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

Melvin W. Hodgdon
Pioneer Boston Aviator

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Melvin W. Hodgdon was born at Somerville, Massachusetts November 18, 1896. He attended local grade schools and as a boy became interested in flying through the early aviation events in the Boston area. He saw his first plane in flight, flown by British aviator Tom Sopwith, at the Harvard-Boston Aero Meet held at the Harvard Aviation Field, Squantum, Massachusetts August 26th to September 4th, 1911.

After the event Hodgdon was determined to learn to fly and as a result enrolled for instruction with the General Aviation Company school at Saugus, Massachusetts in April, 1912, at age 15. Their flying field was at the local race track about ten miles north of Boston, school instructors were Harry N. Atwood and Arch Freeman on Wright-type and Ripley Bowman on Curtiss-type biplanes. Hodgdon chose the Curtiss course and his instruction was given on a single-seat machine by the grass cutting and gradual hop method, with verbal ground guidance only. By May Hodgdon had advanced to his first straight-away hop of about 100 feet, approximately 5 feet above the ground.

From May 30th to June 1st the school held a small flying meet and all instruction was stopped. Flying at the meet were Lincoln Beachey, Harry Atwood, Arch Freeman, Phil Page, Georgy Gray and Frank Terrill. After the                             

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