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[[strikethrough]] 289 [[/strikethrough]] 329 WALDO D. WATERMAN Pioneer West Coast Aviator - Engineer - Plane Builder Waldo D. Waterman was born at San Diego, California, June 16th, 1894, the son of a railroad executive. He attended local grade school and entered San Diego High School in 1908. Being mechanically inclined he developed an early interest in shop crafts and creative trades. Waterman became seriously interested in aviation through the exploits of the Wright brothers and Glenn Curtiss, kite building and flying being one of his favorite sports. A 1909 magazine article describing "How to Construct a Glider," inspired him to start building one in the high school wood shop. Completed that spring, he first became glider airborne on a canyon slope near his home on July 1st. His gliding practice continued that summer, then automobile towing gave him longer flights. He then started building a powered machine, assisted by Kenneth Kendall. They entered the amateur events of the first Los Angeles aviation meet at Dominguez Field, January 10th to 20th, but failed to get their plane finished, so attended the event without it. Flying there were Glenn Curtiss, Charles Willard, Charles Hamilton, and Louis Paulhan of France. Lincoln Beachey and Roy Knabenshue were also there with their dirigibles. With their entrance passes the boys were allowed on the field where they met Glenn Curtiss, who took them into his camp when he learned they were building a plane, and had them help assemble a new plane being delivered to Frank Johnson. All of this attention naturally helped them acquire a wealth of information and knowledge of planes and their operation which would not have been possible otherwise. Curtiss received something in return, however, asking questions about possible sites for flying grounds in the San Diego area, and Waterman at that time probably sparked the motive for the aviation base Curtiss established at North
