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ALBERT B. LAMBERT

Early Balloonist - Wright Pilot - Aviation Enthusiast

Albert Lambert was born in St. Louis, Missouri, December 6, 1875. He attended the University of Virginia until 1895. Subsequently he became President of the Lambert Pharmacal Company, and was connected with other St. Louis business groups.
  
In 1906-1907 he became interested in ballooning when he met Frank. P. Lahm and his father, Frank S. Lahm, in France during the International Balloon Races. This led to his becoming acquainted with other well-known American balloonists, and in 1907 he was instrumental in forming the Aero Club of St. Louis. Through his influence, the Gordon Bennett Balloon Races were held in St. Louis that year.
  
In the spring of 1908 Lambert made a series of instructional ascents in France with Frank S. Lahm, then returned to St. Louis where he continued practice with the well-known American balloonist H. E. Honeywell, qualifying for his License, No. 18. For some time Lambert was an ardent balloon pilot and a lover of the sport.

In 1909 he had his first airplane ride with Orville Wright and at once was sold on flying. In 1910, through his efforts, a ten-day flying meet was held at St. Louis October 8th to 18th. Wright aviators Brookins, Hoxsey, Johnstone, Parmelee, Turpin, and Welsh were all there, and President Theodore Roosevelt flew with Hoxsey. Large crowds attended this entertaining event.
  
In the spring of 1911 Lambert made up his mind to learn to fly, so he entered the Wright School at Dayton, Ohio in May, where he received a few lessons from Instructor Turpin, but due to the pressures of his business interests in St. Louis he was not able to finish instruction at that time. Later that season, early in September, he resumed training at St. Louis when Walter Brookins started a flying school at Kinloch Flying Field for the Pioneer Aviation Company with a Wright plane. He soloed about September 10th and flew for his license, No. 61, dated September 15, 1911, on a Wright type B. He continued to fly there quite actively for the remainder of the fall season, carrying passengers and generally