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In 1916 Wald enlisted and flew Curtiss Jennies in Texas with General Pershing's Border Patrol Unit. In 1917 he joined the Naval Aircraft Inspection Service. His first assignment was at the Curtiss Buffalo plant and while there he did some flying on their HS-1 flying boats. In 1918 Wald qualified as a Senior Naval Aircraft Inspector and during that year was transferred from Buffalo to the Garden City Curtiss plant, assigned to their HS-1, 2, 3 and 4 Series twin-engined flying boats. That year he wrote an official Navy Aircraft Inspection Manual which was used for many years. At Garden City Wald assisted with the Navy NC flying boat program which went on to make aviation history by the Atlantic crossing of the NC-4.

In August, 1923, Wald was sent to Great Britain by the Navy Department, reporting to the Officer-in-Charge U.S. Navy Schneider Cup Team to assist with the race activities there. During the years 1923-1927 he was given various assignments at the Vought branch of the United Aircraft Corporation on their UO series planes where he also assisted with some major flight tests. He was inspector in charge at the Loening Aeronautical Corporation in 1926 during construction and acceptance of three special Loening amphibians for one of the Byrd Polar Expeditions. In 1927 he was inspector in charge of a special Navy race plane built at Kirkham Products Corporation, Farmingdale, Long island, with which AL Williams was to attempt a new speed record. Later Wald was stationed at Grumman Aircraft Corporation for an extended time. 

After 38 years in government service, 30 years of which were on aircraft inspection and construction duty, Wald retired in July, 1949, and made his home in Freeport, Long Island, New York, where he lived quietly with the rewarding memories of an enviable record of accomplishment and service.

Mr. Wald suffered a heart attack and passed away on November 11, 1967, at South Nassau Communities Hospital in Oceanside, at age 85. He was survived by his widow, two sons, two sisters and four grandchildren.

Flying Pioneer Charles Wald devoted the major part of his active lifetime to aviation in all its various phases - mechanic, pilot, designer-builder and a long

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