Viewing page 2 of 16

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

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

James V. Martin Pioneer Aviator - Engineer - Inventor

James V. Martin was born in Chicago, Illinois March 31, 1883 and attended grade and high schools in St. Louis, Missouri. In 1900 he joined the Merchant Marine as a seaman, later qualifying for an unlimited Master's certificate. Following this he attended the University of Virginia, then took postgraduate work at Harvard, where he graduated in 1912.

Martin became interested in aviation in 1898, and closely followed the work of the early experimenters, including A.M. Herring. As a result he became associated with Herring for a short period when the Herring-Curtiss Company was formed at Hammondsport, New York in the early spring of 1909.

In January, 1910 he organized the Harvard Aeronautical Society and became its director. The Society was formed to promote model flying and gliding, and a full-size power machine was planned. Under Martin's supervision the Society members built a small light plane early that year, called the Harvard-1, using a 4 cylinder Cameron automobile engine. Martin reportedly made some brief hops with this plane at Soldier's Field, Boston during August, 1910. 

Early that summer Martin also wanted to promote an aviation meet for the Society, and through his diligent efforts the Harvard-Boston Meet was held September 3rd to 16th at Squantum, a suburban area of the city. It was the first
 
1