Image: Wright and Selfridge in Wright flyer before flight (MIS 63-720-5), National Museum of Health and Medicine (3323202385)

Description: Wright and Selfridge in Wright flyer before flight (MIS 63-720-5), National Museum of Health and Medicine Description: Orville Wright and Lt. Thomas Selfridge sit in the Wright flyer before taking off in a demonstration for the U.S. Army Signal Corps. Orville Wright came to Fort Myer, Virginia in September 1908 to demonstrate the Wright Flyer for the U.S. Army Signal Corps division. Lt. Thomas E. Selfridge arranged to be a passenger. During the flight, the right propeller broke and then shattered, and the plane crashed. Selfridge suffered a fracture at the base of his skull (he was not wearing a flight helmet) during the crash and died a few hours later, while Wright survived with several injuries. Selfridge was the first person to die in an airplane crash and the first Active Duty member of the U.S. military to die in a plane crash while on duty. Date: September 17, 1908 Photo ID: MIS 63-720-5 Source collection: OHA 233.05: Medical Illustration Service Library Repository: National Museum of Health and Medicine, Otis Historical Archives Rights: No known restrictions upon publication, physical copy retained by National Museum of Health and Medicine. Publication and high resolution image requests should be directed to the NMHM (<a href="http://www.medicalmuseum.mil/" rel="nofollow">www.medicalmuseum.mil/</a>)
Title: Wright and Selfridge in Wright flyer before flight (MIS 63-720-5), National Museum of Health and Medicine (3323202385)
Credit: Wright and Selfridge in Wright flyer before flight (MIS 63-720-5), National Museum of Health and Medicine
Author: National Museum of Health and Medicine
Usage Terms: Creative Commons Attribution 2.0
License: CC BY 2.0
License Link: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0
Attribution Required?: Yes