Year: 1939

January 3. Orville made honorary life member of National Inventors Association, but, in letter of January 14, Orville declines because it was in general practice to do so when he knew little about the organization conferring the honor.

January 19. Representative Thomas A. Jenkins, of Ohio, introduces H.J. Res. 123, providing for the completion of the unfinished frieze in the Capitol rotunda depicting the history of aviation, including the invention of the airplane by the Wright brothers.

January 26. Representative J. Hardin Peterson, of Florida, introduces H.J. Res. 134, designating August 19, Orville's birthday, as Aviation Day. Similar bills were introduced by Representative Jennings Randolph, of West Virginia, H.J. Res. 147, on February 2; Representative William A. Ashbrook, of Ohio, H.J. Res 229, on March 25; and Senator Claude Pepper, of Florida, S.J. Res. 111, on April 3.

February 14. Wright Library, located in Katharine Wright Park in the Oakwood section of Dayton, and honoring Orville, Wilbur, and Katharine, dedicated, with Orville in attendance.  Orville served as vice president of the library board.

February 20. Dayton civic and business leaders, including Orville, call on Brig. Gen. Augustine W. Robins to express regret at his leaving Dayton and wish him well in his new assignment as chief of the Air Corps Primary Training School at Randolph Field, Tex.

March 4. Orville named honorary member of Aerial Nurse Corps of America.

March 24. Orville attends luncheon in Dayton honoring Brig. Gen. George H. Brett, new chief of Air Force Materiel Division, Wright Field.

April 15. Orville attends spring dinner meeting of Gridiron Club at Willard Hotel in Washington, leaving Dayton by automobile on April 14.

April 16. Harry and Douglas Corrigan and Dr. John C. Wynkoop among those paying their respects to Orville on his visit to Washington.

April 18. Orville, accompanied by Earl N. Findley and Capt. William J. Tate, visits Kitty Hawk, N.C.

April 20. Orville attends semiannual meeting of the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics in Washington. Following this meeting Orville confers with fellow member Charles A. Lindbergh on Orville's controversy with the Smithsonian Institution.

May 15. Orville, at Engineers' Club of Dayton, joins in personal tribute to Dr. Arthur E. Morgan, creator of Miami Valley flood prevention system.

June 9. Orville is passenger on 30-minute flight over Dayton in Douglas DC-4 aircraft, piloted by Benny Howard.  Fellow passengers are Maj. Carl A. Cover, vice president of the Douglas Aircraft Co., and William F. Mentzer, chief engineer for United Airlines.

June 12. Orville attends commencement exercises at Earlham College at which Herbert Hoover is given honorary degree. Orville marches in precession with Herbert Hoover and the president of Earlham College, David Worth Dennis.

June 30. Senator Claude Pepper, Florida, introduces S. 2735 granting Orville honorary pilot certificate No. 1.  The bill passed the Senate August 1, 1939, the House June 6, 1940, and was approved by President Roosevelt June 13, 1940.

August. Institute of the Aeronautical Sciences in New York announces receipt of collection of aeronautical materials of Hart O. Berg, business associate of the Wrights, including valuable and rare photographs, books, and clippings, which provide documentary material on the early work of the Wright brothers.

August 19. Designated National Aviation Day by proclamation of President Roosevelt on July 25.

August 20. Weekly Dayton municipal band concert at Island Park is dedicated to the Wright brothers in recognition of Orville's birthday and National Aviation Day on August 19.

August 28. Orville elected honorary member of the Minnicog Yacht Club, Georgian Bay, Ontario.

September 9. National Federation of Post Office Clerks, at annual meeting in Houston, Tex. confers honorary membership on Orville "in recognition of his illustrious achievements as the first pilot of an airplane in successful flight."

October 6. Newly organized post of the Regular Veterans Association in Fairfield, Ohio, adopts name of Wright Brothers Post No. 140 in honor of Wilbur and Orville.

November 6. Orville bequeathed, by will of his cousin Mrs. Emma Zeller Dennis, a white china tea set and a chest of drawers belonging to his grandfather. The heirlooms were subsequently presented to the Edison Institute, Dearborn, Mich.

November 16. Dr. Vannevar Bush, chairman of National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, in Dayton to attend annual meeting of NACA, is guest at home of Orville.

November 20. Vilhajalmur Stefansson, Arctic explorer, in Dayton on a lecture tour, is house guest of Orville.

December 1. Lorin Wright, older brother of Orville and president of Miami Wood Specialty Company, dies in Dayton, age 77.

December 4-8. Air Line Pilots Association, at annual convention, votes Orville honorary life membership.   Association President David I. Behncke planned to present membership certificate personally to Orville in Dayton but, unable to do so, sends it to him on November 15, 1940.