MR. PETER WRIGHT,
AVG
Naval aviator and AVG ¡§ Flying Tiger¡¨ flight Leader: Originally
trained as a dive-bomber pilot serving on the aircraft carriers USS
Ranger and USS Yorktown. Following the deactivation of the American
Volunteer Group and its merger into the American Army Air Force, Mr.
Wright along with several other Flying Tiger pilots could be brought up
to operational status. During the course of this extended tour of duty,
Wright would gain the singular distinction of being the last serving
member of the American Volunteer Group to destroy a Japanese aircraft in
aerial combat.
Following AVG service, Mr. Wright returned to the United States and
joined the Naval Air Transport Service's American Export Airlines,
flying Sikorsky S-44 and Martin PBM flying boats and Douglas C-54's
transports on trans-Atlantic passenger and cargo fights. Wright also
flew as a production test pilot for General Motor's Eastern Aircraft
Division, test flying the FM Wildcat series of naval fighters.
Following the Second World, Wright become heavily involved in the early
development of the American commercial helicopter industry. Working
initially for Helicopter Air Transport, the world's first commercial
helicopter operating company and than the Piasecki Helicopter Company.
In 1953, Wright founded the Keystone Helicopter Corporation, one of the
world's largest helicopter leasing and maintenance organizations.
Educational Center, one of the world's largest and most comprehensive
rotary aircraft museums.
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