Wilbur and Orville's nephew Milton and his Wright Flyer Models

Within the extended Wright family, the name Milton Wright appears a number of times through the generations. Orville and Wilbur's father Bishop Milton Wright enjoyed his grandchildren and often wrote about their visits in his diary entries, and his family letters. His grandson Milton was born in 1892, and so enjoyed a relationship with his Grandfather for 25 years (the Bishop died in 1917). In 1920, Milton Jr. was born, the subject of another post, "Orville Wright's grand-nephew, Milton Wright Jr."

Milton and Susan Wright's children- Reuchlin, Lorin, Wilbur, Otis, Ida, Orville, Katharine.

     Lorin and Ivonette (Netta) Wright's children- Milton, Ivonette, Leontine, Horace (Buster).

 

Bishop Milton Wright fought it in 1865. Orville battled it in 1896. It was now young Milton's turn. Beginning on July 18 of 1908, and day by day, Bishop Milton Wright recorded in his diary entries- "Milton is sick with something like the fever.....Milton has high fever today....Milton's fever is still high....Dr. Spitler pronounced Milton's fever is a mild case of typhoid.....Milton is quiet and notices things but little; sleeps considerably....Milton seems to be getting along well, tho his temperature at times runs up to 104 degrees.....Milton's fever still strong and he for the first a little flighty....Milton more flighty......Consultation of doctor's. Milton is quite sick....Milton's fever is still pretty high....Aug 2- Near morning, Milton's pulses almost stopped beating, but he revived, and his fever ran high all day and all night....Milton seems better this morning and later in the day, Dr. Spitler pronounced him decidedly better....Milton restless and nervous last night. The doctor gave him codeine, and he slept five hours to-day......Aug 8- The fever is rather high in the afternoon. But we think Milton is gaining. Wilbur is reported to have made a successful flight of two and 17/100 miles in LeMans, France this afternoon at 3:00.....Aug 12- Milton has some congestion of the lungs, but gets no worse during the day.....Milton continues to improve....Aug 17- Milton is still improving and was moved downstairs....Orville is getting ready to go to Washington City......Milton still improves....Sept 6- I called on Lorin's to see Milton who begins to walk again....Orville at Ft. Myer, flew 65 minutes and 52 seconds....Sept 13- Lorin's brought Milton to our house, and he remained two hours, in the afternoon. It is his first visit- since his sickness- anywhere.....Sept 17- Orville injured. Orville's disaster at 5:00; Selfridge's death.(1)

 

Bishop Milton Wright wrote in a March 7, 1909 (partial) letter to his Grand-niece Grace Frazier, 

"We are having scarlet fever in Lorin's family. His Horace (seven years old) took it February 11th, and his daughter Leontine (10 years) took it last week, and that will keep their house quarantined three weeks, more. Milton 16, and Ivonette 13, are boarding at our house, and attending school. Horace had a light spell, and Leontine a little harder. Leontine's fever broke, yesterday. It takes two or three weeks to peel off. 

The Assembly of France voted Wilbur and Orville the great honor of  'The Legion of honor'; Congress U.S. voted them gold medals, March 3rd. They have sold one machine to the Aeronautical Society in Rome for $10,000, and train a man to use it. When that is delivered, they come home, in April or May, and in June get their $35,000 of the United States Government for one Machine, and go to Germany in August or September, and take $17,000, for exhibitions, etc. They are not selling much rights, but taking in a good deal of money...." (2)

 

Lorin and Ivonette Wright's children- Milton (left rear), Ivonette (left front), Leontine (right rear), and Horace (right front). In 1910, Bishop Milton Wright wrote, "With a smiling face Leontine is so motherly. Horace is a sinless sage....Milton is tall and good looking for one just grown." (2) Courtesy of Wright State University Special Collections and Archives.

 

Lorin and Netta's first born, Milton, influenced by his Uncle Wilbur and Uncle Orv's invention, showed his talent while a teenager, of constructing small scale models of the Wright Flyer.  

 

"The Top picture is that of an aeroplane model, made by Milton Wright, 17 years old, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Lorin Wright, and nephew of the celebrated aeroplanists, Wilbur and Orville Wright. The young man shows undisputed mechanical genius. The model was constructed for his own amusement and was built in the premises of the parental home, on West Second-st. The lower picture is that of 'Buster' Wright, the young son of Mr. and Mrs. Lorin Wright. The picture shows the child, who is a great favorite with all who know the family, with a pet chick." (3)

 

The Dayton Herald, June 24, 1909, reported, "The exact miniature reproduction of the Wright brother's aeroplane, which was constructed by Milton Wright, son of Lorin Wright, and nephew of the famous aviators, was purchased Wednesday night by the International Aeroplane club of this city. The price paid for the machine, which was made of material from the machine wrecked at Ft. Myer, was $40..." (3).  In lieu of the model being made of material from the machine wrecked at Ft. Myer, the model was likely constructed from scrap wood and fabric as reported in a Dayton Herald article later in this post. 

Lorin's father, Milton Wright, wrote to his grand-niece Grace Frazier July 22, 1909 (partial), "Miss Grace Frazier, Dear Niece: It is some time since you were here. [Grace Frazier had visited to attend the Dayton Wright Brother's Home Celebration the prior month] I may say now that Lorin's have come in to stay with me while Katharine goes a week to Washington. Milton sold his model of the Aeroplane for forty dollars, and has built another better one, which he, this afternoon, expressed to a house in Anderson, to remain a week, at $25.00. Horace has nine chickens near half grown with his black hen, and has a pullet older, and a nice half grown rooster. He is very attentative [sic] to them. Netta was to have gone with the children to Richmond last Friday to stay over night......but she got sick and canceled the engagement. She is resting at our house, is well......." (2)

The elder Milton Wright wrote in his diary September 8, 1909, "....Orville is reported to have flew alone 24 ms in 36 minutes, to-day, and 17 min. with Hildebrand, 200,000 reported. Ivonette & Horace staid here and to breakfast. Lorin and Milton are working on models of flying machine...." (1)

And on September 24, the elder Milton wrote, "I slept well last night. I get no letters before noon. I spend the morning, mostly reading. Milton's models came back from Eaton & Rock Island." The next day, Milton would write that the Hudson-Fulton Exposition opened in New York, and on the 29th, that Wilbur had flown twice; "once from Governor's Island round the Statue of Liberty & back." (1)

On October 1, the elder Milton wrote, "...Milton shipped a model to St. Louis...".  The next day Milton would write that Orville had flown 1637 feet high at Potsdam, Germany, and "took up the crown prince of Germany 60 ft. high, gets a present of a diamond and Ruby ring, Composing the letter 'W' and a crown." On October 4, he wrote "Wilbur flew from Governor's Island beyond Grant's Tomb & back safely. He ha[d] a canoe attached..." (1)

The Dayton Herald, October 5, 1909, wrote, "Young Milton Wright's model of his famous uncle's aeroplane is attracting considerable attention in the Rike-Kumler Co. window, Fourth and Main sts.  The model is the property of the Aeroplane club." (5)

 

Milton Wright in 1936, holding Wright Flyer model he made in 1908 (6).

 

Lorin's father Milton Wright in November 7, 1910 letter to Grand-niece Grace Frazier, wrote, "Milton teaches at Van Buren Township High School at $65 a month, 8 and a half months. He is teaching Chemistry with a great zeal, learning probably more than his scholars about it. He has a class in Civil Government and two classes in History. He rides on Street cars two miles and walks two miles to reach there. But largely rides instead of walking. He is eighteen years old to-morrow. So he has not been a lawful teacher the past six weeks! Herbert four months younger than he, is of lawful age to teach in his school five miles south of where Reuchlin lives! He teaches eight months at $50 a month........Ivonette is only two inches lower than her aunt Katharine, and is a witty nice girl. Leontine is growing fast now, a model little woman. Horace is the favorite of all the folks....Halloween evening a company of about a dozen came in with false faces. Leontine is the only one I knew. Children turn all things to fun...." (2)

Milton, writing to Grand-niece Grace Frazier, May 24, 1911, wrote, "Milton is nearly through his year's school. Ivonette is about closing her first year in High School. Leontine and Horace are as sweet as they can be. Milton is in much better health than last year. He is nearly as tall as his uncle Wilbur, and good looking..." (2)

 

Frank Hamburger "holding the model of the world's first military airplane." (6)

From the Dayton Herald, October 9, 1936, "Constructed by Milton Wright, a nephew of Orville and Wilbur Wright, in the workshop of the two Dayton inventors and with material such as was used in their large machines, a replica of an early Wright airplane is prized possession of Roosevelt high school. Build to scale of one inch to one foot of the original plane, the replica, constructed back in 1908 is fashioned after the plane flown by Orville Wright at Ft. Myer, Virginia, in a demonstration before government officials. It was September 3, 1908 that Orville made a flight of one hour and two minutes in a plane build along the lines of the model at Roosevelt school. On September 5 he flew it for four minutes, on September 9 for 57 minutes and on September 17 while in the air at a height of 125 feet the plane fell, killing Lieutenant Selfridge and inflicting injuries to Mr. Wright from which he has never fully recovered.....It was while the Ft. Myers plane was being constructed that Milton Wright, then a student in Steele high school, was allowed to use the scraps of spruce and muslin for the construction of miniature planes, a hobby in which he had become fascinated. Thus the replica, carefully constructed, contains the same materials as the real plane, though in recent years for purposes of preservation the model has been painted. The model measures 40 inches in wing stretch, which would make the real plane on the basis of the one inch scale 40 feet. Aviation was something quite new in those days and enthusiasm ran high. So much so that West Side residents interested in the Wright boys and their invention organized what they called the International Aero club. It began existence on May 12, 1909 and continued for some six or seven years....During this time the club purchased the model, now at Roosevelt, for $40, proudly exhibiting it during the life-time of the club and then relegating it to the keeping of Frank Hamburger, West Side hardware merchant, who had been treasurer of the club. The late Oscar Needham was president, A. E. Estabrook was secretary and Frank Thompson was first vice president. The late William Andrews and Phil Kerstner were second and third vice presidents respectively. Young Milton Wright, son of Lorin Wright, a brother of Orville and Wilbur, found the business of constructing model airplanes good and made a number similar to the one now at Roosevelt, which he sold throughout the country. Used for window displays, they attracted much attention, being something the like of which had not been generally known theretofore....

Hamburger retained the model purchased by the club for a considerable term of years. In the course of moving it about, the model naturally was damaged some, but a year or more ago when it was presented to Roosevelt, members of the manual training class of Arthur Pitsinger overhauled it. There is even a small motor attached so that the propellers may be operated to give the simulation of flying. The model at Roosevelt was exhibited here during the celebration Dayton staged for the Wright boys when they made their triumphant return from abroad and drew the attention of thousands. At Roosevelt it is prized highly and every effort is being made to ward off damage. The model is the old pusher type plane and in years to come, because of its close associations with the Wright family, should be one of the most valued museum pieces in connection with Dayton's role in development of aviation." (6)

Milton's model, "repaired, hanging from ceiling at Roosevelt high school."(6)

 

Roosevelt High School was closed in 1975, and demolished in 2008. Further research is required to determine if Milton's model still exists. Any information from the Wright descendants, or those with knowledge on the fate of the Flyer would be appreciated. Further, any information on other existing Wright models made by Milton would be of interest. 

Copyright 2025- Getting The Story Wright

Notes-

1. Milton Wright Diaries 1857-1917, Wright State University, Wright Brothers Collection (MS-1)
2. Milton Wright to Grand-niece Grace Frazier letter archive from Author's collection.
3. The Dayton Herald, June 17, 1909 "Aeroplanist's Nephew Builds Model Airship".
4. The Dayton Herald, June 24, 1909, "Wright's Nephew Sells Miniature".
5. The Dayton Herald, October 5, 1909, "Airship Model Very Attractive".
6. The Dayton Herald, October 9, 1936, "Wright Plane Model Built by Nephew of Famous Brothers Still Preserved", "Materials Used by Inventors Utilized to Construct Small Ship".
   

Orville Wright's grand-nephew Milton Wright Jr.

Within the extended Wright family, the name Milton Wright appears a number of times through the generations. Orville and Wilbur's father Bishop Milton Wright enjoyed his grandchildren and often wrote about their visits in his diary entries, and his family letters. His grandson Milton was born in 1892, and so enjoyed a relationship with his Grandfather for 25 years (the Bishop died in 1917). In 1920, Milton Jr. was born, and this Milton is the subject of this post.

Milton and Susan Wright's children- Reuchlin, Lorin, Wilbur, Otis, Ida, Orville, Katharine.

     Lorin and Ivonette (Netta) Wright's children- Milton, Ivonette, Leontine, Horace.

          Milton and Ann Wright's children-  Milton Jr.(Trotz), George Wilkinson (Wick)

 

Milton and George Wilkinson Wright, courtesy of Wright State University Core Scholar.

 

 

Milton Jr., born July 3, 1920 (Orville Wright's grand-nephew) was an artist, and his Uncle Orv enjoyed teasing him about modern art. 

 

Milton Wright Jr. self portrait.

 

In the words of Milton Jr., speaking about his Uncle Orv, "But he was very, very fond of the family. He loved to argue with young people, loved to talk to young people. He liked to kid me about modern art all the time, and I've got letters from him with diagrams drawn making fun of modern art which he did.....he thought painting should be of pretty things, not unattractive looking things. He had some reproductions of things, Dutch Masters and whatnot around the house, mostly reproductions. But he liked to make fun of Picasso and Gertrude Stein and so forth. He was very, very traditional. I find many engineers or scientific people don't trust things that they can't sort out mathematically in a way. But he appreciated what I did. He would always go to exhibits, if I was in them. He loved to argue about it, and had a lot of fun.....I've got a drawing of a bird in a tree, some kind of thing that's a takeoff on Gertrude Stein's 'A Bird', or 'A Bird in a Tree', and he would draw the diagram, little drawings on the paper. He loved to make fun of Picasso. He sent a comment on a Henry Moore sculpture once...." (1)

Milton, reading from a letter his Uncle Orv had written to him, "I think Moore must be a real artist. At least he had enough sense to cut the poor woman's head off so she won't be having to blush in looking at herself. I wish some of the other modern artists had as much sense, but that's more than you can hope for." (1)

In an August 1946 letter, Orville wrote to Milton, "Dear Trotz, I am writing to let you know that I now, in my old age, am beginning to get an understanding of literature and art. I think that when I have lost all my teeth, my eyesight and my mind, I will be able to understand it still better...." (2)

Orville liked to tease, but he was actually a supporter of The Dayton Art Institute.

 

 

Milton married Mary Gale Breene Loughbridge on November 16, 1946; the ceremony performed by Dr. Norman Vincent Peale at the Marble Collegiate Church in New York. His brother Wick was the best man. (5)

Orville had two student paintings of Milton's on the wall of his Study at Hawthorn Hill in Oakwood. After Orville's death in January of 1948, Milton gave those paintings to Orville's housekeeper, Carrie Grumbach. Carrie and her husband Charlie had no children, but she had a number of nephews and nieces; after Carrie died, Milton believed those paintings likely went to one of them. (1)

Orville Wright's Study at Hawthorn Hill, kept much as it was when Orville was living. Wouldn't it be nice to return those two paintings of Milton's (Trotz) that once hung here? Photo by Author.

 

Another item in Orville's study was an old dried baby alligator. Milton's Aunt Leontine married John Jameson in 1923, and the ceremony was held at Hawthorn Hill. Milton recalled, "Well, when Leontine and John Jameson got married, they got married at his house, and I was about three years old, and there was an old dried baby alligator Uncle Orv always had in his study. And right at the most crucial moment of the ceremony, I speak up in this three-year-old voice, and say, 'Oh, look at the alligator!', and broke up the whole thing." (1)

Milton shared another account about his Uncle Orv, "There was a little museum in Richmond, Indiana, where he'd grown up, and an elderly lady was the director of the place. I can't remember her name now, but she had been a schoolteacher and kicked Orville out of school. Not only kicked him out of school, escorted him down the steps, I think. Luckily they were moving out of Richmond, so it didn't matter too much then. But there she was all friendly, and she's the one who'd thrown him out of school." (1)

The Dayton Herald, December 8, 1945 issue reported, "Water colors, oils and lithographs by Milton Wright are on view at the Dayton Art Institute. This young artist is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Milton Wright of this city and grand-nephew of Orville Wright. His enthusiasm in the matter of painting has not been stilled by the war. For three years now he has been stationed at Lowery Field, Denver, Colo., where he is in the film strip preparation unit. His evenings and weekly 'day-off' are spent in painting. Two years ago he was honored with a one-man show in Denver Art Museum. Water colors by Wright and oils by Charles Ellis were placed on view simultaneously several months back in Gallery Neuf, New York City. Last June he was represented in an exhibition at the Weyhe Galleries, New York City.

Much of his art training was received at Miami University where he was granted his bachelor of arts degree as was his father before him. His mother is a graduate from Oxford College for Women, Oxford, an institution which has merged since with Miami university. 

Wright is not a one-subject painter. He likes countryside and the Colorado mountains. He likes corner delicatessen and factory scenes. He does an engaging still life. His lithographs are among the best work in the show....."  (3)

 

Examples of Milton's artwork: 

 

"Snow's Landing" (Truro, Massachusetts), oil on canvas, 22" by 28"

 

 

Provincetown dock scene, Cape Cod, oil on canvas, 26" by 20", painted 1951.

Provincetown (Massachusetts), oil on panel, 24" by 30".

Union Square, New York City, oil on canvas, 23" by 17.5", painted 1948.

Harbor scene, painted 1947, oil on canvas, 20" by 24".

Shorescape, dated 1968, pen and ink, 17" by 23".

"Drydock", gouache on paper, 1964, Cape Cod scene.

From the Cape Cod Times, October 18, 2012, "...Milton Wright was an aspiring artist who first wended his way to Provincetown in 1938 at the behest of his friend and mentor Marston 'Bud' Hodgin. Hodgin, the dean of fine arts at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio- the institution Wright graduated from in 1942- was also a superb artist who happened to travel to the Cape each summer to paint. Wright visited sporadically after that initial contact, but he ended up buying a cottage at Great Hollow Beach in North Truro some years later. After teaching art for 20 years in the New York City area, Wright eventually retired to North Truro in 1977, maintaining a studio overlooking Cape Cod Bay with Provincetown tangibly close...." (4)

Milton developed pneumonia after undergoing surgery, and passed away at his home in Cape Cod at the age of 84. He died Sunday, February 20, 2005, twenty years ago from the writing of this post. (6)

Copyright 2025- Getting The Story Wright 

On a lighter note, see related post-

 Orville Wright- The Art Critic

 

Notes:

1. Milton Wright interview with Ann Deines, September 26, 2000, Dayton Aviation Heritage NHP Oral History Project.
2. Wright Reminiscences compiled by Ivonette Wright Miller, 1978, published by The Air Force Museum Foundation. August 2, 1946 letter Orville to Milton Wright Jr., pg 167.
3. The Dayton Herald, Saturday, December 8, 1945 "Paintings By Dayton Artist On View at Art Institute", by Merab Eberle. 
4. Cape Cod Times, Oct 18, 2012, by Andre Van Der Wende, 
5. Dayton Daily News, November 17, 1946, "Mr. Wright Weds in East; Miamisburg Couple Marries".
6. Dayton Daily News, February 22, 2005, "Milton Wright Jr. dies at 84", by Benjamin Kline.

Collecting Pilot Licenses Signed by Orville Wright

Updates February 14, 2025

Pilot licenses signed by Orville Wright are readily available, often offered at auction. Thirty-three are listed below to provide a guide of price range for collectors. I've arranged the licenses by year issued, in lieu of by year sold at auction. A number of the licenses listed have been sold multiple times, providing some interesting data on resale value. 

The National Aeronautic Association of U.S.A (NAA) was initially formed in 1905 as the Aero Club of America (ACA). The ACA was reorganized in 1922 as the NAA. The Federation Aeronautique Internationale (FAI) was formed in  October of 1905. 

Orville Wright served as governor-at-large to the NAA in 1926 and 1927. Orville signed pilot licenses as "Chairman of Contest Committee" for the years 1924-1930.

 

Federation Aeronautique Internationale, National Aeronautic Association of U.S.A. Inc. Aviator's Certificate. John Clair Cox, Jr., Born 1905, Certificate #7746, signed by Orville Wright, Chairman, and G.W. Lewis, Executive Vice-Chairman. From Author's collection.

 

National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) after a White House reception, April 21, 1921. Orville Wright is third from the left, and George W. Lewis is sixth from the left. Orville was a member from 1920 through 1948. Formed in 1915, then in 1958 NACA became the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Image courtesy of Wright State University Special Collections and Archives.

 

Of the Orville Wright signed licenses listed in this post, six sold for less than $1000, but five of these sale dates were between 2006 and 2010. The later exception from 2018 sold below market value. Fifteen sold between $1000 and $2000. Nine sold between $2000 and $3000. Five sold between $3000 and $4500. (Including re-sale of some of the licenses).

Factors that could effect value would include condition of license, popularity and accomplishments of the pilot, and clarity of Orville Wright's signature. The list of licenses provided here do not necessarily reflect lower to higher values based on these characteristics, as the items were sold in various auctions over many years, and so a side by side comparison was not available.

 Abbreviations for Pilot License table below:

1. Heritage Auctions- HA
2. University Archives- UA 
3. RR Auction- RR
4. Swann Auction Galleries- SA
5. Potter & Potter Auctions Inc- PP 
6. One of a Kind Collectibles- OKC
   
7. Early American History Auctions- EAH
8. Grant Zahaiko Auctions- GZ 
9. Iconic Auctions- IA
10. Leonard Auction- LA
    
11. National Aeronautic Association of U.S.A.- NAA
12. United States of America Annual Sporting License- SL 
13. Fe'de'ration Ae'ronautique Internationale. Certificate- FAI

1924 William O. Ralph, No. of Brevet 798, Hydro-aero, License #35. Sold by RR, Aug 14,                                   2024...................................................................................................................................$3033

1925 Franklin G. Cowie, FAI, #6297, License #317. Sold by EAH, March 20, 2021............... $1600

 

1925 Etienne Dormoy, FAI #2237, License #5. Sold by GZ, March 6, 2024.............................$1500 

 

1926 May 27, Kenneth W. Montee, NAA #6413. Sold by HA, June 8, 2010.............................$836

1926 May 27, Kenneth W. Montee, NAA #6413. Re-sold by RR, Sept 22, 2011......................$1279

1926 James T. Young, FAI #6332, License #26. Sold by RR, Feb 9, 2011...............................$1548

1926 Sept 1, Ray Wm. McClenaghan,  FAI, NAA #6522. Sold by RR, March 9, 2011.............$1142

 

1926 Aug 6, Emanuel Hahn, Cert #1045, License # 386. Sold by LA, Oct 21, 2018.................$750

• Two licenses sold indicating one of the licenses has a printed OW signature. Both appear to be original signatures, not printed. License to the right authenticated by PSA/DNA.

1927 Wilmer L. Stultz, SL #620, FAI #6802.   Sold by HA, Sept 25, 2024................................$4750

• Included 1928 license SL #228, and other items. Stultz flew with Amelia Earhart across Atlantic.

1927 Warren Hallowell, SL #257, FAI #6637. Sold by HA, Apr 11, 2012... ..............................$1015 

 

1927 Joseph William Esch., SL #215, FAI #6631. Sold by RR, Aug 14, 2013...........................$1348

1927 Edward G. Knapp, SL #479, FAI #4656, PSA/DNA encased. Re-sold by GWS Auctions,                      Nov 3, 2018...........................................................................................................................$2100

• Encased in plastic by PSA/DNA. Not necessary in my opinion, but to each his own.

 

1927 Edward G. Knapp, SL #479, FAI #4656. Re-sold by RR, July 13, 2016............................$2231

1927 Edward G. Knapp, SL #479, FAI #4656. Sold by RR, March 12, 2014.............................$1142

1927 Clarence M. Young, SL #286, FAI #6291. Sold by RR, May 11, 2022..............................$3336

• Was issued 2nd US Civil Air license in history. Pres. Herbert Hoover's aviation secretary, architect of the Federal airways system.

1927 January 17, Herman Halcolm Moore, NAA #6634. Sold by PP, July 28, 2018..................$2160

 1927 January 21, Wallace F. Hope, FAI NAA #6636. Sold by EAH, Feb 23, 2019. In poor                                       condition..........................................................................................................................$1200

1928 Miss Marjorie Stinson, FAI #308, SL #356. Sold E-bay, Dec 29, 2024..............................$1151

• Marjorie Stinson was trained at Wright Flying School. License lacks photo.

1928 August 24, Charles Dycer, NAA #6916. Sold by HA, Nov 1, 2024...................................$1625

1928 Edmund W. Hill, FAI #930, SL #25. Sold by OKC, Oct 29, 2014......................................$1563

1928 Ed Nirmaier, SL #5, FAI #801, Hydro-aero. Sold by RR, Aug 15, 2012............................$1842

 

1929 George Wallace Rifley, SL #64, FAI #7007. Sold by UA, June 26, 2024..........................$4500

• Encapsulated by PSA/DNA, graded Mint 9. Unfortunate we have to grade one of a kind historical items, but this is some collector's preference.

 

1929 Chester Brown Loomis, Jr., FAI #7058, License #217. Sold by IA, Aug 5, 2016..............$2338

1929 Feb 4, 1929, John Thomas Rogerson FAI, NAA #7039. Sold by OKC,  June 21, 2012.....$1150

1929 July 17, Irving Gerard Hay, NAA #71--. Sold by HA, Nov 21, 2020...................................$3250

1929 July 17, Irving Gerard Hay, NAA #71--. Sold by HA, March 25, 2008................................$896 

 

1930 January 18, Vernon Henry Ramsey, SL #472. Sold by Bonhams, Oct 17, 2006................$836

1930 June 7, Alexander T. Suchoff, NAA #7545. Sold by UA, Sept 18, 2024.............................$2800

 

1930 June 21, V. Edward Smith, NAA #7568. Sold by RR, June 16, 2010..................................$791

1930 V. Edward Smith, SL #427, FAI #7568. Re-sold by IA, Dec 16, 2012................................$2125

1930 V. Edward Smith, SL #427, FAI #7568. Sold by RR, Sept 15, 2010.................................. $871

1930 October 6, Fred Lorillard, NAA #7809. Sold by HA, June 13, 2014...................................$1140

1930 J. E. Thropp, 3rd, SL #106, FAA #6459. Sold by RR, June 18, 2008..................................$1163

 

 

1930 Miss Jean LaRene, SL #77, FAA #7218. Re-sold by IA, June 29, 2013..............................$2829

1930 Miss Jean LaRene, SL #77, FAA #7218. Sold by RR, Feb 13, 2013...................................$2455

1930 Sept 10, John Clair Cox, Jr., FAI NAA #7746. Author's collection......................................

1930 Sept 23, Paul Dewley, NAA #7799, plus archive of items. Re-sold by SA, Oct 26, 2023......$2400

1930 Sept 23, Paul Dewley, NAA #7799. Sold by SA, Sept 25, 2008..........................................$1680

Orville Wright served as Chairman of the Contest Committee for NAA from 1924 through 1932, inactive the last year. Due to scheduling conflicts, and not lack of interest, Orville wrote Senator Hiram Bingham in 1932,  asking to be removed from the list of members of the contest committee.

1932 July 31 OW to Senator Hiram Bingham, 1pg, typed, Orville Wright letterhead, Orville wrote, ".....some additional delay in answering....is due to my general inability to get writing done. I am sorry that I will not be able to be in Washington for the N.A.A. meetings.....These come at an awkward time of the year for me. I have not been able to attend any of the meetings, nor race meets, since the time of holding them has been changed to August and September. My name has appeared as chairman of the contest committee this year, though I have not been present at a single meeting. My absence from meetings has been due to inability to be present, not from lack of interest. In a talk with you....I explained my attitude with regard to letting my name appear as a member of committee whose meetings I can not personally attend. At that time I agreed to let my name remain on the list of members of the contest committee until the next annual meeting of the Association, with the understanding that it would then be dropped without attracting the attention of certain enemies of yours and the Association's as might be attracted by a resignation. In appointing the next committee please omit my name entirely....." Letter sold by Christie's, December 18, 2003, $2390.

I will continue to add to this list as new sales occur, and older sales come to light.

Copyright 2025- Getting The Story Wright 

Related Posts-

Gleaning the History from Wright Brother Checks- Their styles and values.

Buyer Beware When Collecting Wright Brother Items 

Value of Historical Items Associated with the Wright Brothers

The 1903 Wright Flyer Fabric and Wood Remnants 

Collecting Historical Items Associated with the Wright Brothers

Collecting Letters of Orville Wright- Their Historical Content and Values

Collecting First Flight Photos Signed by Orville Wright

Collecting Letters of Wilbur Wright- Their Historical Content and Values

Arthur L. Welsh and the Wright Brothers Exhibition Team

Updates January 29, 2025

This post highlights aviator Arthur L. Welsh, a member of the Wright Brothers Exhibition team, and then eventually sole pilot for the Wrights after the Exhibition Team was dissolved in November of 1911. Some of the other members of the team are mentioned but no attempt is made to present a complete account of Welsh's or the team's accomplishments. Many gave their lives to the advancement of aviation, as did Arthur L. Welsh.

 

Marker in College Park, Maryland on Cpl Frank Scott Drive, 0.2 miles west of College Avenue.

 

As stated on the Marker in College Park, Maryland, "The extraordinary life of the first American Jewish aviator began as a typical Jewish immigrant story. Laibel Willcher was born on August 14, 1881, in Russia. In 1890 the family immigrated to Philadelphia and two years later moved to Washington, DC.....In 1901, Willcher joined the Navy, giving his name as Arthur L. Welsh. He returned to Washington in April 1905, working as a bookkeeper and attending meetings of the Young Zionist Union, where he met his wife, Anna Harmel. They were married in the Adas Israel synagogue in 1907. Welsh resolved to become a pilot after witnessing Orville Wright's demonstrations at Fort Myer, Virginia in 1908 and 1909. Welsh was trained by Orville Wright, first in Montgomery, Alabama, and later in Dayton, Ohio. He immediately became an instructor and member of the Wright Exhibition Team. The Wright brothers sent Welsh and his teammates out to promote the airplane across the United States. By November 1911, they had performed in over 77 locations across the country. At the International Aviation Meet in Chicago in August 1911, Welsh won a $3000 prize as the first aviator to fly more than two hours with a passenger. The team was disbanded in November of 1911...." (1)

 

From Milton Wright Diary entries- (2)

Saturday, May 21, 1910- "We went to Sim[m]s and saw Orville fly about 2,000 feet high. He prepared and tried a new machine once. He flew with A. L. Welsh, LaChapelle, and Lorin. The wind was pretty still. We came home in an automobile with Mr. Thresher."

Friday, May 27, 1910- "I went out to Sim[m]s at 3:30, on the car. Orville was flying with A. L. Welsh. He flew several times with Welsh & Chapelle. Welsh led many times. I came home on 5:30 car. Prof. Robert Koch, the bacterialist, died to day."

 

Arthur L. Welsh

 

July 5, 1910, Aurora, Illinois -

"Five thousand persons stood breathless as A. L. Welsh sent his aeroplane straight at a group of picnickers when he lost control of its steering gear at the Aurora Driving Park Tuesday and five thousand cheered when the reckless little driver risked his own life in making a landing further up the hillside.  Welsh was swooping down to the only available landing where he might expect to save his machine and his life when the cries of men and women reached him above the roar of his engine. With a jerk he reversed the planes in the front of his machine and rose again to dash into the hill side beyond. Tall grain made a cushion for his landing and he escaped without a scratch. The fall came after eleven minutes of spectacular flying"

Postcard postmarked June 16, 1910 advertising the upcoming Home Coming event, Aurora Illinois. The event was formally advertised to include Tuesday, July 5. Due to windy weather, the event extended to Thursday, July 7th. From Author's collection.

"Welsh was toying with death in reckless turns at a height of five hundred feet when the wire controlling his rudder refused to work. Below and on three sides of him were orchards and groves. Luckily his machine was pointed west toward a level cornfield a quarter of mile away. With a dip like a swallow he dropped to the far edge of the field watching his wind indicator and oblivious to the men and women and children in his path. The men ran and women screamed the warning which saved their lives. With no hope of being able to rise again, Welsh threw up his planes and shot to the hill beyond. "There were the three scares of my life," said the little Welshman after he landed. (Welsh was not a Welshman; he was born in Kiev, Ukraine.) "Finding out that the rudder wouldn't work and being directly over an orchard was enough to bleach my hair. Then to hear the women's screams and realize I was about to kill some one was another jar and the prospect of hitting that hill, without knowing how hard or where, was another. I will remember those sensations for a long time." As Welsh fell, the crowd rushed through the ripening grain, expecting to find the aftermath of a tragedy. The machine was turned around to resume its aerial contortions. In attempting to rise the grain caught the wings and turned the machine around, breaking one of its wings. Again Welsh escaped unhurt and smiling." (3)

 

Welsh's Wright Flyer, July 1910, Aurora, Illinois. Man standing on center of wing may be Arthur Welsh, but certainly not a spectator. Courtesy of Aurora Historical Society.

 

September 5, 1910, Minneapolis State Fair, Hamlin, Minnesota -

"Welsh, driving a Wright machine, who, unlike Mars, had never flown here before, was less fortunate in his attempt. After getting away to an apparent good start, his machine struck a wind current that proved disastrous. Welsh was at a height of about 45 feet when he attempted to turn. His aeroplane tilted, dipped, and turning, crashed head foremost to the ground. Welsh retained his seat and fell with his machine. He suffered a severe cut on the ankle of his left leg, being caught under the mechanism, and his escape from more serious injury was considered miraculous. The projecting planes in the front of the aeroplane were wrecked. (4)

In another account, "After reaching a height of about sixty feet in an aeroplane shortly after he had left the ground in an attempt to circle the track at the fair grounds, A. L. Welsh of the Wright Flying Machine company, a resident of Washington, D. C., fell to the ground. A gust of wind caught his machine, causing it to turn and crash to the earth with the aviator beneath the wreckage. Mr. Welsh had a narrow escape from death, as he fell beneath the machine. Had the heavy engines been over him he surely would have been killed. His right foot was crushed, a wire from the rear of the machine cutting the flesh to the bone. Mr. Welsh was taken to the emergency hospital at the fair grounds, where his wound was dressed. The front part of the machine was badly damaged. The cause of the accident, said Mr. Welsh after his wounds had been dressed, was a gust of wind, which made the machine helpless in his hands. "It caught me willy-nilly, and I just had to take the fall," was the way Mr. Welsh put it.  The start was made in the face of the wind, in the large field northwest of the grandstand. Mr. Welsh pointed his machine in a southwesterly position and after a run of about 100 feet left the ground. After another 100 feet had been traversed, this time in the air, the machine swerved sharply to the north and without a moment's notice the machine turned over and dashed to the ground, with the aviator beneath it. In addition to having his foot bruised, Mr. Welsh was shaken up. It took him a minute or more to make his way from beneath the wreckage, but by the time other persons had reached the scene of the accident, he was out and limping around, taking in the extent of the damage to the biplane. D. La Chapelle of Paris accompanies Mr. Welsh with the machine that was damaged yesterday. It is the first Wright machine to be seen in this territory and is a two-passenger biplane. The motor is a four-cylinder Wright, water cooled, with two air propellers. Mr. Welsh, at the time of the accident yesterday, was endeavoring to get into the right position, but the wind came in gusts, and in the twenty minutes preceding the time he left the ground the wind changed its direction several times. This is what caused the accident. Before the attempt was made to fly yesterday, Mr. Welsh, Mr. La Chapelle and J.C. Maras [Mars], the aviator of the Glenn Curtiss biplane at the fair this week, walked over the ground they contemplated starting from. Every little hole in the ground was inspected, the telephone and telegraph wires looked at, and fences, numerous in this part of the ground, carefully located. The starting-place did not find much favor with the bird men, who said, however, that if the fences, poles and holes were taken care of, it would be an ideal starting-place. It took them some time to finally decide from what part of the field the start should be made. While President Taft was making his closing remarks, the Wright machine was taken from the tent and wheeled to a position about a half mile northwest of the grandstand. Then without any hesitation, Mr. Welsh climbed to his seat and with a very brief preliminary test of the levers, started the engine. After running across the ground about 100 feet it left the ground, only to fall again within a moment or two. J. C. Maras [Mars] was one of the first on the ground after the accident and assisted his comrade to a waiting carriage. Before the crowds had time to reach the spot, the injured aviator was on his way to physicians. The machine Mr. Maras [Mars] uses is also a biplane, but not much like the Wright machine. It is a Glenn Curtiss machine and is the machine the Wrights allege is an infringement on their patents, the case now being before a court for judgement. "We expect to fall once in a while," said Mr. Welsh, "but it's a part of this business and must be reckoned in with the rest of the day's cares." (5)

 

A piece of the Wright Flyer flown by Arthur Welsh September 5, 1910 at the Minneapolis State Fair, Hamline, Minnesota. The piece is spruce. (6) (7)

"After treatment at a hospital, Welsh, who had attended the Wright brothers' first flight school, retired to quarters at the Dyckman Hotel in Minneapolis, his flying finished for the duration of the fair. His aircraft was so damaged that it could not be repaired, despite the fact that the Wright people had brought a large supply of spare parts with them. This turn of events obviously put the Wright contract in jeopardy. On receiving Welsh's explanatory telegram, the Wright firm acted with alacrity and immediately shipped a new aircraft from Dayton, Ohio. The company ordered a change of itinerary for its star pilot, Arch Hoxsey, sending him to Minnesota as a replacement for the injured Walsh...Just two days before he arrived in St. Paul, Hoxsey had had a mishap at the Nebraska State Fair in Lincoln. While taking off from the infield of a small race track surrounded by barns, tall trees, and a grandstand, he collided with the side of a barn.....When he arrived in Minnesota, a Minneapolis newspaper reported that he "looks today as if he were suffering from a combination toothache and the after results of fighting a hornet's nest. His left cheek is puffed and his left eye is closed; he limps [and] wobbles." .....At last on Friday the bedeviling wind abated, and in the light breezes of late afternoon both Hoxsey and Mars made splendid flights. Perhaps 10,000 people had jammed the grandstand finally to see some flying, and they were rewarded with a "first in Minnesota" when they witnessed "two modern airships in action", a Curtiss and a Wright in the air at the same time." (8)

Arch Hoxsey's and J. C. (Bud) Mars' flights occurred Friday September 9, 1910. Two witnesses of these flights were the brothers who obtained the souvenir piece pictured above from Welsh's wrecked aeroplane; one writing in his diary entry for that day, "Spent all day at the fair. Seen Curtiss and Wright Brothers Airships in action. Superb! My first view of an airplane." (6)

Milton Wright letter to Grand-niece Grace Frazier, November 7, 1910, " .....To-day, one of their men flies from their station at Simms, to Columbus, with five bolts of silk, for which the Columbus merchant gives them $5000. It seems a nice day to fly. I do not know how they will come out. Brookins, one of their pupils, flew from Chicago to Springfield, a few weeks ago. Wilbur followed him on the train. Then, another pupil took the machine and flew thence to St. Louis. They had three days with any number of stops, from Chicago to Springfield. They did it with three stops, and all in one day. At New York, their men, Hoxsey and Johnson [Johnstone] went up a windy day and were floated off to Long Island, Johnson [Johnstone] 55 miles. Next day they both flew back. They had a flyer at New York, which could fly nearly 80 miles an hour, but by mismanagement they did not win the Gordon-Bennet cup. They went out all kinds of weather at New York when other machines did not dare to venture; hence they entertained the crowd and made the meet a succes [sic]. Their man Johnson [Johnstone] took the worlds record for high flying, reaching 9714 feet. The New York papers gave them the preference. The Associated Press sent out over the country reports, as if they were behind. They do not pay the Associated Press for mentioning them.....P. S. After I wrote the foregoing, Mr. Parmalee took his machine and the bolts of silken goods and flew to Columbus. He was on the way an hour and a minute, over sixty-one miles. He landed nicely and delivered the goods, and sent us a telegram...." (9)

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 September 18, 1880 - November 17, 1910  Ralph Johnstone

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Milton Wright letter to Grand-niece Grace Frazier November 18, 1910, "....Orville is on the way to Germany to teach the Germans to make flying machines. Wilbur who was in New York passes through Dayton tonight on the way to Kansas City to be at Ralph Johnstone's funeral. Johnstone was killed yesterday afternoon by collapse at Denver of his machine, imperfectly repaired...." (9)

Apparently, Arthur's employment with the Wright's was not a steady on-going engagement with weekly paycheck. On November 23, 1910, Welsh, from Washington, D.C., wrote a letter to Wilbur Wright,  "When I saw you in New York, on the 14th inst, you informed me that you would probably be able to give me regular work at flying and that you would let me hear from you in a few days, and that I should do nothing until I had received word from you. I know that you have been very busy the last week in connection with the unfortunate and untimely death of Ralph Johnstone, but when you find the time would you kindly let me know what the prospects are for regular employment...". Wilbur wrote back on the 28th, " I have just returned home after having attended Johnstone's and Mr. Chanute's funerals. The possibility of an opening for you to which I referred was with a party who was negotiating with us to take a machine out with a circus. However he seems to have dropped the matter and I would not advise you to wait any longer in the hope of something coming of it....". (10)

In December of 1910, Welsh was offered employment with The National Aviation Company in Washington D.C. as a flight instructor, and so he wrote Wilbur,  "My dear Mr. Wright: The National Aviation Company of this city having offered me a position as instructor, I would be glad to have you advise me if I may accept this position or if you will exercise the clause in our contract which states that I am not to fly for pleasure or profit in any aeroplanes not owned by the Wright Company. I am withholding my signature to a contract with the above company pending a statement from you that you will not exercise the clause above mentioned. In this connection, I wish you would quote me price and terms on one of your machines, and the earliest possible date delivery can be made; also kindly advise me as to whether we can make some arrangements whereby I would be able to serve in the capacity of instructor to those who will purchase your machine during the coming year...." . Wilbur responded, "It is impossible for us to give a definite answer to your question without knowing what kind of business the National Aviation Company intends to engage in. We could not consent if it is the intention to have you fly a Wright machine for exhibition purposes. Neither could we consent that you should fly any machine that infringes our patents unless the company pays license on all the infringing machines it uses. We naturally could not consent to have you give the benefit of the training obtained from us to assist a pirate company to compete with us.....If the machines of the National Aviation Company should be free from infringement and this is made clear to us, we will consider further the question of waiving the provision of our contract referred to by you. We would be glad to help you in any work you may wish to engage in provided it does not compromise our patent rights." Welsh responded, "Yours of the 16th instant to hand, and I beg to state in reply that the National Aviation Company is an organization which intends to open up an aviation school and to act as an agency for the sale of the Curtis, Bleriot and other makes of flying machines, including the Wright provided they can secure the agency for your machine. The company does not want to do anything that will antagonize the Wright patents, and is entirely willing to pay a royalty for any machine other than the Wright that they may sell and to operate under a license from you. The National Aviation Company desires my services as teacher on the Wright machine and to take part in exhibition flights around Washington, with the understanding that a percentage of the receipts from such flights is to go to your company providing a percentage basis can be arranged.....P.S. The reason for my telegraphing for your address, was because Mr. Fox, a member of the National Aviation Co. and myself had intended to go to Dayton to see you, on Thursday, but have postponed our trip until next week."  (10)

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October 15, 1884 - December 31, 1910  Archibald Hoxsey

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From Milton Wright's diary entries- (2)

Saturday, December 31, 1910- "...Arch Hoxsey, fell to his death this afternoon, at Los Angeles, California..." And in notes for the year, Milton wrote, "It seems hard to get the facts about the manner of Hoxsey and Johnstone's death. It seems as if witnesses can not see when excited. It seems probable that Hoxie [sic] may have fainted from his high flight...."

 

List of Pupils of the Wrights from Milton Wright's 1910 diary, courtesy of Wright State University Special Collections and Archives.

Milton Wright to Grand-niece Grace Frazier January 13, 1911, "...Johnson [Johnstone] ran away from home when a boy to become a showman. The cause of his death must remain a mystery, as witnesses differ entirely about how he and Hoxsey acted in their fall. Had they lived they could have told us what the difficulty was. Orville inclines the think that Hoxsey lost consciousness on coming out of thin air to the lower air. Our boys will try to induce greater caution, and better observance of their repeated warnings. Johnson [Johnstone] and Hoxsey were among the best fliers, though they have several as good. Their best flyers remaining are Walter Brookins, P. O. Parmalee, and Clifford Turpin. Not one of them has flown a year yet. Frank Coffyn, who flies well, is to have charge of their August school....." (9)

"Hoxsey's death is a direct result of the dangers confronting all aviators attempting the spiral dip or dive," said A. L. Welsh, one of the original quartet of Wright aviators...."When he tried this vaudeville stunt it was in violation of a precaution urged by both Orville and Wilbur Wright. Johnstone met his death last November in a similar attempt to thrill the crowds. Instead of trying to astonish spectators, aviators should spend their efforts in a practical use of the flying machine. Their familiarity with the machines seems to breed a contempt for danger. Any aviator who attempts the spiral dive is simply flirting with death." In speaking of Hoxsey's daring, Welsh related that when in Grand Fork last July, the dead aviator could not bring his machine to earth without colliding with the grand stand, thus jeopardizing the lives of many people. To avoid this he drove his machine downward at terrific speed, but escaped without injury, and with the satisfaction of not causing injury to spectators. 

When Welsh was making flights in Minneapolis Hoxsey was in Lincoln, Nebr.  Welsh was badly bruised in a fall, which kept him in bed for a couple of weeks. The same day, in Lincoln, Hoxsey jammed his machine into a barn and was badly bruised. Despite his injuries, Hoxsey took a train for Minneapolis and made flights three days in Welsh's place to avoid disappointing the crowds. Hoxsey, according to Welsh, has had more accidents than any other aviator. They were caused, said Welsh, by "Hoxsey's mettle in wanting to do a little better than the other fellow."........Welsh last saw Hosxey in November at Belmont park. He first knew him in the Montgomery , Ala., training camp. Johnstone and Hoxsey were rivals, and it was their attempting to overdo each other that resulted in the deaths of both, according to Welsh. The Washington aviator does not think a damper will be put on future aviation efforts..." (11)

Milton Wright letter to Grand-niece Grace Frazier May 24, 1911, mentions, "At Simms the aeronauts are flying many times every day. Orville only goes out some days. They are having quite a number who are learning to fly. Not one in forty who wish to fly, is qualified to be accepted..." (9)

Saturday, August 13, 1911, Chicago International Aviation Meet-

"Twenty-five (24?) aeroplanes flew over Chicago yesterday.....According to the records of the meet association a world's record was broken when A. L. Welsh carried a passenger with him in a Wright biplane for more than two hours. A special prize of $8000 had been offered for this feat and Welsh made the attempt for it, as soon as the flying hours were opened. It was well that he did so, for a few moments later another Wright machine went into the air with a passenger and stayed there for seven minutes longer than Welsh and his guest had." (12)

24 aeroplanes listed at Chicago meet, with 9 in the air at one time. (12)

Eyewitness account of Chicago International Aviation Meet, dated August 18, 1911. (9)

From Milton Wright's diary entries: (2)

Tuesday, September 12, 1911- "....Orville meets Charles Taylor at O's office. A. L. Welsh calls....." 

Wednesday, November 22, 1911- "....Wilbur came home at noon. Mr. A. L. Welsh called."

Wednesday, December 6, 1911- "A. L. Welsh called at noon to tell of trouble he had with frozen ground." 

January 2nd of 1912, Welsh wrote from Washington D.C. to Orville Wright, "I am in receipt of a letter from A. Holland Forbes, who wants to know if I can come to New Haven, Connectivcut [sic] on the 11th to carry a few passengers, who are members of the Aero Club and to use Mr. Robert J. Collier's machine......The terms are to be the same as those under which I flew at Collier's housewarming party in September. Hoping that I can have your permission to fly.....".  Orville wrote back, "....There is no work here for the present, so that you are at liberty to accept the proposition from Mr. Forbes, if you wish." (10)

That same month, Welsh arranged a purchase of a Wright hydroplane for mid-April delivery to New Haven, Connecticut for a client. In June, Welsh wrote Orville indicating he had to discontinue tests of the hydroplane due to a number of design issues- leaky pontoons, misplacement of the pontoons due to weight distribution differences when flying without a passenger, propellers striking the water, etc. Welsh then mentions in addition to the hydroplane testing, "In trying out the army machine yesterday afternoon we found it necessary to send for a new magneto, as the dripping of the gasoline from the carbureter [sic] has caused the armature and fields to rust badly. We also had to send for a new gasoline manifold, because the present one shows a decided tendency to leak at the joining bolts."  (10)

The Washington Post, Thursday, January 18, 1912, reported, "Aviator A. M. [sic] Welsh, representing the Wright brothers, yesterday called at the War Department to confer with the chief signal officer, Brig. Gen. James Allen. Major Squier, assistant to Gen. Allen, received the aviator. Welsh let it be known that his firm is now ready to deliver a new machine to the government which will work a revolution in military aviation. The new features of the machine are: Automatic lateral stability; muffled engine; portable wings that come off and can be put on in fifteen minutes by one man,....and a 6-cylinder, 50-horsepower motor, instead of a 4-cylinder, 30-horsepower motor...." (13)

The Dayton Herald, Thursday, March 21, 1912, reported, "The aviation school of the Wright company has been resumed at Huffman prairie with Aviator A. L. Welsh in charge. Mr. Welsh has three pupils, all purchasers of Wright machines. It is expected that the company will have a large number of pupils this spring and summer, drawn principally from purchasers of Wright biplanes. On April 15 the company will begin delivery to the United States government of six of the new type six cylinder aeroplanes, each having 60 horsepower capacity." (14) 

The Dayton Herald, Saturday, April 27, 1912, reported, "Word has been received in Dayton by aviators-students and exhibitors- of the proposed formation of a national organization of aviators. The object of the proposed national body, it is stated, is to eliminate rate cutting and to standardize the compensation of men who fly for a living. General matters of professional interest, study of aviation problems and agreement to refrain from the various forms of dare-devil flying are also declared to be part of the work proposed for the aviators' association. The movement, it is understood, is the issue of Walter Brookins' plan given out in the East a few weeks ago following the death of Cal P. Rodgers, in which he suggested among aviators to cut out dangerous stunts in flying. A. L. Welsh, aviator and aviation instructor of the Wright company, said today that he has received no notice of any meeting having been called, but warmly endorsed the plan of aviators agreeing to cut out dangerous stunts." (15)

Wilbur Wright's battle with Typhoid began in May. From Milton Wright's diary entries: (2)

Thursday, May 16, 1912- "Wilbur's fever is unchanged. Orville left for Washington City, at 9:00, to deliver a machine to the Government."

With his brother fighting for his life, Orville had to tend to obligations for the delivery and testing of a new Wright Model C Flyer for the U.S. Army. Arthur Welsh was responsible for the trials at College Park Maryland to prove compliance of the Flyer with the contract performance specifications of the new machine.

The Wright Company Flying Report for May 18, 1912. At College Park, Maryland, Welsh with passenger reached 1000 feet in four minutes, flight not official. Courtesy Library of Congress.

MW diary entries, Wednesday, May 22, 1912- "Frank J. Southard picked the lock, got out his machine, early yesterday morning, and dashed to his death, at Simm's flying grounds. He was the first to lose his life there, contrary to advice! The doctors had Dr. Bushheimer of Cincinnati come in to consult in Wilbur's case. The doctor's think him better." (2)

Thursday, May 30, 1912- "This morning at 3:15, Wilbur passed away, aged 45 years, 1 month, and 14 days...(2)

See the related post-  Wilbur Wright's Final Flight

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March 8, 1887 - June 1, 1912 Philip Oren Parmelee

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The Journal And Tribune, Knoxville, Tenn., June 2, 1912, "Philip O. Parmelee was regarded by experts as 'the safest' of American aviators as well as the most successful, financially, of those employed by the Wrights. He was said to have earned $197,000 for the Wright brothers during 1911 and he quit their employ only a few weeks ago."  "J. Clifford Turpin, aviation partner of Phil O. Parmelle, left for North Yakima as soon as he received news of Parmelee's death. Turpin was suffering much pain from the injuries he received in Thursday's accident at The Meadows when two persons were killed and many others were injured by his aeroplane striking the grand stand and was in no condition to travel, but he insisted on making the trip to take charge of Parmelee's body. 'It's the way of the game', was all he would say as he boarded the train, his face swelled in bandages." (18)

Welsh continued the trials for the new machine, and was successful in satisfying all the War Department's requirements of the Flyer, except one. Reaching the altitude of 2000 feet within a 10 minute time frame, with a weight of 450 pounds proved to be a challenge. 

Record of Aeroplane Flights, from May 18th through June 5, 1912. Attempts to satisfy the 2000' altitude in 10 minutes test was attempted numerous times. May 21st, 1390' reached in first attempt of the day, and 1400' reached in second attempt. Welsh was dealing with "strong down trends of air", and with the engine "missing fire very badly".  A new magneto was ordered June 4th. Courtesy Library of Congress.

 

First attempt on June 11, Welsh reached 1827' in 10 minutes, 173' short of the goal, 24 minutes total flight time. The second attempt was fatal, "Machine fell to earth wrecking same and killing both aviator and passenger." Courtesy Library of Congress.

MW diary entry, Tuesday, June 11, 1912- "Orville received word of A. L. Welch's [sic] death at Washington City, and with Lorin goes to the factory and sends Mr. Arthur Gaible to Washington, and comes home. Rev. Maurice Wilson called. (Probably Mr. Welsh aimed at a dip and to rise again. But he miscalculated the distance to the ground.)" (2)

 

"A. L. Welsh killed this evening College Park." Telegram courtesy of Library of Congress.

Letter from War Department, Office of The Chief Signal Officer, Washington, June 12, 1912, to Mr. Orville Wright, Dayton, Ohio. "Sir: I have to inform you that your Mr. A. L. Welsh met with a fatal accident while demonstrating the new Wright machine at College Park, Md., on the evening of June 11th. Mr. Welsh's body is now at the Walter Reed Hospital in this city and interment of the remains is being looked after by the relatives of Mr. Welsh in this city. The machine is completely demolished and report of survey is being made upon receipt of same copy will be sent to you. It is understood that Captain Chandler telegraphed to you relative to the accident. Very respectively, George P. Scriven Colonel, Signal Corps, U.S. Army. Acting Chief Signal Officer." (10)

MW diary entry, Wednesday, June 12, 1912- "Orville and Katharine conclude to go to Washington D.C., and they start at 3:47. Carrie Brumbaugh [Grumbach] & Nettie are here. I wrote letters to several before and slept an hour. I went to Lorin's for supper, and they came and stayed all night with me." (2)

 

 

Wreckage of Wright Flyer, College Park, Maryland. Courtesy of Wright State University Special Collections and Archives.

"In discussing the tragedy, shortly after it occurred Tuesday night, Orville Wright said, "I am especially grieved to learn of the death of Mr. Welsh. He was an exceptionally fine fellow and possesses those personal attributes that are too often lacking in the young men of today. Then in addition to his personal qualities, he possessed such an accurate and well-defined knowledge of the art of aerial navigation that his place will be hard to fill. I considered him one of the best aeroplane pilots in the world. His loss is almost irreparable. As to the conditions under which the accident occurred...I have not yet learned the circumstances in sufficient detail to warrant a discussion of this phase of it. However, I am not yet ready to believe that the accident was due to a weight of the engine and two men. I know too much about the strength of the machine in which they were flying to accept the theory that it collapsed under the burden. I am inclined to believe the unfortunate occurrence must be traced to some other source, and, if it is ever found possible positively to disclose the cause, it will consist of some other than the collapse of the machine." The machine in which the two men were flying when the accident occurred had been taken to Washington about three weeks ago and placed in commission on the army aviation fields there by Orville Wright, who was accompanied by Aviator Welsh, who had expected to spend the season there as a teacher for the Wright Company. About five years ago Mr. Welsh married Miss Anna Harmel of Washington, D. C. who, together with a little three year old girl, survives....During their residence here they have lived at 1221 Grand Avenue, Dayton View.....Fifteen flights had been made in the machine without accident since it had been at College Park. Both Lieutenant Hazelhurst and Welsh separately had made successful trips in the machine earlier in the afternoon. Although an army board was immediately appointed to determine the cause of the accident, it is probable the real cause of the machine's failure never will be known....it was shortly after 6 o'clock that the Wright machine was run out in front of the long line of hangers. For several days Aviator Welsh had been busy demonstrating the aeroplane. All of the war department's requirements had been met except a climb of 2000 feet within 10 minutes carrying a load of 450 pounds. Welsh knew the machine was capable of meeting the test. "I'm going to make that climb tonight or know the reason why", he said as he began to tune up. "I am tired fooling, " he added." (16)

From "The Dayton Jewish Observer", May 25, 2011, "When news of the fatal plane crash that killed Arthur L. Welsh reached Orville Wright and his sister Katharine, both hastily rearranged their schedules to travel from Dayton to Washington, D.C. for the funeral. This was not an easy time for Orville and Katharine. Just two weeks before, their beloved brother Wilbur, at the age of 45, had died of typhoid. Still in mourning for Wilbur, both were now grieving for the sudden loss of their friend and Wright Company colleague, who had been performing test flights with a new plane at College Park, Md. for the War Department. At the time of Welsh's death, he was the only pilot employed by the Wright Company." (17)

"Welsh's funeral was held on June 13, 1912, in the Harmel family home. His pallbearers included Orville Wright, Lieutenant Henry H. Arnold, F. Oppenheimer, Charles Stein, and S. L. Rakusin. Welsh was buried in the Adas Israel Cemetery in Anacostia." (1)

 

Arthur Welsh's widow wrote a letter to Orville June 22, 1912, "Dear Mr. Wright: Words are inadequate to express my appreciation of the extreme kindness of both you and your sister in coming to Washington to attend the funeral of my beloved husband. Your presence here was a source of much comfort to me in the hour of my deep sorrow, for it testified not only the great esteem in which you held my husband, but also your warm friendship for him, and this has proved no little consolation to me. I can not sufficiently thank you for it. Your kind consideration and courtesy will always remain a cherished memory with me. With kindest regards and best wishes for both of you, believe me Most sincerely yours, Anna Welsh." (10)

 

 

From The Washington Post, Wednesday, June 12, 1912. The note on Welsh requires correction, as Arthur's family moved to Philadelphia when he was 9 years old, but Arthur was born near Kiev, Ukraine.

 

 

Plaque at Wright Memorial in Dayton, Ohio listing "Pioneer Flyers Who Were Trained At Wright Brothers Field". A. L. Welsh's name can be found in first line of list of names below Flyer image, listed to the left of Frank T. Coffyn. Walter Brookins, Ralph Johnstone, Arch Hoxsey, & Duvall La Chappelle,  are listed to the left of Welsh. Photo by Author.

 

List of Flyers for 1911 from Milton Wright's 1911 diary, courtesy of Wright State University Special Collections and Archives. Milton wrote comments adjacent to a number of the flyers, and next to Arthur Welsh's name, he wrote "Honest".

For a related video, see:

100 Years After First Jewish Aviator's Death in Test Flight: Arthur Welsh Helped Wright Brothers

 

 

Copyright 2025- Getting The Story Wright 

 

Notes-

1. HMdb.org The Historical Marker Database- Arthur "Al" Welsh, 1881-1912: Pioneer Aviator.

2. Wright State University Special Collections and Archives.

3. Belvidere Daily Republican, Thursday, July 7, 1910, "Aviator Gave Crown a Scare".

4. The Minneapolis Morning Tribune, Tuesday September 6, 1910, "Aviators Perform Evolutions and One Has Slight Mishap."

5. The Minneapolis Journal Tuesday Evening, September 6, 1910, "Aeroplane Falls At Fair Grounds".

6. Piece was obtained by Author in 2019 from Bob Johnson, grandson of Frank G. Johnson who obtained it at the Minneapolis State Fair in September of 1910, who then displayed it in his museum in Fullerton, ND into the 1960's. Frank, and his brother Rob took a train from Fullerton, ND on September 2, 1910 for the Minnesota State Fair. Rob wrote in his diary on September 9, "Spent all day at the fair. Seen Curtiss and Wright Brothers Airships in action. Superb! My first view of an airplane." They returned by train September 12.

7. Per discussion with Wright expert Nick Engler, Nick shared that Welsh's damaged craft was a convertible B/AB, and that the wood most likely was part of a strut from the wing section, or one of the parts from the appendage frame that held the tail section. Wright skids were made of ash, so the piece would not be from the skids.

8. Quoted from "The Birth of Powered Flight In Minnesota" by Gerald N. Sandvick, Summer of 1982, Minnesota Historical Society.

9. From Author's collection.

10. Library of Congress General Correspondence: Welsh, Arthur L., 1910-1912, 1928-1930, Wilbur and Orville Wright Papers 1809-1979. And Manuscripts Mixed Material, 1912.

11. The Washington Post, Sunday, January 1, 1911, "Hoxsey's Fate Warns- Aviator Welsh Cites Peril in Aerial Maneuvers."

12. The Chicago Sunday Tribune, August 13, 1911, "Record Crowds Sees 25 Planes Fly Above City".

13. The Washington Post, Thursday, January 18, 1912, "Has Wonderful Aeroplane".

14. The Dayton Herald, Thursday, March 21, 1912, "Big Year Expected at Aviation School".

15. The Dayton Herald, Saturday, April 27, 1912, "Aviators May Organize Into National Body".

16. Dayton Daily News, Wednesday, June 12, 1912, "Two Aviators Killed; One a Wright Teacher". The article is interesting in that it falsely mentions the aeroplane was the first to be provided with aluminum wings. "Officers of the army signal corps point out today that the collapse of the aluminum wings of the big [bi] plane probably was caused by an unusual strain thrown upon them when Welsh sharply increased the speed of his engine and suddenly shot the nose of the plane upward at a terrific speed. It was the first army machine to be equipped with metal wings, and their strength was more or less an unknown quantity." In lieu of aluminum wings, the fabric on the wings had been painted an aluminum color. 

17. The Dayton Jewish Observer May 25, 2011, "The First Known American Jewish Airplane Pilot" by Robert Thum.

18. The Journal and Tribune, Nnoxville, Tenn., June 2, 1912, "Phil Parmelee Plunges to Death in Aeroplane", "Safest" of all Aviators", "Its the Way of the Game".