July 23, 1930: Glenn Hammond Curtiss, one of the great pioneers of aviation dies at Buffalo, NY, age 52. The son of a clergyman, Curtiss devoted himself to the development of motorcycles when a young man and developed interest in aviation during the 1902-1905 period. Curtiss "hydroplane" aircraft went on to effect the progress of aviation around the world including the development of deck takeoffs and landings which led to aircraft carriers.