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

WILLIAM H. HOFF
Early Pioneer Curtiss Aviator

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William H. Hoff was reportedly a native of San Francisco, California, born in 1882. Information is lacking concerning his early life and education.

Mechanically inclined he became interested in aviation when he saw his first flying in early 1910. This resulted in his joining his old friend Eugene Ely as mechanic. Hoff served with Ely during his early exhibition work and was with him and assisted in the preparation for and the making of the first successful flight from the deck of the United States Navy cruiser BIRMINGHAM at Hampton Roads, Virginia on November 14th, 1910, and later when Ely made the first successful landing and take-off from the deck of the U.S.S. PENNSLYVANIA in San Francisco Bay on January 18th, 1911.

Hoff remained with Ely during his active exhibition schedule of 1911 until his fatal crash at Mason, Georgia on October 19th. During this time Hoff rode with Ely on occasion as a passenger, sitting on the wing with his feet hanging in space, and had become determined to learn to fly.

After Ely's death Hoff went to Hammondsport, New York where he started to take flying instruction under the personal direction of Glenn Curtiss. Soon the Hammondsport Curtiss facility was closed for the winter and Hoff moved to San Diego, California with the group to set up the 1911-1912 winter school at the

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