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FROM THE FLYING PIONEERS BIOGRAPHIES OF HAROLD E. MOREHOUSE

CHARLES F. WILLARD
Early Curtiss Aviator - Engineer - Manufacturer

Charles F. Willard was born at Melrose, Massachusetts October 13, 1883. He attended grade school at Hull, Massachusetts, high school in New York, then went to Harvard University. Mechanically inclined, he loved automobiles and soon became quite an expert on [[strikethrough]] motors [[/strikethrough]] engines. 

From 1904 to 1907 Willard operated a shop in New York, specializing in the car and maintenance of foreign cars, then in 1907, he was sent to Europe to investigate serious difficulties with the French Rocket-Schneider cars at their factory. During this period Willard became acquainted with Stanley Y. Beach who was Automotive Editor of Scientific American Magazine. Beach was also a member of the early Aeronautic Society and through him Willard became interested in aviation.

The Society was composed of [[strikethrough]] a group of [[/strikethrough]] aviation enthusiasts, [[strikethrough]] formed to [[/strikethrough]] who discussed and encouraged work on [[strikethrough]] aeroplanes [[/strikethrough]] airplanes and related problems, [[strikethrough]] provide [[/strikethrough]] Workshop facilities were provided and then there were [[strikethrough]] flying [[/strikethrough]] grounds for flight attempts and [[strikethrough]] [[?]] [[/strikethrough]] engines available for the use of members. The famous Morris Park Race Track sheds and grounds had been leased for their activities and many idea and opinions were [[strikethrough]] prevalent [[/strikethrough]] proposed. Various types of [[strikethrough]] machines [[/strikethrough]] aircraft were under construction, and dur-

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