Curtiss LaQ. Day

Curtiss Day Jr. (May 24, 1895 – April 25, 1972) was an American aviator during the pioneer era. Throughout his teenage and young adult life, Day constructed planes, created a company, flew in exhibitions, taught at prominent aviation schools, and served in the United States military before leaving the field in the mid 1920s. He was once said to be youngest person in the United States to hold a pilot's license from the Aero Club of America.

Biography Early life Day was born in Paxton, Illinois, on May 24, 1895. However, he spent most of his early life in the neighboring town, Gibson City, Illinois. As a young child, when he saw a movie of Wilbur Wright, he sat through both shows and left with the dream of one day becoming an aviator.

Day saw his first actual airplane on September 29, 1910, when Walter Brookins flew a Wright B over Gibson City in his historic flight from Chicago to Springfield, Illinois. Highly motivated after the event, Day constructed a biplane glider the following winter. He flew the plane solo (with assistance from his classmates) on March 17, 1911. Two days later, after removing its tail for experimental purposes, he wrecked the glider when he took off from a railway embankment. His mother grounded him and his family set to block him from having a future in aviation. Day became a civilian instructor at Chanute Field flying "Jennies". Later that fall, he instructed at Scott Field. He joined the United States Air Force and received his RMA wings in 1918. Day also received his Expert License, No. 187 on August 14, 1918. Day went to Morocco in 1925 to fight in the Riff War as a member of the Escadrille Cherifienne. During World War II, he worked for Eastern Air Lines in the operations department at LaGuardia Field in New York and at Savannah, Georgia.

Post aviation and death He quit flying after the war and worked in the hotel business. Day died on April 25, 1972, in Elkhart, Indiana. He is buried in the Drummer Township Cemetery. Both of his parents outlived him, his father dying in 1974 at 105 and his mother dying in 1973 at 98.