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worked so successfully, were largely the ideas of Ely and Hugh Robinson, and proof of their fundamental value is the fact that the same basic design for carrier landings is in use today. There can be little doubt that Ely's daring flight that day, during the early history of aviation, was one of the most outstanding achievements ever made by any of the pioneer aviators. The implications of its military and commercial usefulness will remain with us for all time.
On January 27th and 28th Ely flew and the Country Club grounds, Coronade Island, San Diego, California with Curtiss and Robinson. In February he and Willard were at Seattle, Washington on the 4th, and at Sacramento, California, on the 5th and 6th. February 10th to 16th Ely, Willard and Clarence Walker flew at Salt Lake City, Utah in cold weather and snow squalls. 
The Aeronautical Squad, Coast Artillery Corps, National Guard of California was organized February 20 [[strikethrough]] th [[/strikethrough]] , 1911, with headquarters at the San Francisco Armory. Through Curtiss, the Corps had acquired a plane. [[strikethrough]] and [[/strikethrough]] Ely enlisted and offered his services to train two officers and carry on experiments in aerial scouting, photography and bomb dropping. He was [[strikethrough]] engaged to this project for a long time, then on [[/strikethrough]] appointed Aviation Aide to the Governor. On March 29th and 30th they flew at Pasadena [[strikethrough]] , California with Willard 
 and [[/strikethrough]] where on the 30th, Ely flew over the city. On April 6th to the 10th he was at a meet in Salt Lake City [[strikethrough]] Utah [[/strikethrough]] with Curtiss, Willard, Brookins and Parmelee. There Ely did some remarkable flying and made a great showing. April 15th and 16th he flew at Provo, Utah, at a Fair. From there Curtiss sent Ely to Ft. Sam Houston, San Antonio, Texas, to assemble and test and new military plane being delivered to the Army. In May Ely flew at Wichita, Kansas, with Witmer and Ward on the 4th to the 7th; at Kansas City, Missouri, with Willard the 12th and 14th; and Dallas, Texas with Witmer and Ward on the 17th to 20th. 
At this time Curtiss directed Ely to go to California to do some flying for Norman DeVaux, wealthy manager of the Pacific Reo Motor Car Agency. DeVaux had just taken the west coast agency for Curtiss planes and wanted a pilot to make an 

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