Image Gallery
This image, original date and photographer unknown, is of one of the Wright Brothers’ planes being flown over what was then Fort Myer, now the Fort Myer portion of Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall. It cannot be determined who is piloting the plane in this photograph. The color photograph was taken in a similar location near the edge of Summerall Field and Bldg. 417, March 16. Lt. Thomas Selfridge is credited with being the first military officer to fly a solo flight on May 19, 1908, in Hammondsport, N.Y., according to the First Flight Society’s website. On Sept. 17 of the same year, Selfridge, while test-flying the “Flyer A” with Orville Wright on what was then known as Fort Myer, crashed due to a broken propeller where the Tri-Service parking lot is located today. Selfridge was killed, becoming the first fatality in powered aviation, while Orville Wright was injured and brought to the installation hospital, now known as Bldg. 59, seen in the bottom of the image. Selfridge is buried in Section 3 of Arlington National Cemetery, about one mile from where the accident occurred. His obelisk reads, in part, “Killed in the service of the United States in an aerodrome accident.”
150316-A-DZ999-9071.JPG Photo By: Rachel Larue

JOINT BASE MYER-HENDERSON HALL, Virginia - This image, original date and photographer unknown, is of one of the Wright Brothers’ planes being flown over what was then Fort Myer, now the Fort Myer portion of Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall. It cannot be determined who is piloting the plane in this photograph. The color photograph was taken in a similar location near the edge of Summerall Field and Bldg. 417, March 16. Lt. Thomas Selfridge is credited with being the first military officer to fly a solo flight on May 19, 1908, in Hammondsport, N.Y., according to the First Flight Society’s website. On Sept. 17 of the same year, Selfridge, while test-flying the “Flyer A” with Orville Wright on what was then known as Fort Myer, crashed due to a broken propeller where the Tri-Service parking lot is located today. Selfridge was killed, becoming the first fatality in powered aviation, while Orville Wright was injured and brought to the installation hospital, now known as Bldg. 59, seen in the bottom of the image. Selfridge is buried in Section 3 of Arlington National Cemetery, about one mile from where the accident occurred. His obelisk reads, in part, “Killed in the service of the United States in an aerodrome accident.”


DOWNLOAD PHOTO (0.59 MB)


This photograph is considered public domain and has been cleared for release. If you would like to republish please give the photographer appropriate credit. Further, any commercial or non-commercial use of this photograph or any other DoD image must be made in compliance with guidance found at http://www.dimoc.mil/resources/limitations.html , which pertains to intellectual property restrictions (e.g., copyright and trademark, including the use of official emblems, insignia, names and slogans), warnings regarding use of images of identifiable personnel, appearance of endorsement, and related matters.



Back to Gallery