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| Ted Hequembourg. |
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1915 In the middle of December 1915, Loa and Walter went to New York City, enroute to Walter's new assignment. They stayed two days at their friend Ted Hequembourg's home, before boarding the boat for Newport News, Virginia. In addition to Walter, the Curtiss School had the following instructors: Vic Carltrom, Vic Vernon, Jimmy Johnson, Carl Batts, Steve McGordon, Ted Hequembourg, Lawrence Leon, Burt Acosta, and Andrew "Stew" Cogswell. 1916 March 9 Walter wrote: "Our first baby, Betty, was born March 9, 1916. I was at the station when Aunt Emma called me and said Loa had started to have labor pains and was going to the hospital. I was so excited, Captain Tom said Ted Hequembourg should fly me there. The hospital was across the street from Hampton Roads. We landed in front of the hospital and nosed the flying boat up on the shore. The tide was in at the time. I rushed into the hospital in my flying clothes, helmet and goggles, demanding, "Where's my wife?" The nurses looked at me like I was crazy. Loa had not reached the hospital yet." 1916-1917 Ted Hequembourg, one of my F boat students, was made an instructor on the F boat when I was transferred to land planes. One of his students made too sharp a turn in the air, stalled, and the boat dived into the water. Ted received a broken back, the student a broken ankle, no safety belts in any planes in those days. Ted's spinal cord was so badly torn that he never recovered. He only lived for six or eight months. Ted Hequembourg, pilot of the open cockpit seaplane, was fatally injured in a crash. 
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