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

FRANCIS A. "DOC" WILDMAN 

Early Curtiss Engine Expert - Pilot - Instructor 

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Francis A. Wildman was born on a farm near Pulteney, Steuben County, New York, on November 4, 1882. Later the family moved to Hammondsport, New York, where Francis attended high school and did odd jobs about the village for about two years following graduation. He then obtained employment as a steel worker with the Elmira Bridge Works for approximately one year, later becoming line man with the Bell Telephone Company. He remained with them for about three years, during which time he advanced to foreman on a new trunk line project from New York State to New Orleans, Louisiana.

When this was completed Wildman returned to Hammondsport, bought a boat and started a passenger and delivery service for the shore residents of Lake Keuka. This venture was not successful, and [[strikethrough]] in October, 1907 [[/strikethrough]] Wildman started working as a mechanic for Glenn Curtiss in his cycle shop. Curtiss was making motorcycles and Wildman quickly developed a real interest in building and testing [[strikethrough]] motors [[strikethrough]] engines.

Capt. T.S. Baldwin had been using Curtiss motorcycle engines in his first dirigibles and [[strikethrough]] about this time was given [[/strikethrough]] and in 1907 bid on a contract to build a larger

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