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

Mills terminated this work at Indianapolis in late December, 1918 and returned to Essington where he succeeded in purchasing the school and equipment at auction, and started planning a training and passenger carrying business at once. For the next two or three years he moved his operations to Palm Beach, Florida for the winter months, and there a former student and World War I pilot, George Dunn, Jr., joined Mills as a partner for one season. Mills gradually improved the Essington Base and his enterprising business developed into one which he continued to operate for the remainder of his active career. He taught his three sons to fly and took them into the business, later become an important link in the training of Reserve Aviators. 

Following a year's illness Mills passed away at his home in Essington, Pennsylvania on December 29th, 1940 at age 48. He was survived by his wife and three sons. Burial was in Mt. Zion Cemetery at Essington. Mills was one of the founder members of the Aero Club of Pennsylvania and the Early Birds. He taught many Pennsylvania and Delaware pilots of that area and several members of the Essington Squadron of World War I Aces, including members of the 45th and 143rd Air Corps, together with British and French students sent there for instruction. He later obtained Department of Commerce Commercial License No. 303. It is noteworthy that that Essington Water Flying Base is still in active operation today by Robert Mills, his brothers having given up flying some time ago. 

Early Bird and Flying Pioneer Frank Mills devoted the greater portion of his life to aviation and contributed much to its early development. As a mechanic, veteran pilot, instructor and base operator he was a great ambassador of flying. A cautious, experienced operator, he was a firm believer in safe flying and had few accidents. His name will long remain in the annals of aviation history. 

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