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Contact Info
Home Town San Francisco, California
Last Address Fort Myer, Virginia
Date of Passing Sep 17, 1908
Location of Interment Arlington National Cemetery (VLM) - Arlington, Virginia
He was a pioneer of early aviation in the US. He was 1 of 3 pilots trained to fly Army Dirigible Nr. 1; and he was the 1st military officer to fly solo in any aircraft, among other accomplishments. He was killed at Fort Myer, VA while a passenger in a Wright Flyer piloted by Orville Wright. It crashed after a propellor broke; Selfridge's skull was fractured and Wright sustained severe injuries. Selfridge probably would have lived if wearing a helmet and this led to most pilots wearing them.
Selfridge Field, later AFB, now ANGB, in Harrison Township, MI was named for him. He is also memorialized on a cenotaph at the USMA Post Cemetery at West Point.
