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William B. Hemstraught
Early Curtiss Exhibition Pilot

Information is lacking concerning the date and place of his birth, early life and education. However, it is known that Hemstraught entered aviation when he enrolled for flying instruction at the Curtiss school at Hammondsport, New York, in the early spring class of 1912. He was one of a class of seven and his instructors were J.L. Callan and Francis "Doc" Wildman. Reportedly he was 23 years old and gave his residence at Binghamton, New York.
Completing his course, he joined the Curtiss Exhibition Team for the season and filled his first public engagement at Lima, Ohio, June 6th to 8th. Immediately after this, Hemstraught flew at Elmira, New York, with Lincoln Beachey. He had a slight smashup there but was not injured. They had a bad place from which to fly, surrounded by telephone wires, and Hemstraught climbed too quickly after take off, stalled, lost control and came down out-side the course in two feet of water in a creek. On July 13th he flew for his pilot license in a Curtiss biplane at Hammondsport and obtained F.A.I Certificate No. 146, dated July 17, 1912.
On August 4th he flew at Lake Orion, Michigan, the August 20th to 23rd exhibited at Margaretville, New York; August 27th and 28th at Port Jervis, New York, then on the 19th he flew at Middletown, New York. On September 1st he flew at White Plains, New York, then on September 5ht at Brockville, Ontario, Canada. September 7th to 14th he was at the New York State Fair at Syracuse, New York, flying with Beckwith Havens, Charles Niles, and Walter Johnson. That fall he was flying at several places in eastern Ontario, Canada. 
Hemstraught seems to have given up exhibition flying after that season. Further details about his later life are unknown.