September 2017 Auction Ends Thursday, September 28th, 5pm Pacific
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/28/2017
Interesting Orville Wright typed letter signed regarding ''high pressure salesmanship'' over display of the Kitty Hawk, the 1903 bi-plane that gave flight to humans. Anticipating the Kitty Hawk's return to the United States in 1946, Wright is skeptical of two telegrams he received, one inviting him to a dinner where he thinks he'll be pressured into exhibiting the plane. Composed on his personal letterhead from Dayton, Ohio, Wright writes to reporter Earl Findley on 2 April 1946, asking for his opinion. In full, ''What I say here is in the strictest confidence. On Wednesday I wrote a letter to General [Carl] Spaatz in which I let him know that I would be in Washington the night of April 18th. As he was in Dayton Thursday he could not have received the letter before Saturday. Six o'Clock Sunday evening (a most unusual time to send such a telegram) I received a telegram from the 'Officers of the National Aircraft show of Cleveland' inviting me to attend a 'presentation dinner in honor of the Army Air forces Aid Society' to be held in Washington...April 18th. This morning I get a telegram from [Aviation News reporter Alexander] McSurley asking for a telegraphic answer as to whether the Kitty Hawk plane is likely to be returned to this country in six months. I believe it is the National Aircraft Show people of Cleveland that are trying to get the Army Museum located there. It looks to me like the dinner is a bid for the favor of the Army Air Forces in locating the museum in Cleveland. I have not answered their invitation. I said after the 1943 dinner in Washington that that was the last dinner I would ever attend there. I told Gardner that I would never attend the Wright Brothers Lecture and luncheon so long as it is held in Washington. I do not intend to attend this National Aircraft Dinner there. To avoid giving offense to General Spaatz and others I think I shall have to be unable to make the trip to Washington in April as I had contemplated. It looks to me like something is cooking. I don't propose to be a victim of the high pressure salesmanship. What can you tell me about all this?...[signed] Orville''. Of course, the Kitty Hawk would ultimately be displayed at the Smithsonian, after its new secretary, Charles Abbot, in 1942 retracted its earlier claims on the plane. Single page measures 7.25'' x 10.25''. Near fine condition. With original transmittal letter from Wright to Findley.
Orville Wright Letter Signed Regarding the Permanent Display for the 1903 Kitty Hawk, the ''First in Flight'' Plane: ''...I don't propose to be a victim of the high pressure salesmanship...''
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