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Archives at The Museum of Flight


Wright, Frank Wilbur, Col.

 Person

Dates

  • Existence: 1886-1950

Frank Wilbur Wright was born in Portland, Oregon on August 26, 1886. His military career began with service as an apprentice seaman in the Oregon Naval Militia in 1903. He was commissioned in the Oregon National Guard in 1911, promoted to captain in 1915, and assigned to the Coast Artillery Corps. When the United States entered World War I in 1917, Wright was assigned to Taliaferro Field (Texas) as an assistant engineering officer. He became the commanding officer of the 183rd Aero Squadron at Taliaferro in 1918. National Guard air units were not used in the war, but Wright instead saw combat as part of the Royal Air Force No. 209 Squadron in April 1918.

After the war he was stationed at Coronado (California), Luke Field (Hawaii), and Crissley Field (California). In 1923, he became chief of buildings and grounds for the Air Corps in Washington, D.C. In 1929, he was sent to Wright Field as chief of Maintenance Branch, Materiel Division. He was there until 1938, then served as commanding officer at McChord Field (Washington), Pendleton Field (Oregon), Salt Lake City Army Air Base (Utah), and Lincoln Army Air Field (Nebraska), before returning to Wright Field as commanding officer in 1944. He officially retired in 1946 at the rank of colonel. He died in 1950 in Washington state.

Sources:

Wright Take-Off, vol. 3, no. 6, September 23, 1944.

Air National Guard. "ANG Heritage: Missions, Wars and Operations." http://www.ang.af.mil/history/heritage.asp

Found in 1 Collection or Record:

Col. Frank Wilbur Wright Collection

 Collection
Identifier: 1986-01-02
Abstract Frank Wilbur Wright (1886-1950) of Portland, Oregon spent most of his adult life in the military, with service spanning the Oregon Naval Militia, Oregon National Guard, U.S. Army Air Service, Air Corps, and Air Force, and both World Wars. The collection contains commissions, photographs, identification cards, and other materials relating to Wright's long military career.

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