December 17, 1903:
This telegram was sent by Orville Wright to his father on December 17, 1903, the day of the Wright brothers historic first flight. The brothers had hoped to give their hometown of Dayton the honor of announcing the news but the Dayton Journal's telegraph editor deemed it non-newsworthy, and the first report appeared in the Norfolk Virginia Pilot (a fitting title) on the morning of December 18. The reporter, H.P. Moore had obtained the story from the Norfolk telegraph operator and, apparently understanding its significance, created a whole article from the sparse information in the telegram. That article served as the basis for a front page story in the Dayton Evening Herald later that day in the Wright's hometown paper.
USAF First Flight Ceremony
On December 15, 2023 the U.S. Air Force First Flight Ceremony will be held at the Wright Memorial, 2380 Memorial
Road, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio 45433, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The Huffman Prairie Flying Field Interpretive Center is currently closed for the winter, but will open temporarily in support of the U.S. Air Force ceremony.
The Wright Route
A new way to experience the Wright brothers’ stories from Dayton, OH, and Kitty Hawk, NC.
Created in partnership with National Aviation Heritage Area, First Flight Society and the National Park Service at Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park and Wright Brothers National Memorial, the Wright Route is an online hub full of ideas for your next aviation-themed adventure! To learn more, check out the link below:
