BIOGRAPHY

"Fish" Hassell & The Curtiss F Boat - 1916 From the collection of Jerry Blanchard,

SELECTION FROM WALTER LEES JOURNAL      In the early fall of 1915, Ray Morris came thru Chicago on his way to the Curtiss Co. in Buffalo. When he saw the crate I was flying, he was quite perturbed. A week later, he had the Curtiss Co. wire me an offer as instructor on the Curtiss F-Boat at Buffalo. Of course, I jumped at the chance. Wish I could remember the salary I received.      We flew the boat from the hangar on the lake using a long, rough ramp. We turned the boat in the hangar by hand. My first students were Al Johnson and Fish Hassell.

 

"Fish" Hassell, left to right, Les. Bishop Bert Kenyon, Jule Clark, French's Michelson Mr. Arthur Rosenthal, "Roseswift Airplane Co., Grand Rapids, Michigan Photo and Text from collection of Lester Bishop Courtesy of David Balanky

 

"Michigan" Frenchy Michelson - Mechanic Fish Hassell was Pilot Photo and text from collection of Lester Bishop Courtesy of David Balanky

 

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