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When the U.S. Signal Corps took over Ashburn Field, Chicago, in the late fall of 1916 Hoover signed up as a civilian flying instructor, along with Victor Vernon, T.C. McCauley, Al Johnson, C.R. "Sinnie" Sinclair, E.M "Matty" Laird, L.E. Holy and others. Military planes were delivered and instruction got under way.

In late January, 1917 the school and equipment moved to Memphis, Tennessee for the winter months and Hoover went there with the group. Following this he served as instructor at Chanute Field, Rantoul, Illinois, then was transferred to McCook Field, Dayton, Ohio as a test pilot, where he remained through 1918. 

After World War 1 Hoover joined the Packard Motor Car Company, Detroit, Michigan, and assisted in their plane and aircraft engine development programs until 1924, when he retired from flying. Hoover remained in Detroit until the early 1940's, engaged in the brokerage business.

During the early 1930's Hoover was Chairman of the Early Bird Historical and Museum Committee and played a major role in inducing Henry and Edsel Ford to establish a worthy aviation section of the Ford Museum at Greenfield Village, Dearborn, Michigan. He appealed to Early Bird members to donate and contribute to a Ford Museum collection and also played a major part in the negotiations and arrangements necessary for the moving of the Wright brothers home and workshop from Dayton to Dearborn. Early in the 1940's Hoover moved to southern California in retirement and is still living in La Jolla. 

Flying Pioneer, Early Bird Frederick A. Hoover was a valued member of the early aviation fraternity in the United States. From exhibition pilot to World War 1 instructor, then test and experimental development pilot, he contributed much to the historical progress of the industry. An early member of the Early Birds, he has served actively in the founding of historical contributions for that organization. 

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