Oct. 19, 1941: Electric Turbines Get First Wind

When I was researching wind energy a few decades ago, I studied this turbine's history. Your cited source in Wired does not give the cause of the failure, which was pinpointed: Where the blade was welded to the hub, the weld at the root of the blade undercut the metal. This weakened spot was the origin of the crack that caused the blade to shear off. Had the weld been made without any undercutting, it would probably have survived and the ultimate outcome of wind energy could have been different.

Good walk down memory lane, and I appreciated the article's noting the many benefits we have earned from this pioneering unit.

JMM