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PAUL PECK
Early Washington, D.C., Exhibition Pilot

Paul Peck was born at Ansted, West Virginia, in 1889. When he was eleven years old he went to live with his uncle, Samuel Masters, in Washington, D.C., to complete his schooling. After graduating he became associated with his uncle in the real estate and brokerage business. Being mechanically inclined and interested in automobiles Peck later became an automobile salesman. Through this he then became a chauffeur for a wealthy Washington family and drove them on an extended trip through Europe. While overseas Peck became interested in flying but his employer persuaded him against staying in Europe to study aviation. After returning to the United States, however, Peck gave up his chauffeuring work and proceeded to learn to fly at the College Park flying field near Washington.

Starting in late June, 1911, he was given some instruction by Rex Smith and Tony Jannus on a Rex Smith biplane with an Emerson engine, and he quickly grasped the knack of flying. By mid-July he was flying capably and later that month became a pilot for Smith when Jannus left the group. Peck actively continued his practice at College Park, flying the second Rex Smith biplane with a Hall-Scott engine, and on July 29, 1911, obtained Pilot License No. 57 at College Park on this plane. September 16th, he made the first flights for Smith on a third new plane using a Gyro rotary engine. Following this he started flying exhibitions for Smith, first at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, on September 20th, where George Mestach also flew. October 13th and 14th he was at Warren, Ohio, then Youngstown on the 15th. On November 26th Peck made a flight of one hour and forty-two minutes at College Park on the Gyro-motored Rex Smith biplane.

About this time Peck cooperated with a group of Washington air-minded men to build a plane called the "Columbia." This new venture was sponsored by Emile Berliner, a well-known Washington inventor, who was also head of the