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headlines then he flew under all four bridges of the East River, and on another flight Thaw and MacGordon followed the German ocean liner Imperator from dock out to sea, circled the liner in farewell, then returned. On October 13th they flew at Oakwood Heights, Staten Island, New York, during the Round- Manhattan Race event. In November Thaw shipped his boat to Palm Beach, Florida, where he planned to carry resort passengers. Again MacGordon went with him and it appears he also bought a flying boat at that time. 
In early January, 1914, they were operating two boats at Palm Beach. Of the entire group of flying boat pilots of 1913 Thaw and MacGordon did more open ocean flying with their craft than any of the others.
During this period Thaw's brother had invented and developed an automatic stabilizer unit for planes, and in February, 1914, Thaw sailed for Europe with his flying boat to enter and demonstrate this invention in the coming Securitie on Aeroplane Competition in France. During these demonstrations he obtained Aero Club of France F.A.I Hydro License No. 2. That season he also did some flying at several places on the Mediterranean Sea.
In Europe Thaw found the war cloud of World War I developing rapidly and he had the urge to enter the fray. As a result he enlisted in the French Foreign Legion in late August, 1914, and trained at Rouen and Toulouse. After further assignments, he reached the front in late December and was soon transferred to French Aviation, first as an observer, then as an,active pilot, with Militaire License No. 714.
By May, 1916, Thaw was commissioned First Lieutenant and on that day was injured when he was shot in the arm during combat. 

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