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Wallace Tillinghast

From Kook Science

Wallace Tillinghast
Wallace Tillinghast - portrait.jpg

As depicted in Jan. 1910 newspapers.

Born 5 September 1872(1872-09-05) [1]
Cranston, Providence, Rhode Island
Died 25 November 1930 (58) [2]
East Greenwich, Kent, Rhode Island
Burial Peleg Wood Lot, East Greenwich, R.I.
Nationality American
Alma mater Chicago Technical College[3]
Workplace(s) North Pacific Railroad; Westinghouse; Allen & Redd (Providence, RI)[3]
Spouse(s) Minna Sophia Rose (m. 1907) [4]
Wallace Tillinghast's "Secret Aeroplane", illustration, as seen in Jan. 1910 newspapers.

Wallace Elmer Tillinghast (September 5, 1872 - November 25, 1930) was an American engineer who reported to American newspapers that he had built a "secret aeroplane" and flew it from Worcester, Massachusetts to New York City and back via Boston, a trip of some four hundred miles, over the night of 8 September through the morning of 9 September 1909, and was reported to have renewed his night-flights over New England during the Christmas season that followed. Ultimately, Tillinghast did not produce any evidence for his claims, and he was subsequently dismissed as a hoaxster.

Press Coverage

Mid-December 1909

Christmastime 1909

Early 1910

Reading

References

  1. "Rhode Island Births and Christenings, 1600-1914," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FZYX-SYM : 10 February 2018), Wallace Elmer Tillinghast, 05 Sep 1872; citing Cranston, Rhode Island, reference 142; FHL microfilm 1,822,430.
  2. "Find A Grave Index," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVV4-8LC7 : 13 December 2015), Wallace E. Tillinghast, 1930; Burial, East Greenwich, Kent, Rhode Island, United States of America, Peleg Wood Lot; citing record ID 8758474, Find a Grave, http://www.findagrave.com.
  3. 3.0 3.1 Per 1910 news report, IS AVIATOR TILLINGHAST HOAXING NATION?, see #Newspaper_Reports.
  4. "Rhode Island Town Marriages Index, 1639-1916," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F8VP-ZJD : accessed 14 March 2019), Wallace Elmer Tillinghast and Minna Sophia Rose, 27 Aug 1907; citing Providence, Providence, Rhode Island, United States, town halls, Rhode Island, and Rhode Island Historical Society, Providence; FHL microfilm 179.