Ed Izzo was from around these parts...central N.Y...and we were always told that he was the one who started the foam wing thing in the early 60's...I'm not 100% on that, but that's what I recall hearing, many times.

Matty Sullivan also worked with foam (wings, etc. ) in the early 60's as well IIRC...

Chuck Winter built an all foam (I think it was a ) Dart, didn't he?
Chuck...are ya out there somewhere?