sentences:  On August 21, 1941, Navy Captain Homer J. Boushey, Jr.—watched by Clark Millikan and William F. Durand—piloted the JATO-equipped Ercoupe at March Air Force Base in Moreno Valley, California.It proved a success and reduced takeoff distance by 30%, but one of the JATOs partially exploded.Over the following weeks 62 further tests took place, and the NAS increased their grant to $125,000.