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FROM THE HAROLD & MARVEL MOREHOUSE AVIATION PIONEERS COLLECTION 
NATIONAL AIR & SPACE MUSEUM

WILLIAM THAW
Pioneer Pittsburgh Aviator - World War I Ace

William Thaw was born of wealthy parents in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, August 10, 1893. He attended the Browning School in New York City, The Hill School in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, then graduated from Yale University in 1913.

By that time Thaw was very interested in the new sport of water flying and enrolled for a course of instruction at the Curtiss Flying School at Hammondsport, New York. By late June and early July,  1913 he was progressing well from instructor Francis "Doc" Wildman. That was an apt pupil and mastered flying quickly. He became so absorbed and interested in the sport that he ordered a Curtiss flying boat for his own use. At the school he was the envy of his class with his classy Fiat runabout which served as an amnibus between the flying grounds and their roaming house. Thaw completed his course but did not obtain his license at that time.

After taking delivery of his new boat he shipped it to Newport, Rhode Island where in late September he was flying and carrying society quest passengers. T. V. Morris was also flying Gerald Hanley's new Curtiss flying boat there at that time. Stephen MacGordon, who was a member of Thaw's class at Hammondsport, was also at Newport with Thaw. On October 5th Thaw and MacGordon flew from NEwport to NEw York City, 230 miles in 220 minutes. In New York Thaw was busy flying about the area carrying many prominent people as passengers. One day he made

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