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[[stamped]] FROM THE FLYING PIONEERS BIOGRAPHIES OF HAROLD E. MOREHOUSE [[/stamped]] OLIVER B. SHERWOOD Pioneer New York Aviator [[image]] Information is lacking concerning the date and place of birth, education and early occupation of Oliver B. Sherwood. Reportedly he was a young Brooklyn business man who developed an interest in the first aviation developments in the New York area and decided he wanted to learn to fly. Sherwood was [[strikethrough]] learning to fly [[/strikethrough]] practicing during the late summer of 1911 on various [[strikethrough]] machines [[/strikethrough]] airplanes at Nassau Boulevard Flying Field, evidently teaching himself, with the help of friends. In mid-October he had a smashup wile flying Dr Northwood's Farman-copy, but was not injured. On November 25th he made his first major flight, some 30 miles cross-country on a Kirkham-powered Church biplane owned by A. W. Ridgley. On this flight Sherwood passed over Hempstead, Garden City, Mineola and Hyde Park. It was an outstanding flight for a novice and those watching were fearful that he would come to grief, but he made a fine landing and was overjoyed. He continued flying this plane into December and by mid-month was carrying passengers. For the remainder of December he flew almost every day. His flying continued and in late January, 1912 he flight tested a new Maxi-motor-powered modified Curtiss-type biplane built at the Mineola Flying Field for John Gammeter of Akron, Ohio. March 4th to 9th Sherwood flew at an aviation meet 1