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[[newspaper clipping]] State's First Air Meet Opens at Jackson's Mill; Twelve Planes Entered. Parachute Jumping, Stunt Flying on Today's Program. JACKSON'S MILL, Aug. 22.– Flying in formation over Jackson's Mill and Weston at noon today, five ships officially opened the first All-State Aviation meet which is being sponsored here today and tomorrow by the Central West Virginia Aviation Association. Before dark this evening twelve planes from various parts of the state, and one from Washington, D.C., had arrived at the Weston airport and were participating in the preliminaries of the aviation meet. [[underlined]] Miss Manila Davis [[/underlined]], formerly of Flatwoods, and now of the Roosevelt Field in New York city, is expected to fly a Westbrook sportster here early tomorrow morning. Miss Davis is the state's [[underlined]] first licensed aviatrix, [[/underlined]] and has been active as a member of the Betsy Ross Air Corps, which was organized this year at Washington, D.C. to further aviation for women as an auxiliary unit in time of war or need. She will represent this organization here as a director of the board of governors. Field in Good Shape Although a light rain prevented any stunt flying or parachute jumping this afternoon, pilots carried passenges in six different kinds of airplanes. The local field is in splendid condition, and because of the heavy sod which covers it, is little affected by the recent rains. Nearly 1,500 spectators were admitted to the field this afternoon, and as a group many times that large is expected tomorrow, H. A. Diekmann, manager of the All-State meet, has announced that parachute jumps will be held tomorrow regardless of the weather. "Chillie" Thomas and Miss Maxon, of Morgantown, arrived here this afternoon to participate in the parachute jumping contests for which prizes are being offered by Weston Merchants. Inspector Hanscom, of the Department of Commerce, Washington, D.C., arrived here this afternoon in a Whirlwind Pitcarin. He was sent here by Senator N. M. Neely to participate in the state's first air meeting. He inspected the field this afternoon, and spent sometime talking over aviation condition in this state. He will participate in the meet tomorrow. Prizes Offered Prizes for acrobatic flying and dead-stick landings will be awarded following tomorrow's contests. Major Jack Adams, secretary of the state Board of Aeronautics, of Wheeling, arrived here this morning in a Hisso Waco. Pilot Floyd, of Morgantown, in a Waco F.; Pilot Borden of Wierton, in an 0-X Travelair; Pilot Smith, of Grafton, in a Waco F.; Pilot Reed, of Weston, in a Stinson; Pilot Hamrick, of Clarksburg, in a Waco Ten; Pilot Howard, of Craigsville, in a Stinson Junior; Pilot Musgrove, of Jackson Mill, in a Waco Ten; and Pilot Hunt, of Moundsville, in an 0-X Travelair, were the ones participating in today's meet. Other Pilots are expected tomorrow. CENT A POUND Passengers were hauled throughout the day and this was the first time that a charge of a cent a pound was made. Judges for stunting were: Inspector Hanscom, of Washington; Maude Eleanor Reynolds, student pilot, of Weston, and Richard Ralston, of Weston. Maj. Jack Adams, member of the state board of Aeronautics, was much pleased with the meet. "The first All-State Air Meet was very much a success despite unfavorable weather conditions, and it will rove to be an excellent stimulant for aviation throughout this state," he said. PRAISES PILOTS Inspector Hanscom talked very favorable of the meet and was especially pleased with the way in which the pilots cooperated with each other. "Everything went off very well and the pilots showed skill in handling their ships. The manner in which they worked together was exceptionally outstanding. West Virginia has a good future in aeronautics and the flying field here can be made into a first class airport," Hanscom asserted. He left early this morning for Washington. Maj. Adams also left early, arriving in Charleston at 11 o'clock to attend a meeting of the state aeronautical board. No plans were made for the formation of an aviation institute, but it was decided to hold the second annual state air meet again next year, according to Diekman, manager of the aviation school. [[/newspaper clipping]] [[label]] Manila Davis [[/label]] [[newspaper clipping]] WEATHER BLOCKS WOMAN Due to the unfavorable weather conditions over the mountains, Manila Davis, of New York city, first West Virginia girl pilot to be licensed, did not arrive for the meet. She formerly lived at Flatwoods. Miss Maude Davis, Pittsburgh aviatrix and sister of Miss Davis was present but did not fly. [[image - photo of Manila Davis wearing flight headgear]] Manila Davis [[/newspaper clipping]] [[newspaper clipping]] BRAXTON DEMOCRAT [[image - three women aviators standing together]] SOME ENTRIES IN THE ANNETTE GIPSAN AIR RACES Left to right - Amelia Earhart, transatlantic pilot, starter for race; Manila Davis, contestant, West Virginia entry; Viola Gentry, contestant, New York The race was the largest ever held for women pilots - 25 original entries - 18 of which qualified and took off and finished two complete laps of a triangular course, distance 45 miles. I did not win a fur coat; and I was the only West Virginia entry. Only girls with hours and experience enough to qualify for commercial pilots were eligible to compete, and the leading girl pilots all over the country were invited to compete. Nine states were represented. Amelia Earhart was starter; Ruth Nichols official scorer; Elinor Smith contestant; Laura Ingalls; Edith Descomb, commercial stunt pilot and instructor; Mary Sansome-Stuart pilot and instructor; Jesamine Goddard, Betty Huyler Gilliss and Manila Davis, three of the twelve contestants in the first sportsman pilot derby, New York to Cleveland, Ohio, national air races, 1931; Francis Harrel Marsalis, co-holder of women's refueling endurance record, a week in the air; Myrtle Brown, sister-in-law of Bellanco, famous builder of transatlantic airplanes; Evelyn De Seversky, racing pilot and wife of Russia's war ace, now sea-plane designer, and others made up the contestants of this race. [[/newspaper clipping]] WEST VIRGINIA. JULY 6, 1933- [PAGE 116]
