Thomas E. Selfridge was born in San Francisco, CA in 1882. In 1903, he graduated from West Point Military Academy 31st in a class of 96, Gen. Douglas MacArthur graduated first in the same class.
On December 6, 1907, Selfridge took his first flight on a kite designed by Alexander Graham Bell. The flight took place in Nova Scotia, Canada. The flight lasted seven minutes, and was the first heavier than air flight to take place in Canada.
In August of 1908, Selfridge was instructed to fly a dirigible purchased by the United States Army. At the same time the Army tentatively agreed to purchase an aircraft from the Wright Brothers and scheduled an acceptance flight tests in September of 1908 at Ft. Myer, VA. With a fascination in lighter than air flight and heavier than air flight, Selfridge managed to get an appointment as on observer for these flights.
On September 17, 1908, Selfridge arranged to be a passenger on the trial that happened that day. The Wright Flyer, halfway through the fifth circuit of Ft. Myer, broke the right propeller and lost thrust. This incident caused a vibration that made the broken propeller hit a guy wire holding the rear vertical rudder. This caused the airplane to nose dive for the ground. Orville Wright turned off the engine and managed to get the plane to glide for 75 feet, but the plane crashed nose first.
Unfortunately, both Selfridge and Wright were injured in the crash. Selfridge was thrown against one of the wooden supports and suffered a fractured skull. As a result of the fracture, he underwent surgery but he died later that evening. He was buried in Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors.
As a result of the crash, the U.S. Army mandated that all pilots would wear a protective helmet when flying. Today Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Mt. Clemens Michigan is named after Lieutenant Thomas Selfridge.
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