Efforts by the author of this site, John Brown, to research the history of Gustave Whitehead's flights began with a comment made by Tom Crouch.

The two met in May 2012 during preparations for Smithsonian Channel's documentary series on roadable aircraft, for which John had been commissioned to do research. John had prepared a manuscript which they were discussing in Tom's office. When Tom saw pictures of Whitehead, the conversation turned sour. Cordiality returned when John assured Tom his only interest was in the roadability of Whitehead's aircraft (which, at the time, was true).

During the ensuing conversation - for no apparent reason - Tom mentioned he was the only person in modern times to have been allowed to see the entire "Hammer Collection". [William Hammer was the photographer at the 1906 American Aero Club Exhibit.]

John's training had taught him, seemingly irrelevant hints and references in historical records were often the key to significant discoveries. And by experience he knew, the same was often true in other situations too. So, he followed up. And sure enough, the hint ultimately led to the long-lost photo of Whitehead in flight.

John's immediate reaction was to propose a joint book co-authored by himself and Tom. Tom wrote back that he was "seriously considering" the proposal but ultimately declined. Again, without needing to, Tom twice goaded John to come up with the photo of Whitehead in flight (see Email below). However, unbeknown to Tom, by that time John already had the photo. He also had indictions, Tom had known of its existence several years beforehand. 



"John –

The mention of a photo of the Whitehead machine in the air at the January 1906 NY air show is well known (see the discussion in my A Dream of Wings: Americans and the Airplane, 1875-1905 . I don’t know about hundreds of spectators, but he was demonstrating a quasi-Chanute type glider, not the Lilienthal, in 1897.  [ ] If you have a clue as to the supposed photo of #21 in flight, I would certainly like to hear about that. Don’t send the manuscript now. As noted, I am up to my eyebrows in work until I get back from Cooperstown and the award ceremony in mid-July. I will talk to you then. Obviously, if you have information as to the picture, send it anytime! Thanks.

Tom Crouch"