Now I cannot quote where I read or heard this (yeah i know....) but,
Supposedly there was a german immigrant that was successfully test flying (and crashing into buildings) his version of a heavier than air aircraft. He was denied credit for his achievement as his design was not patented / he was not a US citizen.... Supposedly.
Lot of stuff on the internet about this. From an aviation point of view, structure and lift capabilities, I find it hard to believe that the No 22 airplane (attached below) would have ever been a sustained flight aircraft comparing it to the Wright Flyer (also below).
Also attached is an article written about 4 years ago by the curator of the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum laying out his position. The one point that seems the best is that regardless of which flew first, it was the Wright's structural design that was copied by inventors everywhere to advance airplane capabilities. Whitehead's constructions "
and a supposed photograph of Whitehead’s Number 22 machine in the air, which, if it ever existed, has not been seen since 1906." and he kept no records of his work.
Even if it flew, was Whitehead's machine really an airplane or just fluke. I think I remember seeing his No 22 with the wings flapping in an old Charlie Chaplan movie, or was it early Laurel and Hardy skit?
So, yes, you remembered that correctly and no one knows for sure.