Categories: Exploration

How Airplanes Would Make War Impossible

Dogfighting in WW1

“When my brother and I built and flew the first man-carrying flying machine, we thought that we were introducing into the world an invention which would make further wars practically impossible. That we were not alone in this thought is evidenced by the fact that the French Peace Society presented us with medals on account of our invention. We thought governments would realize the impossibility of winning by surprise attacks, and that no country would enter into war with another of equal size when it knew that it would have to win by simply wearing out its enemy.”

Orville Wright to C.M. Hitchcock, June 21, 1917

The Papers of Wilbur and Orville Wright: 1906-1948, (McGraw-Hill,:1953) p. 1104.
via Futility Closet.

Joshua Horn

Share
Published by
Joshua Horn

Recent Posts

On Bradford’s Trail: Boston

The Haven, the tidal river near Boston, down which the Pilgrims attempted to flee to…

1 day ago

Robert Jermaine Thomas: Korea is Opened to the Gospel

Thomas Robert Jermaine Thomas leaned on the rail of the ship to catch a glimpse…

1 week ago

On Bradford’s Trail: Austerfield Chapel

The chapel of St. Helena's in Austerfield, Bradford's hometown This ancient carving of a dragon…

2 weeks ago

Karolina Sandell-Berg: Strength I Find to Meet My Trials Here

Sandell Young Karolina had a special relationship with her father, Jonas Sandell. Karolina was a…

2 weeks ago

On Bradford’s Trail: Scrooby Manor

Only a small section of Scrooby Manor has survived rebuilt as a farmhouse - at…

1 month ago

Join us in Europe for This Year’s Tour!

Interested in touring Italy and Austria with us? Our annual history tour has a few…

1 month ago