WELSH, ARTHUR L.

WELSH, ARTHUR L. (Al; 1881–1912), pioneer U.S. aviator. Welsh, who was born near Kiev, Russia, was taken to the United States in 1890. In 1905 he joined the U.S. Navy, serving for four years. His interest in flying led him to join Orville Wright's flying class in 1910, and after several months, when he had learned to fly solo, he joined the Wright Brothers Aviation School in Dayton, Ohio, as an instructor. He tutored many important U.S. aviators, including General Henry H. Arnold, U.S. Army Air Force Chief of Staff during World War II. Welsh established many flying records and won a number of trophies, including the George Campbell Cup for altitude at Belmont Park in 1911. His trophies and records are at the National Air Museum of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. In 1912 Welsh was assigned by the Wright Brothers to supervise flight training for the War Department at College Park, Maryland. He died in a plane crash during a flight intended to establish a new altitude record. -BIBLIOGRAPHY: S.H. Holland, in: The Record (Jewish Historical Society of Greater Washington), 4 (1969), 9–22. (S.H. Holland)