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[[image - drawing of Thomas Etholen Selfridge, by Milton Caniff]]
Award 
Thomas Etholen Selfridge 
1882- 1908 
Graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1903, Selfridge studied Aeronautics avidly.He observed Dr. Alexander Grahams Bell's 1907 experiments with tetrahedral kites in Nova Scotia. HE was also assigned to the Aeronautical division of the Army Signal Corps and sent as an official observer to Dr. Bell's later experiments. He became secretary to the Ariel Experiment Association and on December 6, 1908 made a seven minute flight to a height of 168 feet towed by a tugboat. 

Selfridge designed the Association's airplane, the "Red Wing", first flown on March 12, 1908. HE successfully flew the association's second airplane, the "White Wing", on May 19, 1908, becoming the first army officer to pilot an airplane. He assisted in building the "June Bug", which won the Scientific American Trophy for the first flight over one kilometer on July 4, 1908: and the "Silver Dart", the airplane to fly in Canada. In August 1908 he served on a board to test the Army's first Dirigible. It was fully accepted August 22, 1908 and designated the SC-I. Later Selfridge observed the test flights of the Wright Airplane at Fort Myer, Virginia and, while flying as a test passenger with the Orville Wright, he was killed in a crash on September 17, 1908, becoming the first airplane fatality. 

To Thomas Etholen Selfridge, for outstanding contributions to the aviation by design and development of airplanes, by pioneer flights, and by making the first ultimate sacrifice in aviation, this award is most solely and respectfully dedicated 

AWARDED DECEMBER 16, 1965 AT DAYTEN, OHIO 
THE AVIATION HALL OF FAME   

Transcription Notes:
I don't know if i'm supposed to do it in all caps or not?