After disagreements with the Smithsonian Institution, Orville Wright elected to loan his Wright 1903 Flyer to the Science Museum in England. Upon his death, an agreement was reached to return to aircraft to the United States where it would be housed by the National Air Museum.

NASM.XXXX.0393

Arranged and described by Patricia Williams in 2002, encoded by Jessamyn Lloyd in 2019.

National Air Museum (U.S.)

1948-1949

Prepared by the National Air Museum, Transfer, unknown, NASM.XXXX.0393

0.66 Cubic feet (1 flatbox)

This scrapbook chronicles the return of the Wright 1903 Flyer to the United States, beginning with the early negotiations with England to the reception at the Smithsonian following receipt of the aircraft.

No restrictions on access

Collection descriptions

Archival materials

Photographs

Clippings

Correspondence

Programs

Scrapbooks

This collection is in original order.

This scrapbook chronicles the return of the Wright 1903 Flyer from the early negotiations with England to the reception following receipt of the aircraft. The scrapbook includes the following types of material: reception invitation and program; remarks from the reception; a letter sent by Harry Truman which was read during the reception; newspaper articles; and photographs, including shots of the curators setting up the display and hanging the aircraft in the National Air Museum in the North Hall of Arts and Industry Building.

Photographs

Clippings

Correspondence

Programs

Scrapbooks

Material is subject to Smithsonian Terms of Use. Should you wish to use NASM material in any medium, please submit an Application for Permission to Reproduce NASM Material, available at Permissions Requests

National Air Museum (U.S.)

Science Museum of London

Smithsonian Institution

Wright, Orville, 1871-1948

Wright 1903 Flyer "Operation Homecoming" Scrapbook, NASM.XXXX.0393, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.

National Air and Space Museum Archives