Viewing page 10 of 23

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

107 [encircled] 18 [/encircled]

EUGENE B. ELY
Early Curtiss Exhibition Aviator

Eugene B. Ely was born at Davenport, Iowa, October 21st, 1886. He attended local schools and then graduated from Iowa State University. Mechanically inclin[crossed out]d[/crossed out]ed, he loved automobiles and became an expert driver, doing some local automobile racing, then became a chauffeur. He moved to San Francisco and later to Portland, Oregon.

There in February, 1910, E. Henry Wemme, a local auto dealer, purchased one of the first Curtiss biplanes and became the agent for them in the Northwest. After getting the plane he was afraid to fly it, so Ely offered to try, but smashed it. Feeling badly about it, Ely bought the wreck and made the repairs, then very cautiously proceeded to teach himself to fly. He acquired the "feel" of the air quickly and by April 1st was making short straightway hops. He continued this practice and was soon flying well.

After doing considerable flying in the Portland area Ely evidently decided to undertake some exhibition work, entirely on his own. His first date was at Winnipeg, Canada, in early June, 1910. There he made two successful flights, then moved on the Minneapolis, Minnesota, where he entered a Twin Cities flying meet June 22nd to 25th. At this meet Ely met some experienced competition which proved to be a major turning point in his new career. Also flying there were Glenn Curtiss, Charles Willard and Bud Mars.

Curtiss was always looking for possible new exhibition flyers and at that event he took quite a liking to Ely and was very impressed with his flying. As a result, he signed Ely on as one of his exhibition men. [crossed out]On[/crossed out] From June 29th to July 1st Ely flew at Sioux City, Iowa, with Bud Mars, still flying his own 4-[crossed out]b[/crossed out]cylinder Curtiss [?], and July 23rd to 27th they were at Creighton Field, Omaha, Nebraska. In August, Ely flew at Rochester, New York, on the 5th to 7th, then at the Sheepshead Bay Meet, Long Island, August 19th to 28th. There he flew with Curtiss, Mars, Willard, and McCurdy and did some wonderful flying, making several cross-country