time

World War I begins.

An Aviation Section of the Signal Corps (part of the Army) was established on July 18. Its flying unit contained airplanes made by the Wright Brothers as well as some made by their chief competitor, Glenn Curtiss.

The U.S. Court has decided in favor of the Wright Brothers in a patent suit against Glenn Curtiss. The issue concerned lateral control of aircraft, for which the Wrights maintained they held patents.

Although Curtiss's invention, ailerons (French for "little wing"), was far different from the Wrights' wing-warping mechanism, the Court determined that use of lateral controls by others was "unauthorized."

Tear gas is invented.

a picture of a gas mask

First rocketry experiments are done by Goddard.
Panama Canal opens.


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