At about this time in 1905, Wilbur Wright makes a record-setting airplane flight. His Flyer III would stay in the air for more than 38 minutes. The 24-mile flight was the longest one yet.
Perhaps most importantly to Wilbur and his brother Orville, the flight proved their Flyer III to be a “practical” airplane—the first aircraft to make such a demonstration.
As with any great entrepreneurs, the Wright brothers’ story is one of hard work, success—and failure. Naturally, those early failures proved critical in making the later successes possible.
FULL STORY: https://www.taraross.com/post/tdih-wright-practical-aircraft
At about this time in 1787, a signer of the Declaration of Independence passes away. It’s been said that Thomas Stone died of a broken heart.
You’ve probably never heard of Stone. He wasn’t a big, famous personality like Benjamin Franklin. He didn’t do anything flashy, like Caesar Rodney did when he made a midnight ride from Delaware to Philadelphia, making it just in time to vote in favor of the Declaration. Stone didn’t go on to become President like John Adams or Vice President like Elbridge Gerry. Instead, Stone was simply a Patriot who worked hard, served his country, and put his life on the line by signing the Declaration of Independence—a document that King George III viewed as treason.
How wonderful to live in a country where such a statement can be made. He “simply” put his life on the line. Nothing too flashy?!
The story continues here: https://www.taraross.com/post/tdih-thomas-stone-signer
On this day in 1920, a future U.S. Coast Guardsman is born. John “Jack” Cullen is best known for his role in finding and stopping Nazi saboteurs as they attempted to invade America during World War II.
He received a Legion of Merit for his actions.
Cullen was once described as “a thoroughly wholesome, typically American boy” with “a modest demeanor.” When the Japanese attacked at Pearl Harbor, he did what so many in that generation did: He signed up to help.
Before too long, Cullen was a Coast Guardsman stationed near Amagansett, New York.
The story continues here: https://www.taraross.com/post/tdih-john-cullen
On this day in 1916, a future aviation heroine is born. Violet (“Vi”) Thurn Cowden is best known for her service in the Women Airforce Service Pilots [WASPs] during World War II.
Vi grew up on a small South Dakota farm and would later remember her early fascination with flight. As a young girl, she’d watched a hawk swoop down to grab a chicken. Vi knew instantly: “I wanted to fly like that.”
She grew older and became a teacher, but she still longed to fly. She soon convinced a pilot to give her lessons. “[I had to] ride my bike six miles out to the airport for class in the morning,” she chuckled. “And thank goodness it was downhill on the way back. And the little kids [at school] would say, ‘You flew today.’ And I said, ‘Well, how do you know?’ They said, ‘Well, you’re so happy.’”
The story continues here: https://www.taraross.com/post/tdih-violet-cowden
