frank King. Brock was an apt pupil, he advanced rapidly and was retained by the Thomas Brothers after completing his course. A new tractor biplane was being developed and soon a number of Canadian students were enrolled in the flying school. 

Brock assisted with these activities until midsummer, when he bought a Thomas pusher biplane with the financial assistance of his parents and left on an exhibition flying tour in Pennsylvania and Ohio. After the exhibition season was over he returned to Ithaca where he was engaged by Thomas Brothers as an instructor and test pilot. The Thomas Company was developing several new planes at that time and Brock assisted in that work, making numerous flights over the city during late 1915 and the early months of 1916. 

He remained with the company until July when he left to start a flying school at Springfield, Ohio, using his Thomas plane. Evidently this venture