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[[newspaper clipping]] 14 C Oakland Tribune, Friday, Aug. 15, 1947 [[article]] Top Thrill Specialists Here On Eve of Annual Air Show Attracting Nation-wide attention, a cast of more than 500 civilian and military aviation experts, flying and displaying nearly every type of airplane now in use, completed preparations today for the second annual Oakland Air Show tomorrow and Sunday at Oakland Municipal Airport. All professional performers, the ranking thrill specialists in the country, were already on hand, making careful checks of their planes and equipment. Indications on the eve of the start of the two-day show, with fair weather nearly a certainty and officials prepared to handle an attendance of more than 100,000 were, that its success as the greatest aviation spectacle ever attempted in the West is foregone, Oakland Junior Chamber of Commerce officials, sponsors of the event, said. P-80 JET FIGHTERS The first of the Army's aerial performers, three speedy P-80 jet fighters from March Field, were scheduled to land at Oakland Municipal Airport at noon today. Later this afternoon, delegations of city and county officials were to meet Hollywood movie actors and actresses who are flying in personal planes to be honored guests among distinguished aviation pioneers and personalities. Jon Hall and his wife, Frances Langford, were scheduled to arrive at 3 pm., accompanied by Mrs. Mickey Rooney. Rooney was following in a smaller private plane. Others expected were Tyrone Power, Dick Haymes, Leo Carrillo and Henry King, movie director. FLIGHT ANNIVERSARY Commemorating the 20th anniversary of the Dole race to Honolulu and the progress of aviation since then and designed to spotlight the vast expansion and development of Oakland Municipal Airport, the program for the air show, which will be the same both days, is scheduled for nine hours, nearly half of it devoted to daring stunts and acrobatics. Steadham Acker, nationally-known air show director, urged spectators to arrive as early as possible. Some spectacular acts, including the performance of Tommy Body, the only living bat man, are scheduled during the forenoon. Visitors will be allowed within 400 feet of the operational runway and many of the performances by the professional daredevils will be brought to eye-level heights. The show opens at 10 a.m. with ground displays of more than $5,000,000 worth of commercial and civilian planes. These exhibits will be open until 7 p.m. Other events during the morning will include a helicopter crop dusting demonstration, a model airplane demonstration and the appearance of "Bat Man" Boyd at noon. Boyd will leave his airplane at 10,000 feet, then glide with silk wings attached to his body through a series of dives, loops and other stunts, finally parachuting to the ground. A bomb, which will explode over the airport and release an American flag, will start the main events on the afternoon program, which include the P-80's of the Army and Navy bombers, fighters and torpedo planes in combat maneuvers. Two parachute jumps will be made by Jack Huber, who figures he has fallen through space a greater distance that that between Oakland and Honolulu. FREE-FALL JUMP One of his jumps will be a free-fall from 10,000 feet to within 500 feet of the ground before his parachute opens. He promises to land within a 100-foot circle. Paul Mantz, winner of last year's Bendix air race, is due to roar past the airport control tower at 2:45 pm. in an attempt to set a record of 49 minutes for a flight from Los Angeles to Oakland. Jess Bristow, noted aerobatic ace, will fly a biplane in a vertical climb, assisted by two rockets fired simultaneously, in one of his appearances. Spectacular aerobatic demonstrations will be given by two youngsters, Betty Skelton of Florida, flying a Great Lakes trainer, and Bill Lear Jr. of Hollywood, in a P-38 fighter plane, in which he will compete in this year's Bendix air races. AERIAL COWBOY The aerial cowboy, George Waltz, will stand on the wing of another stunt plane as it flies through loops, rolls and other maneuvers. Art McCarty will stunt a sailplane and an old pusher type plane will be flown among other acts. World famous fliers and aviation leaders among the guests of honor will include Col. Art Goebel, winner of the Dole race which the show commemorates; Mrs. C. A. "Mother" Tusch of Berkeley; Fred J. Wiseman, world's first airmail pilot; Maj. Ernie Smith, first civilian to fly the Pacific, and Capt. W. B. Voortmeyer, aerial navigator, who was adviser to the Dole racers. Prince Amir Nawaf Ibn Abdul Aziz, of Saudi Arabia, and his official party of 10 also will be among the guests "to look over American aviation." The prince, 15, youngest of the 40 sons of King Ibn Saud, is spending a vacation in Berkeley. Advance ticket sales for the show close at 6 p.m. today. [[/article]] [[article]] [[image - photograph of man with silk wings]] [[caption]] Tommy Boyd, the only living "bat man," who will appear in the second annual Oakland Air Show starting tomorrow at Oakland Airport, exhibits spread of his silk wings. [[/caption]] [[/article]] [[article]] Chamber Prepares To Handle Traffic Elaborate preparations have been made by the Oakland Junior Chamber of Commerce, with the co-operation of Oakland and Alameda police departments, to handle the flow of traffic and parking at the Oakland Air Show tomorrow and Sunday. Traffic will be directed by more than 300 volunteers from the Civil Air Patrol, Sea Scouts, Boy Scouts, Air Scouts and other volunteer units under police supervision. Automobile traffic will enter the airport either from the Alameda side, over the newly-opened Doolittle Drive from High Street or Hegenberger Road, 85th Avenue, 98th Avenue and Davis Street from the eastern side. For the first time since the Dole race of 1927, a huge section of Oakland Airport itself will be opened to automobile parking. More than 100 acres will be available, capable of handling 50,000 cars each day, officials said. Traffic entering from the east will be directed down one of the airport runways, four abreast, to the parking areas. Police Capt. Lester Devine, head of the Oakland traffic detail, and Carl Bryant, of the Junior Chamber of Commerce, are in charge of traffic control. [[/article]] [[article]] [[image - portrait photograph of woman]] [[caption]] Betty Skelton, 21, attractive Florida stunt pilot, will give aerobatic demonstration. [[/caption]] [[/article]] [[/newspaper clipping]]
