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

CLIFFORD B. PRODGER
Pioneer Wright Pilot - Flight Test Engineer

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Clifford B. Prodger was born at Alexandria, Minnesota June 8, 1889.  During his youth his parents moved to Montana where his father owned and operated a grain elevator at Fife near Great Falls, where Prodger attended school.

He became interested in aviation during 1910 and 1911 when Bud Mars, Eugene Ely and Cromwell Dixon all made flights in nearby towns, then T. T. Maroney built his first plane at Great Falls in 1911. As a result Prodger went east in early 1912 determined to learn to fly.  He first entered the Robert Rubel School at Louisville, Kentucky in early June, but this venture proved to be a hoax and he received no instruction.

He then went[[strikethrough]]east[[/strikethrough]] to Long Island,[[strikethrough]] New York[[/strikethrough]] where he started training with George Beatty on a Wright biplane at Nassau Boulevard.  Other students there[[strikethrough]] at that time[[/strikethrough]] were William Bouldin, Hugh Sargent and Charles Kowalchek, with Beatty instructing.  Prodger proved to be an exceptionally apt pupil and was soon flying alone.  On July 17th Beatty moved the school to Hampstead Plains Flying Field at Mineola, Long Island.[[strikethrough]] New York.[[/strikethrough]]  Prodger continued to practice there and obtained F.A.I. Flying License No. 159,[[strikethrough]]on[[/strikethrough]] on August 22, 1912 flying a Beatty Wright school machine.

Prodger remained at Mineola during the remainder of 1912 and did considerable flying with Beatty, then about January 1, 1913 the school was moved to College

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