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to Gerstner Field, Louisiana. During this time he was offered a commission by the Army which he turned down to accept one with the Navy as Lieutenant on experimental test flying and instruction work at Washington, D.C. and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. While there Vernon trained some United States Naval and National Guard students. Vernon remained in the service until May, 1919 when he obtained a discharge to return to the Curtiss ortanization[[organization?]]. There he was placed in charge of all flying operations at the Buffalo, New York plant until September, when the Curtiss Company established a distributor station at Portland, Oregon, and Vernon was sent there to manage the operation. Called the Oregon, Washington and Idaho Air plane Company, it was formed as a sales promotion and distributing Curtiss Company outlet for the entire Northwest. A shipment of planes, engines and aviation equipment was sent and Curtiss pilots J.O. Hill and Walter Lees joined Vernon as assistants. This operation was continued through 1923 when it was closed out. Vernon returned east and gave up aviation to go into the investment business with the banking firm of Hallgarten and Company of Syracuse, New York. He continued in this position until 1929 when he returned to aviation as assistant to the Vice-President of Curtiss-Wright Airports Corporation. From late 1930 to 1932 he was Vice-President and General Manager of Colonial Airway. After this Vernon became Personnel Director and assistant to the President of American Airlines where he remained until retirement in 1949. At that time he purchased a 37-acre farm near Huntsville, Alabama where he settled to quietly enjoy life. Following a lengthy period of ill health he passed away there on March 17th, 1968, at age 85. He was survived by his wife, a son and two daughters. He was a member of the Early Birds and held World War I Military Service Awards. Flying Pioneer, Early Bird Victor Vernon devoted the major portion of his active lifetime to aviation. Expert pilot, staff executive and longtime flying instructor, he contributed much to the early development of American aviation history.