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^[[#17]] [[preprinted]] KERN COUNTY MUSEUM BAKERSFIELD, CALIFORNIA 3801 Chester Avenue TRUSTEES O. R. KAMPRATH, President R. W. LOUDON, Vice-President GLENDON J. RODGERS, Secretary LAWRENCE BANDEROB J. PERRY BRITE EMRIE L. HARMAN O. L. JONES RALPH F. KREISER MRS. BOARDLEY A. LOGUE R. W. LOUDON A. CLAUDE NEILSON H. D. WEST HARRY A. WILKINSON MISS ELEANOR WILSON EXECUTIVE BOARD O. R. KAMPRATH President R. W. LOUDON Vice-President GLENDON J. RODGERS Secretary EMRIE L. HARMAN RALPH F. KREISER F. F. LATTA Director of Museum RICHARD BAILEY Assistant Director [[/preprinted]] Dear Early Bird: Since 1900, when I was a boy of eight years, and the only aeronauts were a few glider men and "Professors" who made balloon ascensions and parachute drops, I have been interested in the subject and have read everything I could about it. About 1910 I saw a balloon ascension at Gustine,Merced County, this State. The darned guy got me to dig the trench for firing his old hot-air bag with the promise that he would take me up with him. At the last minute he said that the two of us would be too heavy for his chute. For about forty-five seconds I was the most disappointed person in Merced County. When I saw him miss the cornice of a building only by three feet my disappointment was at an end. In 1910 or early 1911 I saw Charles K. Hamilton make the first flight at Newman, California. I saw Frank Bryant learn to fly the old Curtiss used by Hamilton. He cut fox-tail along the old Pole-Line Road west of Mendota until he could bank and turn. I also saw Bryant make the second flight at Newman not long afterward. Late in 1917, while I was in the Aviation Section Signal Corps, U.S. Army, Enlisted Mechanics' Training Department under the then "Major" George E. Stratemeyer, I was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Newly organized U. S. Army Air Service. The above outlines briefly my air interest and experience, the last of which was obviously very little, but I did become acquainted with Rodman Law and Eddie Stinson, and with the work of their sisters, Ruth Law and Margaret and Katherine Stinson, I remember Roy Francis when he was instructing at Kelly #2. My son served four and one-half years in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War #2 and the Korea mix-up and my daughter is a stewardist with Pan American out of Seattle; to Canada, Alaska and Honolulu. They have both done more flying in two days than I saw done in a Year while I was in the Air Service. I want to do all I can to help record and preserve the neglected details of early air development. Since 1906 I have interviewed more than 10,000 California Pioneers concerning the history this State and am anxious to check with all of you Early Birds before you make that last flight and can contribute no more. If you feel that you are able to help me in this, I wish you would drop me a short note in the enclosed self-addressed envelop. Then I will send you some questions I would like answered. Sincerely, [[signature]] F.F. Latta [/signature]] F. F. Latta, Museum Director
