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[[stamped]] FROM THE FLYING PIONEERS BIOGRAPHIES OF HAROLD E. MOREHOUSE [[/stamped]]

ARTHUR L. "AL" WELSH
Early Wright Exhibition and Test Pilot - Instructor

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Arthur L. Welsh was born in Russia, August 14, 1881, one of a large family who moved to the United States when he was ten years of age. He received his elementary education from a retired teacher who lived with the family, and was particularly adept at mathematics, languages, and pen and pencil [[strikethrough]] etch [[/strikethrough]] sketching. Athletically inclined, he [[strikethrough]] learned to be [[/strikethrough]] became an expert swimmer and oarsman. [[strikethrough]] He became [[/strikethrough]] After becoming a naturalized citizen, he enlisted in the United States Navy at Washington, D. C. April 17, 1901, and served on the U.S.S. Hancock and Monongahela. During his service he was stationed at Guantanamo, Cuba, for a time, and was honorably discharged [[strikethrough]] as a seaman [[/strikethrough]] on April 16, 1905. 

In May, 1905, he became seriously ill with typhoid fever and was hospitalized for four months. A long period of convalescence followed during which he [[strikethrough]] dreamed of [[/strikethrough]] thought about flying machines and flying, for he had been interested in aviation since the first reports of man's ability to fly. Welsh [[strikethrough]] furthered [[/strikethrough]] advanced his education and became a bookkeeper, and at the same time was a boys' physical education instructor, but his [[strikethrough]] inner [[/strikethrough]] constant interest was in aviation. He studied everything he could obtain concerning it and saw Orville Wright make his [[strikethrough]] first [[/strikethrough]] public demonstration flights before War Department staff officers and high government notables at Fort Myer, Virginia in September, 1908. [[strikethrough]] He [[/strikethrough]] Welsh was there again when [[strikethrough]] both Orville and [[/strikethrough]] Wilbur was

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