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[[IMAGE 1]]
[[Letter]]
LEWIS EUGENE THOMPSON
PORTRAIT PAINTER
103 WEST RIVERVIEW AVENUE
PHONE HEMLOCK 7093
DAYTON 5, OHIO

LET/mem
7 June 1946

[[IMAGE 2]]
[[cutoff - Oliver]]ver
[[cutoff - Drive]]rive
[[cutoff]]Calif.


"Early Birds"

Dear Mrs. Oliver:

In the interest of early aviation, I am painting a collection of life size oil portraits of some of the "Early Birds" of aviation for historical records trusting that the Government will see fit to purchase and place this collection of paintings permanently in the Museum here at Wright Field.

Your name is mentioned as one of the fifty-eight in the original collection, which starts with Wilbur and Dr. Orville Wright as the key painting, Charles E. Taylor, their first mechanic, Walter R. Brookins, Major R. W. Schroder, General F. P. Lohm, and other "Early Birds" who made outstanding records in aviation.  Also, some of World War II heros and others will be included.  (I have enclosed a reproduction of the Wright Brothers' portraits).

To date I have had the pleasure and honor to have a number of these people sit for me including General George C. Kenney, General K. B. Wolff, General L. T. Miller, Colonel F. S. Gabreski, Colonel W. R. Lovelace, Major Don Gentile, Major John Godfrey, and the late Major Richard I. Bong, and a number of others, which helps to make the painted record more authentic.

The Public Relations Department, the Wright Field Reference Library, and other Military "Old Timers" at Wright Field, have given generously of their time and effort in compiling the names and other material apropos to the "Early Birds", for which I am grateful.

If this meets with your approval and consideration, I will appreciate it very much if you can furnish me with one of your latest photographs, together with a color description of your eyes, hair and complexion.
[[/Letter]]

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Transcription Notes:
[[cutoff]] denotes words which were covered up partially by an image or letter. I put my best guess for words which were cutoff in brackets.