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

MARK M. CAMPBELL
Pioneer West Coast Aviator and Aviation Stunt Man

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Mark M. Campbell was born at Highland, California December, 31, 1897, where he attended local schools, then entered High School at nearby Redlands, California. During his youth he was an ardent racing cyclist.

In the spring of 1914 after his first year in High School Campbell was elated when he was given a job for the summer as a mechanics helper and errand boy with aviator Frank Champion at Redlands. During those few weeks he became so interested in flying  that he quit school to work in aviation. He continued with Champion, but soon met two other southern California barnstorming flyers, Frank Stites and John K. (Tex) LaGrone, who apparently were working as a team. LaGrone had just wrecked his locally built Curtiss Pusher and offered young Campbell a job to help rebuild it. He jumped at the chance, left Champion and started with LaGrone, which was the start of a life-long friendship. In this arrangement Campbell also worked for and with Stites at intervals.

In January, 1915 Stites started flying for the movies and LaGrone became instructor at the Schiller School of Aviation. Campbell apparently went with Stites as his mechanic and remained with him until he was killed

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