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Pasadena Star News
Oct 26th, 1954.

Roy Knabenshue Feted on Flight Anniversary 

 Roy Knabenshue, 78-year-old "Mr. Aeronautics," was honored at his Huntington Hospital bedside yesterday afternoon on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of one of the major achievements of the air age. 
 It was on Oct. 25, 1904, when Knabenshue made the first successful flight in America of a cigar-shaped, semi-rigid dirigible. It was at the World's Fair in St. Louis and Knabenshue made a complete circle of the field, achieving both the takeoff and landing in perfect safety. 
 Knabenshue is in the hospital for surgery observation. He was in goods spirits and smiling broadly when presented a cake in the form of a dirigible, honoring him and his wife, Jane, on their 27th wedding anniversary, which also occurred yesterday. 

 PLANS WERE announced for the Knabenshue Medal, to be awarded each year to the person who was done the most for aviation. This will be under auspices of the Brookins-Lahm-Wright Aeronautical Foundations, of which Knabenshue is chairman of the board. 
 Messages of congratulation were read from James M. Gillette, president of the foundation which honors pioneer aviators, from Gen. Frank P. Lahm, first military pilot trained by the Wright Bros., who called Knabenshue "one of the founders of the air age"; Mayors Clarence A. Winder and Norris Poulsen, and Gov. Goodwin J. Knight. 
 Performing the ceremonies were Dr. John F.B. Carruthers, chaplain of the foundation; and Dr. Lyle Craig. A tape recording was made of the ceremonies. 

 KNABENSHUE and his wife live in a trailer camp on Liveoaks Blvd., Arcadia. 
 Knabenshue's father was editor of the Toledo Blade. The boy became interested in flying in his 20's. After setting a number of records with both lighter-than-air and heavier-than-air craft Knabenshue served as manager of exhibition flights for the Wright Bros. in 1910-11. In 1912 he rode his dirigible down Colorado St. in the Tournament of Roses. 

[[image of Knabenshue accepting a cake from wife Jane, as Hansen looks on]]
[[photo caption]]
MARK ANNIVERSARY - Roy Knabenshue, who made first successful flight in America of cigar-shaped, semi-rigid dirigible, eyes cake celebrating his 50th anniversary of the flight as his wife, Jane, left, and Waldemar Hansen, right, look on. Hansen developed early dirigible engine for Knabenshue's flight.