Dayton-Wright Airplane Company Experimental Research Station

Additional July 21, 2026 

This post examines photographs of the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company Experimental Research hangars built on Colonel E. A. Deed's property. A total of eight hangars were constructed at this east end of South Field, D0, D1, D2, D3, D4, D5, D6, and P8, and together, they were known at the Experimental Station.

Kenneth Keisel, author of "Images of Aviation, Dayton Aviation, The Wright Brothers to McCook Field", wrote, "The Dayton-Wright Company's South Field test site was constructed on land that had been Deed's own personal flying field.....Here, new designs were developed, assembled, and tested. Among the aircraft created in these hangars were the RB-1 Racer, the XPS-1 (the 1st Army plane with retractable landing gear), and the OW-1 Aerial Coupe (the last airplane designed by Orville Wright)." The site was also used for development of the Kettering Bug, the world's first self-guided missile. 

Hangars D1 through D6 were built first, then D0, and finally P-8, as evidenced from dated photographs. This construction sequence is therefore useful in dating undated photographs where a view of the hangars in the background can be seen. 

 

Image of the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company Experimental Station, courtesy of Special Collections and Archives, Wright State University Libraries, ms152_200. Description given as "The photograph shows the exterior view of the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company Experimental Station, circa 1918. Hangars marked with D1, D2, D3, and D4 are the main buildings in the image. To the far right another building is being erected and Dayton-Wright employees and military personnel can be seen throughout the image..."  This view is looking south-east from the field, with elevation slowly rising to Deed's home, not visible in this image. Hangars from left to right are D0, D1, D2, D3, D4, and D5, and under construction is D6. The D3 hangar is easily identified by it's high pitched roof, in comparison to the other hangars. As hangar P-8 has not been constructed yet, this photograph would date between April and July of 1918.

 

Nice sharp image of the Experimental Station, showing hangars D2, D3, D4, and D5. Charles Kettering is standing, centered on FS two-seat trainer, 1917.

 

Close-up of image above.

Hangars D0, D1, and D2 are visible in this April 27, 1918 image, courtesy of Special Collections and Archives, Wright State University Libraries, ms152_024. Description states, "A De Havilland DH-4 sits in front of the buildings of the South Field Experimental Plant of the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company in this photograph. An unidentified pilot and unidentified gunner can be seen in the two cockpits of the airplane. A twin fixed Marlin machine gun is mounted in front of the pilot and the tail and wings have the red, white, and blue paint scheme finished. The tail is marked with the number 32073. A model of the aircraft sits on the ground beside the real one. In the background a soldier observes the aircraft. Three buildings are present in the background and are labeled D-0, D-1, and D-2. The doors of the building labeled D-2 are partially open and the front of another De Havilland DH-4 can be seen...."

 

From Author's John Sheats photo archive, May 14, 1918. Rear of photo identifies the three pilots (left to right) as Benny Whelan, Howard Rinehart, and Art Freeman. The fourth man identified as Money Man. Note the camera mounted on the DH-4. Hangars D0, D1, D2, and partial of D3 can be seen right center.

 

Associated with the photo above, here, Howard Rinehart is in the pilot position, and individual identified above as Money Man is positioned to take aerial movies. Image courtesy of Special Collections and Archives, Wright State University Libraries, ms152_034. Description of photo, "Howard Rinehart sits in the cockpit of a De Havilland DH-4 with a cine camera mounted to the Scarff ring. The camera operator sitting in the second cockpit is unidentified..."

 

From Author's John Sheats photo above, hangars DO, D1, D2, and partial of D3 are visible. 

From Author's John Sheats photo archive, August 14, 1918. On rear of picture, noted as "1st D. H. assembled in Dayton, now in Smithsonian Institute. Howard Rinehart man flying ship equipped with Bug engine 4 cylinder 2 cycle air cooled, tested about 40 H.P. @ 2000 R.P.M."  As mentioned in the post "Orville Wright and the Kettering Bug", the ship with the Bug engine was the first Messenger plane made.  

 

In this close-up view of the photo above, hangar P-8 can be seen at the north end of the hangars, next to hangar D0. This photo is dated August 14, 1918. In the earlier May 14, 1918 photo above with the three pilots and "Money Man", hangar P-8 had yet to be constructed.

From photo above, hangars D3, D4, and partial of D5 is visible. Howard Rinehart tested the Bug engine installed in this prototype of what became The Messenger aircraft. 

From Author's John Sheats photo archive, The Messenger, based on prototype above utilized originally to test the Bug engine.

On display at the National Air and Space Museum, is the DH-4 pictured in the August 14, 1918 photo shown earlier identifying the plane as the first D.H. assembled in Dayton. Smithsonian site describes as "The DH-4 in the NASM collection was the prototype American built DH-4, manufactured by the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company. This airplane was used in more than 2,600 experiments until its retirement in April 1919. On May 13, 1918, Orville Wright made his last flight as a pilot in a 191l Wright Model B alongside this DH-4, flown by Howard Max Rinehart. He then made a flight as a passenger in the DH-4 with Rinehart." Photo courtesy of the National Air and Space Museum.

Hangar P-8 has been constructed near hangar D0, seen in the image, courtesy of Special Collections and Archives, Wright State University Libraries, ms-152_038. Description reads, "The photograph shows a completed De Havilland DH-4 at the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company South Field Plant.....The DH-4 has the later version of the closer cockpits to increase safety for the pilot. The image was taken circa 1918." Photo would date to no earlier than August 1918, as hangar P-8 was the last of the hangars constructed.

From Author's John Sheats photo archive, hangar dedicated to work on the Kettering Bug. The high, multi-pained windows do not match any of the windows of hangars D0 through D5 (D6 windows are likely similar to those of D5). They do appear to match the windows in hangar P-8. If work on the Kettering Bugs was performed at the Experimental Station hangars, it would have been within P-8. This makes sense, as the hangar door had less height and width as the other hangars (planes larger than the Bug could not have been stored in this hangar), and the windows located high would provide better security from prying eyes outside the building.

Hangar P-8 was constructed sometime after May 14, and before August 14, 1918. As shared in the post Orville Wright and the Kettering Bug, the first test of the Kettering Bug performed before the Signal Corp was on October 2, 1918. 

  

To put in to perspective of where the Experimental Research Station was located in relation to the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company Plant #1 building (formally the DELCO building), the next photograph is helpful, taken from the roof of a small building just east of north end of Plant #1, looking eastward. Beyond the circle of DH-4s, in the distance, the Experimental Research Station is visible.

From Author's John Sheats photo archive, August 24, 1918. From building roof just east of Plant #1 northern edge, looking toward the east, beyond the circle of DH-4s ready for shipment, the Experimental Research Station is visible. Note on rear of photo reads, "Fusilage already tested and wings removed ready to be crated for France." 

The photo above this photo was taken from the roof of the building highlighted with the yellow star. One gets a totally different perspective in size of structures depending on the angle of view. Image courtesy of U. S. Air Force Photo Archives.

Close-up of Author's John Sheats photo above, horizon view eastward of the Experimental Research Station hangars D0, D1, D2, D3, D4, D5, and D6, from left to right (north to south). D3 has the higher pitched roof. The relative positioning of the other buildings, specifically the barn with the Lowes Bros Paints message is difficult to ascertain from just one photograph, as the telephoto effect of the image gives the illusion of lesser distance between objects before and behind in the field of view.  Hangar P-8 is to the left of hangar D0, but is not visible in the resolution of this photo.

The next photograph from the Smithsonian  George Grantham Bain Collection helps tremendously in providing perspective of orientation of the buildings on the site. Taken looking westward from Col. Deeds Moraine Farm, the Dayton-Wright South Field vastness becomes clear. The distance from the Experimental Research Station to the north edge of Plant #1 was roughly 5175 feet, or nearly 1 mile.

Image courtesy of the Smithsonian Library of Congress, view from Moraine Farm looking westward, showing backside of the Experimental Station hangars, and beyond, Plant #1 north rooftop area from where the previous photograph was taken looking eastward. The Barn with the Lowes Bros painting can be seen, and the relative distances begin to take their place. Hangars D1 through D5 are visible; D0, D6, and P-8 yet to be built. The Smithsonian lists the date of the image between 1915 and 1920. Based on just five of the eight hangars constructed here, the photograph would date between Summer of 1917 to April of 1918.

Close-up from image above. South Dixie Drive running across image just above "Barn with Lowes" text separates South Field closest to Deed's Moraine Farm and South Field closest to Plant #1. 

Zion Memorial Church still stands today, and therefore can be utilized as a point of reference for comparison of historical image to modern view. Adjacent to the Experimental Station hangars, just to the left (south), Col. Deed's vegetable garden can be seen. 

Another interesting feature visible in this photograph is the Miami-Erie Canal. The canal system no longer exists, it's usefulness having ended even in the era of this photograph.

Early view of the Experimental Station looking east. Hangars D1, D2, D3, D4, & D5.

Deed's home can be seen in the right (south) portion of this photograph.

The entire South Field area in the above image has been developed over the past 108 years. The former location of the Experimental Station hangars was just west of the area of what is now Tait Park. 

 

Tait Park, just to the east of the former location of The Experimental Station hangars.

 

2026 image from Google Earth showing Moraine Farm, and Tait Park. The remaining area of South Field has been since fully developed into residential and business use. View is facing east, with Stroop Road to the right running east/west, and Tait Road running north/south, separating Moraine Farm from the residential area. The hangar locations were west of Tait Road, in line with Tait Park. Exact footprint hasn't been determined by this author, but best estimate would be along the second row of houses west of Tait Road.

Hangar P-8 was constructed last to join D0 through D6. Where were hangars P-1 through P-7? They were 1 mile to the west of the Experimental Research Station, just east of the northern end of the Plant #1 building.

 

Hangars P-1 through P-7 just east of north end of Plant #1 building, facing South Field, August 23, 1918. Image courtesy of the National Archives Catalog.

 

 

Plant #1 looking northward. Hangars P-1 through P-7 just east of north end of Plant #1 building. See close-up below. Image courtesy of the National Archives Catalog.

Plant #1 looking northward. Hangars P-1 through P-7 just east of north end of Plant #1 building. Image courtesy of the National Archives Catalog.

Recommended Reading:

Images of Aviation- Dayton Aviation, The Wright Brothers to McCook Field, by Kenneth M. Keisel, 2012.  

Copyright 2026-Getting the Story Wright 

 

For related info, see posts-

Orville Wright and the Kettering Bug 

Orville Wright- Until the Cows Come Home 

Orville Wright- Until the Cows Come Home

Col. Edward Deeds, Charles Kettering, and Harold Talbott Sr. and Jr. formed what became the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company in 1917, with Orville Wright in a consulting role. The company's Plant #1 and associated South Field was located at western edge of Deed's Moraine Farm property. The Kettering family lived immediately east of the Deed's property. In an area then known as Van Buren Township, Moraine Farm and Kettering's home became part of the City of Kettering in the 1950's.

 "In 1916 he [ Col. Edward Deeds ] established one of the first, if not the first, private landing fields in the United States on South Field at Moraine Farm, equipping it with a hangar and a research laboratory. The installation became an experimental field destined to be the scene of notable aviation adventure. Deeds placed his field at the disposal of Orville Wright. Here the Wright-Martin Company tested its Model V and Model R planes. Howard Rinehart, who became one of the most famous of our test pilots, tried out the machines. Here Orville Wright developed his split-flap which made dive bombing possible. Here, too, the experiments on our first robot plane, forerunner of Germany's buzz bomb of World War II, were carried out. The radiotelephone which enabled planes to communicate with each other was born in the Deeds hangar." (1)

 

"The property Colonel Deeds acquired from John Eby was 172.64 acres, which extended east from Cincinnati Pike in an elongated rectangle." Cincinnati Pike is known as South Dixie Drive today. The topography, though unreadable at this map's resolution, clearly shows the flatter gradual grade westward and in area of location of Deed's home. Stroop Road boarders the southern edge.(2)

 

Aerial view of a portion of Col. Deeds Moraine Farm, circa 1921, courtesy of NCR archives, Dayton History, Carillon Historical Park. (2)

 

2026 view of Moraine Farm, six miles south of Dayton, courtesy of Google Earth, with outline drawn by Author to approximate comparative view of Farm and Field shown in historical view above. North is to the right. The southern line drawn is Stroop Road. The western line is South Dixie. 

This area is fully developed now. Moraine Farm is currently owned by Kettering Health, and sadly is not open to the public. Charles Kettering's home (Ridgeleigh Terrace) just east of Moraine Farm is also owned by Kettering Health, donated by Virginia Kettering (Charles Kettering's daughter-in-law) in 1973, but she did not immediately move out. This author recalls in the summer of 1975 spending a day planting annual flowers in the many landscaped beds around the property. Unfortunately the home burned in 1994 due to a faulty extension cord on a Christmas tree. The home has since been re-built. (3)

 

Ridgeleigh Terrace, Charles Kettering Home, after 1994 fire. Photo courtesy of Dayton Daily News.

Though today no longer viewed by anyone as a wilderness, 110 years ago Col. Deed's Moraine Farm property, (beyond the city limits of Dayton, the gem city of one thousand factories), was viewed in that way by some. It was beautifully described by a Dayton city dweller in the following news account. 

 Howard Egbert, City Editor for the Daily News wrote in April of 1917,  (4)

"I spent two hours in the heart of Moraine farm last Friday, and they were the busiest, happiest two hours I have spend in all my life. Also I saw more of nature in these two hours than I had suspected it was possible for any man to see. Away up in the tall trees (and literally it is true, 'the woods are full of them'), the cawing of the crow was heard; hard by, a chip-munk dashed past, timid, shy and altogether scared of the strangers who had infested this beautiful wilderness; a squirred [sic] rustled the leaves and sprang into the protection of a friendly tree; rabbits darted here and there......Away in the distance you could see rising the giant buildings of the Domestic Engineering company, while the dry leaves crackled under your feet as you tramped along....The song of the spring birds filled the air, and there was solemnity about the whole thing that made you want to build a little cabin out there and get away from the grind and speed of the newspaper office......

The eternal hills are a part of Moraine farm; the peaceful valleys plowed deep for the farmer's care; the giant trees silent sentinels of the forest- all these proved that the poet was right- 'To him who, in the love of Nature, holds communion with her visible form, she speaks a various language.' 

Charlie Deeds, son of E. A. Deeds, who owns Moraine farm, [said] 'I have counted at least 65 different kinds of birds out here in Moraine farm....Whenever I see a new kind of bird to me, I go home and take out my natural history book and check them off....."

It's a pretty good sized tramp for a city fellow to penetrate the fastness [sic] of Moraine farm. You would want to be better prepared that I was, to thoroughly enjoy the trip- and have more time than I had, too. After we had walked nearly a mile and a half, up hill and down, we came to the hut where H. L. Monbeck, caretaker for Mr. Deeds, makes his headquarters. The spot is about halfway across the farm, so you can have a pretty fair estimate of how many acres are contained in the tract- about 900, I am told. [The original site of 172.64 acres was expanded to 600 acres. (1)(2) The perimeter of the plot of land would stretch for 3.87 miles if the plot were a perfect square, which it was not. A rectangular plot of same acreage would add to those miles of walking.]

You would have to spend more time that I did to completely grasp the beauties of this wilderness home for birds and animals. The land is beyond Delco Dell, where officials of the Delco company have their summer homes. It is still in its primitive beauty, untouched by the hand of the ravager of forests. The scenery is picturesque. Deep ravines run along the base of the verdure covered hills. Farm land stretches away on all sides and the hum of industry in the busy city seems far, far away. 

It would be sinful to molest this pristine beauty. I don't suspect Mr. E. A. Deeds expects to annihilate the wonderful land that is his. Sometimes, Mr. Monbect says, this great-hearted citizen, busy with his many industries, his brain crowded with problems of city and nation (because he has been called into the service of country and ours now), takes a few hours off and walks deep into the heart of this wonderful country of his. He likes to rest his tired body with nature's own tonic; to hear the birds sing in their natural environment; to see the little denizens of the forest at play; to sit outside the little cabin in the heart of the wilderness and just lay aside all his cares while the winds of the spring and summer swing through the treetops and speak of peace and God, who has made everything so wonderful for man to enjoy."

 

DH-4 Aircraft demonstration flights circa 1919, South Field, with spectators on Deed's property. Image courtesy of  Wright State University Special Collections and Archives, Core Scholar, Wilbur F. H. Bigelow, Sr., Dayton-Wright Company Collection (SC-347). South Field would not have been open for public viewing until after the end of WWI, and due to the trees in full leaf, this event would have occurred no earlier than late Spring of 1919.

 

If Howard, the City Editor, had visited the property the prior year in 1916, he would have written of the herd of 60 Holstein cows grazing in Moraine Farm's field. William Sanders, also with the Dayton Daily News, interviewed in 1967, shared the following. (5)

[Orville] "had a plane out at what they called South Field. It was Mr. Deeds, Colonel Deed's field. Now a housing project. But in those days, it was a flying field for Dayton-Wright Field, loaned of course by Colonel Deeds. And South Field was the experimental center and Orville Wright as a consulting engineer was there a great deal and he had a plane there. The field surrounding this hangar was a pasture and Deeds had some cows in there and they roamed around the pasture." [The Dayton-Wright Airplane Company was formed in April of 1917. Deed's landing field and hangar was established in 1916. This specific account of cows roaming about in the field would have occurred in 1916, prior to the use of the field by Dayton-Wright Airplane Company.] 

"And one night the caretaker of the building left the door to the Wright hangar ajar. And during the night the cows crowded in there and ate all the fabric off the wings. You know they put linen or, I guess they did work out of muslin fabric later and then it was doped and they liked that dope that was on the wings. So they made a shambles out of that plane. Trampling around of course, and breaking parts. And when Orville Wright came in there in the morning and found out what had happened. He really blew his top, so a man by the name of Moorehouse, who was an engine man, and witnessed it and told me." [ Harold E. Morehouse worked for the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company, and also assisted on the Kettering Bug project. He couldn't have witnessed Orville's reaction to the cows late night snack, as he wasn't hired until 1917 after the formation of Dayton-Wright. Most likely what occurred is the account was told to Morehouse by someone who had witnessed the event (perhaps the caretaker), and Morehouse then later shared the account with William Sanders.] 

"But still it, it wasn't the kind of blow up that, for instance, you had out of a Kettering man; this was one of these very nice blow ups. It was the kind that only a Wright could indulge in......"

 

Orville Wright expressing is displeasure with the cow ring leader. (6)

 

Perhaps just a coincidence, or the final straw, but in either case, the cows were soon to be history, as a public auction was scheduled for August 23, 1916. From The Dayton Herald, (7)

"Sale of certified milk and cheese coming from the E. A. Deeds Moraine farm south of Dayton, has been discontinued and the stock and dairy equipment will be disposed of at a private sale Wednesday, August 23, according to notices sent out by Mr. Deeds. Moraine farm since its establishment has attracted much attention and was one of the largest institutions of the kind in the state, distributing its products through many agents. Although Mr. Deeds is at present out of the city, it is understood that other business affairs require his attention to such extent that he has decided to give up this business. The farm lies near the site of the new Domestic Engineering company's plant and is occupied as a home by Mr. Deeds. The dairy department at Moraine farm was established on up-to-date lines and at great expense several years ago. The stock to be sold includes his excellent herd of sixty Holstein cattle, sixteen of which are registered animals. Several head of horses, hogs and other property also will be disposed of....." 

 

The Dayton Herald, August 8, 1916.

From the MS-1 Wright Brothers Collection of photographs within the Special Collections and Archives at Wright State University Libraries, photo MS1_21_3_19 shows the first hangar Deeds had installed at Moraine Farm. The picture creation date is listed as 1911 which would be incorrect as the Farm was not purchased by Deeds until 1912, and the landing field established in 1916. 

Such a hangar as this early one (circa 1912-1916) at Moraine Farm would perhaps provide easy access for curious hungry cows. Image courtesy of Special Collections and Archives, Wright State University Libraries. 

From "The Bishop's Boys", Tom Croft wrote, "The officials of Dayton-Wright took full advantage of Orville's public relations value. He piloted an airplane for the last time on May 13, 1918, flying one of his 1911 machines in formation with the first Dayton-built DH-4 while newsmen snapped away. After landing, he climbed into the DH-4 and went up again for a second ride, this time as a passenger." (8) 

 

Orville Wright's final flight as a pilot, in Wright Model with rectangular blinkers, May of 1918. Photograph from John Sheats archive, Author's collection. (9)

Close-up of Orville Wright from photo above. Note the four-blade propeller instrumentation mounted above and to the left of Orville.

 

Orville Wright with Howard Rinehart as pilot, about to take a flight at South Field, May of 1918. Photograph from John Sheats archive, Author's collection.

 

Close-up of Orville Wright and Howard Rinehart from photo above.

 

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This post is dedicated to our sweet kitty Chessie, who shared 12 of her 13 years with us, and lay next to me during her last hours as I wrote. Her first year as a stray, she spent eating whatever she could find, such as leaves, and perhaps airplane fabric.

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Copyright 2026-Getting the Story Wright 

 

For related info, see posts-

Orville Wright and the Kettering Bug 

Dayton-Wright Airplane Company Experimental Research Station 

Notes:

1. Colonel Deeds Industrial Builder, by Isaac F. Marcosson, 1947. Chapter 10, Wings For War, pg 215.

2. Colonel Edward A. Deeds Moraine Farm- Kettering, Ohio A Cultural Landscape Report, Thesis by Cheryl Ann Sams, B.A., The Ohio State University, 1999.

3.  Dayton Daily News, December 12, 1994, "Kettering Mansion Burns". 

4. The Dayton Sunday News, April 1, 1917, "Wonder Wilderness That Enfolds Moraine Farm, Where Nature, Richly Garbed, Lures Man To Home In The Forest"

5. Interview with William Sanders, March 15, 1967, Wright Brothers- Charles F. Kettering Oral History Project, University Archives and Special Collections, University of Dayton.

6. Image created by Google AI as instructed by Author. 

7. The Dayton Herald, August 17, 1916, "Public Auction of Valuable Property Is Set for August 23". 

8. The Bishop's Boys, by Tom Crouch, 1989, Chapter 34 "Carrying On Alone", pg 470.

9. The aeroplane has historically been identified as a modified 1911 Wright Model B with rectangular blinkers added. It also has the higher rudder section as in a Model C. The flight occurred May 13th, with the picture released May 14th, per historical records such as NASA Wilbur & Orville Wright Chronology, by Arthur George Renstrom, 2003 re-issue. This Chronology is not without its mistakes however. For example, under 1916, May-June, it indicates the 1903 Wright Flyer had been through two Dayton floods. (The Flyer only went through one Dayton Flood, in 1913.)