September’s Eagles:September’s Eagles:

The Cleveland National Air The Cleveland National Air Races, 1929-1949Races, 1929-1949

Paul Rohrbaugh, ©2012Paul Rohrbaugh, ©2012

NASM

Promotion and ShowPromotion and Show

Fred Crawford (top, Fred Crawford (top, WRHS), founder of WRHS), founder of Cleveland Cleveland Pneumatic, later Pneumatic, later Thompson Products Thompson Products Company.Company.

Cliff Henderson Cliff Henderson (bottom, WRHS), (bottom, WRHS), promoter of the promoter of the Cleveland Nationals.Cleveland Nationals.

Air RacingAir Racing

• Ralph Pulitzer was first to Ralph Pulitzer was first to offer prizes for various offer prizes for various accomplishments and accomplishments and speed records in air travel.speed records in air travel.

• Bendix (cross-country US, Bendix (cross-country US, top (NASM) speed race top (NASM) speed race from LA to NY city.from LA to NY city.

• Thompson was close-Thompson was close-course “unlimited” race course “unlimited” race from 100 to 500 feet above from 100 to 500 feet above ground, in front of grand ground, in front of grand stand. Course marked by stand. Course marked by pylons (bottom, NASM).pylons (bottom, NASM).

• The “Nationals” made The “Nationals” made Cleveland the “air Cleveland the “air laboratory of the world.”laboratory of the world.”

Cleveland National Races Cleveland National Races (NAR)(NAR)

• Parades, aerial stunt Parades, aerial stunt shows, and escalating shows, and escalating “classes” of races led to “classes” of races led to Labor Day’s finale, the Labor Day’s finale, the Thompson Unlimited!Thompson Unlimited!

• Race featured pistol shot Race featured pistol shot race by pilots to their race by pilots to their planes!planes!

• First Thompson Trophy First Thompson Trophy Race winner was Doug Race winner was Doug Davis in the Travelair Davis in the Travelair “Mystery Ship.”“Mystery Ship.”

• 1929 race attracted record 1929 race attracted record number of attendees, over number of attendees, over 100,000, surpassing the 100,000, surpassing the Indy 500.Indy 500.

Travelaire Mystery Ship (Author’s Collection)

Doug Davis with 1st Thompson Trophy (WRHS)

Daring and InnovationDaring and Innovation

• Aircraft technology Aircraft technology advanced to monoplanes, advanced to monoplanes, retractable landing gear, retractable landing gear, 500+ HP radial engines, 500+ HP radial engines, among others.among others.

• Many Aces from WWI and Many Aces from WWI and later WWII would figure later WWII would figure prominently.prominently.

• Designers ranged from Designers ranged from major aircraft firms (Wright, major aircraft firms (Wright, Boeing, Lockheed among Boeing, Lockheed among others) to amateurs (Jimmy others) to amateurs (Jimmy Wedell, Granville Brothers, Wedell, Granville Brothers, Bill Laird most famous).Bill Laird most famous).

Roscoe Turner posing with hisWedell-Williams 44 racer (Author’s

Collection).

Lowell Bayles with the GB-Zin a pre-flight check of the

engine (Author’s Collection).

Rich and FamousRich and Famous

• Cleveland Nationals Cleveland Nationals attracted pilots and attracted pilots and aircraft designers from aircraft designers from all over the world.all over the world.

• Charles Lindbergh, Charles Lindbergh, Amelia Earhart, Wylie Amelia Earhart, Wylie Post among famous Post among famous aviators.aviators.

• Three Stooges, Marx Three Stooges, Marx Brothers, Clark Gable, Brothers, Clark Gable, Errol Flynn were just a Errol Flynn were just a few of the movie stars few of the movie stars and other celebrities to and other celebrities to put in appearances.put in appearances.

Photo of part of the grandstand

Audience at the 1931 Thompson

Trophy Race (WRHS).Click on the photo to see a film

clip of the 1932 Nationals.

Winners and History MakersWinners and History Makers

Jimmy Doolittle (Bendix in the (Bendix in the Laird Laird Super SolutionSuper Solution, 1931) , 1931) and Thompson (R2 Gee-and Thompson (R2 Gee-Bee, Bee, Crap ShootCrap Shoot, 1932)., 1932).

Roscoe Turner only one to only one to win the Bendix (1933) and win the Bendix (1933) and three Thompson Trophies three Thompson Trophies (1934, 1938 and 1939).(1934, 1938 and 1939).

Louise Thaden, Blanche , Blanche Noyes (1936), Jackie Noyes (1936), Jackie Cochrane (1938) women Cochrane (1938) women who won the Bendix.who won the Bendix.

Click on the pilots’ names to Click on the pilots’ names to learn more about them.learn more about them.

Roscoe Turner accepting 1934 Thompson Trophy after being congratulated by movie star, Mary Pickford. Click on the

picture for more information (NASM).

Dangers and RisksDangers and Risks

High Speeds and High Speeds and “edge of the “edge of the envelope” envelope” airframes led to airframes led to risky combinations.risky combinations.

Many designs led Many designs led to famous US WWII to famous US WWII aircraft (P-47, P-51 aircraft (P-47, P-51 among them).among them).

Burning wreckage of Lowell Bayles GB-Z, City of

Springfield. The plane crashed moments after

setting a new speed record, killing the pilot (NASM).

Click on the photo to view a film about the 1939

Nationals.

Postwar NationalsPostwar Nationals

• The Nationals resumed in 1946 The Nationals resumed in 1946 at Cleveland following WWII.at Cleveland following WWII.

• The Thompson Trophy Race The Thompson Trophy Race continued to be the climax continued to be the climax event. This was now event. This was now subdivided into two races, one subdivided into two races, one for jet and another for propeller for jet and another for propeller driven aircraft. All racers were driven aircraft. All racers were either military (jets) or ex-either military (jets) or ex-military/surplus models.military/surplus models.

• Cook Cleland won the Cook Cleland won the Thompson twice, the only other Thompson twice, the only other pilot besides Roscoe Turner to pilot besides Roscoe Turner to win this race more than once.win this race more than once.

Above: Cook Cleland’s #94 F2G racer (WRHS)Below: Roscoe Turner (left) presenting Thompson Trophy to Cleland (center), and Fred Thompson

looking on (right). WRHS

DisasterDisaster

1949 Race would be the last 1949 Race would be the last in Cleveland. Favored racer in Cleveland. Favored racer was Jackie Cochrane’s P-51 was Jackie Cochrane’s P-51 Mustang, Mustang, BeguineBeguine (named (named for popular song), piloted by for popular song), piloted by Bill Odom (NASM).Bill Odom (NASM).

The plane crashed into new The plane crashed into new housing development, killing housing development, killing a new mother and her baby a new mother and her baby son, along with the pilot son, along with the pilot (Cleveland Plain Dealer).(Cleveland Plain Dealer).

Click here to access aClick here to access a quiz about the Cleveland Air about the Cleveland Air Races.Races.

CreditsCredits

• AnonymousAnonymous. Air Racing History. Air Racing History [internet site, 200?]. Accessed June 4, 2007: [internet site, 200?]. Accessed June 4, 2007: http://www.airracinghistory.freeola.com/index.htm

• Freudenthal, Benjamin (2012). Freudenthal, Benjamin (2012). Gee Bee R1: The Thompson TrophyGee Bee R1: The Thompson Trophy. Retrieved May 2013 from: . Retrieved May 2013 from: http://www.flyandrive.com/Story4.htm

• Hull, Robert (1984). Hull, Robert (1984). A Season of EaglesA Season of Eagles. Bay Village, OH: Robert Hull Books.. Bay Village, OH: Robert Hull Books.• ----- (1979). ----- (1979). September Champions: The Story of the America’s Air Racing PioneersSeptember Champions: The Story of the America’s Air Racing Pioneers . Bay Village, OH: . Bay Village, OH:

Robert Hull Books.Robert Hull Books.• Meixner, Bill (February, 2013). Meixner, Bill (February, 2013). The Thompson Trophy StoryThe Thompson Trophy Story. Retrieved May 2013 from: . Retrieved May 2013 from: http://

www.airrace.com/thompson_trophy_story.htm • Mendenhall, Charles A. (1994) Mendenhall, Charles A. (1994) A Legacy of Speed: the Gee Bee RacersA Legacy of Speed: the Gee Bee Racers. North Branch, MN: Specialty . North Branch, MN: Specialty

Press, 1979.Press, 1979.• National Air Race Project (2010). National Air Race Project (2010). The Story of the 1939 National Air Races The Story of the 1939 National Air Races [Movie}. Retrieved from: [Movie}. Retrieved from:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_NlDKohGfU&feature=related • National Aviation Hall of Fame (2011National Aviation Hall of Fame (2011). Louis Thaden). Louis Thaden. Retrieved May 2013 from: . Retrieved May 2013 from:

http://www.nationalaviation.org/thaden-louise/ • -----. Roscoe Turner-----. Roscoe Turner. Retrieved May 2013 from: . Retrieved May 2013 from: http://www.nationalaviation.org/turner-roscoe/ / • Onkst, David H. “Roscoe Turner.” (2003). Onkst, David H. “Roscoe Turner.” (2003). US Centennial of FlightUS Centennial of Flight [internet site]. Accessed October [internet site]. Accessed October

18, 2007: http://www.centennialofflight.gov/essay/Explorers_Record_Setters_and_Daredevils/turner/18, 2007: http://www.centennialofflight.gov/essay/Explorers_Record_Setters_and_Daredevils/turner/EX22.htmEX22.htm

• Simply the Best Sounds (1997). Simply the Best Sounds (1997). Plane_2.mp3Plane_2.mp3 [internet site]. Accessed October 19, 2007: [internet site]. Accessed October 19, 2007: http://simplythebest.net/sounds/MP3/sound_effects_MP3/transportation_mp3.htmlhttp://simplythebest.net/sounds/MP3/sound_effects_MP3/transportation_mp3.html

• Smithsonian Institute. “Photos” (various). Smithsonian Institute. “Photos” (various). National Air and Space MuseumNational Air and Space Museum. Washington, DC: 2007.. Washington, DC: 2007.• Warrington, Chester. Warrington, Chester. 1932 National Air Races 1932 National Air Races [Home movie]. Retrieved from: [Home movie]. Retrieved from:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n76qGalRfXA http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n76qGalRfXA • Western Reserve Historical Society (WRHS, 2007). “Photos” (various), Western Reserve Historical Society (WRHS, 2007). “Photos” (various), Cleveland National Air Races Cleveland National Air Races

ArchiveArchive Collection. Cleveland. Collection. Cleveland.

Roscoe with

His pet lion,

Gilmore

1939ClevelandNationalsProgram