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FROM THE HAROLD & MARVEL MOREHOUSE AVIATION PIONEERS COLLECTION
NATIONAL AIR & SPACE MUSEUM
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EUGENE B. HETH
Early Wright Exhibition Pilot - Instructor 

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Eugene B. Heth was born on a farm near Birmingham, Michigan February 11, 1879. He grew up there and attended local country schools. As a youth he was mechanically inclined and later left the farm and worked for the American Car and Foundry Co.

In the early 1930's Heth became interested in automobiles and soon became a well known driver, mechanic and expert on motors. As a result he joined the Packard Motor Car Co., Detroit, Mich. in 1902 and rapidly developed into one of their staff men. He remained there until 1908 when the Packard Co. sent him to Memphis, Tenn. in charge of one of their branch plants located there.

Heth's interest in aeroplanes was aroused when he saw Glenn Curtiss, Charles Willard and James Ward fly at Memphis on April 5th through the 10th, 1910. Later, on December 1st through 17th, 1910 John Moisant and his group of International Aviators made flights at Memphis. After this event Heth was determined to learn to fly. At this time he was suffering with Rheumatism and decided to go to Hot Springs, Arkansas for treatment. While there he could not forget the flying he had seen, and by chance met a man who told him that Louis Mitchell of Memphis was also interested in going into the aviation game.