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FROM THE 
FLYING PIONEERS BIOGRAPHIES 
OF HAROLD E. MOREHOUSE

HENRY K. CROWELL 
Early Wright Aviator

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Henry K. Crowell was born in New York City June 26, 1890. Mechanically inclined, he became interested in flying during the 1910-1911 era while living in Ashville, North Carolina. As a result he arranged to take flying instruction for George Beatty in 1913. Beatty started flying a Wright biplane at College Park, Maryland in April, 1913. The plane was equipped with a 7-cylinder 50 H.P. Gyro engine which was used in carrying passengers and instructing.

Crowell started flying lessons with Beatty there about May 1st and flew his required tests for a license on June 6th, using Beatty's machine, and was granted F.A.I. Certificate No. 239. The judges of his tests were Oscar Brindley and Lt. H. H. Arnold. Crowell then announced that he was returning to Ashville and intended to continue flying practice as soon as he could secure a plane.

During the winter months of 1914-1915 Crowell joined Charles L. Wiggin to form a passenger carrying and flying school venture at Jacksonville, Florida. Crowell was assistant instructor and they were using Wiggin's Wright biplane. The operations were based at Atlantic Beach and they had a resort guest passenger carrying business with a beach hotel. In mid-March Crowell and Wiggin made a flight to take aerial view photographs of the hotel when the elevator control

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