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CURTISS La Q Day
Early Wright and Benoist Aviator

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Curtiss La Q Day was born in Paxton, Illinois, May 24, 1896 but spent most of his youth in neighboring Gibson City. When he saw a movie of Wilbur Wright demonstrating his miraculous flying machine in France in 1908 he sat through both shows and left with the dream of some day becoming an aviator.

He saw his first real aeroplane September 29th, 1919 when Walter Brookins flew a Wright B over Gibson City on his historic flight from Chicago to Springfield. His enthusiasm fired to a new high Day built a biplane glider that winter, and assisted by numerous schoolmates he soloed March 17, 1911. Two days later, after removing the tail to see what would happen, he wrecked the glider when he took off from a railroad embankment. His mother promptly grounded him and his whole family closed ranks against any future career in aviation.

Finishing high school in 1913 he was delighted to learn that one of his graduation gifts would be a trip to visit relatives in New York City. Before leaving he secretly withdrew the money in his savings account, determines to learn to fly without his family's knowledge. He had already made a careful