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

in competition. During this period he also built and marketed several planes for private and business use including some 6-passenger models.

The Laird Company remained in business in Chicago until just before World War II when in July, 1941 he sold out to the Metal Door and Trim Company of LaPorte, Indiana, including all inventory, machinery and equipment. Laird served as Vice President of the firm and set up an aircraft division, known as the LaPorte Corporation, to do sub-contract work for major American plane manufacturers. There, through World War II, Laird supervised the production of many various parts and sub assemblies for military Curtiss, Douglas, Martin and Consolidated planes.

After World War II Laird retired in Chicago except for some brief sales promotion work for the Electrosnap Switch Company during 1949-1950. During this time he also operated Ashburn Airport, in which he owned an interest, for about one year before it was sold as a subdivision. Following this he retired permanently and moved to Florida where he now resides at Boca Raton. Additional Flying Licenses were granted Laird during his aviation career as follows: U.S. Air Mail No. 56, F.A.I. Annual No. 622 in 1930, F.A.I. Annual No. 277 in 1931, F.A.I. Annual No. 231 in 1932 and Dept. of Commerce Transport License No. 2137.

Flying Pioneer and Early Bird, Emil M. Laird devoted his entire life career to the development and progress of early American aviation history and is richly deserving of great credit for his many notable accomplishments. Starting in his youth he possessed the ability to create and build his own planes and the courage to learn to fly them. Self-taught, he rapidly became an excellent judge of his own product and few men can equal his record as pilot, designer and manufacturer. He was one of the founder members of the Early Birds organization and served in various capacities during its early years. Mr. Laird attended the Annual Reunion of the Early Birds at Long Beach, California September 13th to 16th, 1963, where

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