1st Lieutenant Thomas E. Selfridge, USA, aviator
I am seeking any information regarding the military career and genealogy of 1st Lieutenant Thomas E. Selfridge, United States Army, First Field Artillery (attached to the Signal Corps of War Department orders and assigned to aeronautical duty).
1st Lieutenant Selfridge was killed on 17 September 1908, aftering falling 75 feet and being pinned to the ground by the full weight of the engine and fuel tank. He was under official instructions to ride as a passenger in an aeroplane piloted by Orville Wright. The aeroplane was traveling at about 40mph. This incident occurred shortly after 5:00 PM, over the aeronautical testing grounds at Fort Myers, in Arlington, Arlington County, Virginia.
At the time, Fort Myers was commanded by Colonel Hatfield, and Major Squiers was senior Signal Corps officer present at the accident. Orville Wright suffered a fractured left thigh and that several ribs on his right side were fractured, and passed out once while being carried away from the crash sight suffering from severe shock. It was estimated that up to 4,000 Army (comprising members of Battery "D" of the 3rd Field Artillery, and Troop "F" of the 13th Cavalry Regiment) and civilian spectators were out to watch this aerial flight test.
The crash occurred closest to one spectator who was watching half-way from the two main gates of Arlington National Cemetery close to a brick wall- that person was the Superintendent of Arlington National Cemetery, Mr. Magoon. The aeroplane struck the ground approximately 304 feet from the lower cemetery gate and 462 feet from the northeast corner of the Army aeroplane shed.
According to both Major Francis A. Winter, Medical Corps, USA, and Captain Bailey, Medical Corps, USA (two of Fort Myer's senior Army surgeons on duty at the time), 1st Lieutenant Selfridge never regained consciousness.He sustained a fracture of the base of the skull, and in addition was internally injured due to the severe weight of both the engine and fuel tank having pressed him to the ground upon impact. He died at 8:10 PM that evening in the ward of Fort Myers Army hospital amongst his fellow Signal Corps officers (Major Squiers, Colonel Hatfield, 1st Lieutenant Frank P. Lahm) who had gathered quietly in the hallway hoping for his quick recovery.
1st Lieutenant Selfridge came from a distinguished civic and military family whose family name stood high in the service of our country. The name Selfridge holds a record unique in naval circles at the time, for earlier there were two Rear Admiral Selfridge officers on active duty while his grandfather was on the retired list! The uncle of Thomas E. Selfridge was the only surviving family member at the time and was then living in London, England.
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Re: 1st Lieutenant Thomas E. Selfridge, USA, aviator
Jennifer Macleod 12/01/03
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Re: 1st Lieutenant Thomas E. Selfridge, USA, aviator
Dr. Stephen Berrey 12/01/03
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Re: 1st Lieutenant Thomas E. Selfridge, USA, aviator
Jennifer Macleod 12/01/03
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Re: 1st Lieutenant Thomas E. Selfridge, USA, aviator
Dr. Stephen Berrey 12/02/03
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Re: 1st Lieutenant Thomas E. Selfridge, USA, aviator
Jennifer Macleod 12/05/03
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Re: 1st Lieutenant Thomas E. Selfridge, USA, aviator
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Re: 1st Lieutenant Thomas E. Selfridge, USA, aviator
daryl verstreate 9/11/04
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Re: 1st Lieutenant Thomas E. Selfridge, USA, aviator
Katherine Selfridge 10/28/08
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Re: 1st Lieutenant Thomas E. Selfridge, USA, aviator
Jennifer Macleod 10/31/08
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Trying to locate Harry Selfridge who worked for a ladder company
deb webster 11/10/08
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Re: Trying to locate Harry Selfridge who worked for a ladder company
Jennifer Macleod 11/17/08
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Re: Trying to locate Harry Selfridge who worked for a ladder company
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Trying to locate Harry Selfridge who worked for a ladder company
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Re: 1st Lieutenant Thomas E. Selfridge, USA, aviator
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Re: 1st Lieutenant Thomas E. Selfridge, USA, aviator
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Re: 1st Lieutenant Thomas E. Selfridge, USA, aviator
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Re: 1st Lieutenant Thomas E. Selfridge, USA, aviator
daryl verstreate 9/11/04
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Re: 1st Lieutenant Thomas E. Selfridge, USA, aviator
Jennifer Macleod 9/12/04
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Re: 1st Lieutenant Thomas E. Selfridge, USA, aviator
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Re: 1st Lieutenant Thomas E. Selfridge, USA, aviator
Theresa Parsons 3/11/11
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Re: 1st Lieutenant Thomas E. Selfridge, USA, aviator
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Re: 1st Lieutenant Thomas E. Selfridge, USA, aviator
Theresa Parsons 6/07/02
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Re: 1st Lieutenant Thomas E. Selfridge, USA, aviator
Dr. Stephen Berrey 6/07/02
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Re: 1st Lieutenant Thomas E. Selfridge, USA, aviator
Theresa Parsons 6/10/02
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Re: 1st Lieutenant Thomas E. Selfridge, USA, aviator
Dr. Stephen Berrey 6/10/02
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Re: 1st Lieutenant Thomas E. Selfridge, USA, aviator
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Re: 1st Lieutenant Thomas E. Selfridge, USA, aviator
Theresa Parsons 6/10/02
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Re: 1st Lieutenant Thomas E. Selfridge, USA, aviator
Dr. Stephen Berrey 6/10/02
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Re: 1st Lieutenant Thomas E. Selfridge, USA, aviator
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Re: 1st Lieutenant Thomas E. Selfridge, USA, aviator
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Re: 1st Lieutenant Thomas E. Selfridge, USA, aviator
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Re: 1st Lieutenant Thomas E. Selfridge, USA, aviator
12/08/01
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Re: 1st Lieutenant Thomas E. Selfridge, USA, aviator
Stephen Berrey 12/09/01
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Re: 1st Lieutenant Thomas E. Selfridge, USA, aviator
Dyan Andrews 12/09/01
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Re: 1st Lieutenant Thomas E. Selfridge, USA, aviator
Stephen Berrey 12/10/01
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Possible relative
Lisa Walk 12/15/01
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Possible relative
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Re: 1st Lieutenant Thomas E. Selfridge, USA, aviator
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Re: 1st Lieutenant Thomas E. Selfridge, USA, aviator
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Re: 1st Lieutenant Thomas E. Selfridge, USA, aviator