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

RICHARD H. (DICK) DePEW
Pioneer Aviator - Instructor - Salesman - Test Pilot

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Richard H. DePew was born at Plainfield, New Jersey, May 20, 1892, son of a prominent New York stock broker. He attended local grade and Taft Prep schools.

During 1909-1910 he became interested in aviation and was determined to learn to fly, so during 1911 summer vacation period he went to Europe and enrolled for instruction at the Maurice Farman Flying School at Buc, France. There he was taught to fly on a Farman pusher biplane using a Renault engine, and made his first solo flight on August 13, 1911. He passed his tests for flying license on August 22d and received French F.A.I. Certificate NO. 641 on October 6th, 1911, at age 19.

Upon his return to the United States he entered Sibley College of Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York and joined the Cornell Aero Club which was actively engaged in building and flying gliders. There DePew served as a glider flying instructor and was Treasurer of the Club in early 1913. On May 26th, 1913 the Cornell Aero Club held a plane and glider exhibition at the Ithaca Fair Grounds. Walter Johnson made three fine flights with a Thomas biplane and the club exhibited two gliders in auto towed flight. One was a large two-passenger biplane, the other a single seat monoplane. Club members made glider flights of up to five laps of the race track.

While continuing in college, during 1916 DePew was at intervals employed by

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