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Thomas Etholen Selfridge (February 8, 1882 – September 17, 1908) was a first lieutenant in the U.S. Army and the first person to die in an airplane crash. He was also the first active-duty member of the U.S. military to die in a crash while on duty.
Learn about the first powered aviation fatality in 1908, who was a US soldier and a pioneer of human flight. Hear how his death led to the development of aviation safety and design improvements.
Sep 16, 2015 · Learn about the life and death of Thomas E. Selfridge, the first person to die in a powered aircraft in 1908. Discover his achievements as a flight instructor, dirigible pilot, and Alexander Graham Bell's protégé.
Learn about the tragic accident that killed Lieutenant Thomas Selfridge in 1908, the first person to die in an airplane. Find out what caused the crash, how Orville Wright was injured, and how the Wrights redesigned their Flyer.
On board Cumberland was Lieutenant Thomas O. Selfridge, an aggressive and fearless 26-year-old United States Naval Academy graduate. In charge of the forward battery of six guns, he would soon face the brunt of Virginia’s raking fire.
Oct 28, 2021 · On September 17, 1908, Lieutenant Thomas E. Selfridge—the first person to die in an airplane crash—shed his coat and hat and climbed into the Wright Military Flyer next to pilot Orville...
Feb 9, 2024 · Learn about the life and legacy of Thomas Selfridge, who was born on this day in 1882 and became the first passenger to die in a powered aircraft in 1908. He was a U.S. Army lieutenant, an observer for the AEA, and a collaborator with the Wright brothers.
