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In the years which followed speeds were pushed upwards until in 1939 the distance was flown in 7 hours and 14 minutes at 282 miles per hour.
The Bendix Race is open to pilots of both sexes and on two occasions the ladies have been victorious over the best of the nation's male competition. The team of Louise Thaden and Blanche Noyes won in 1936 with Jacqueline Cochran the winner in 1938.
During these years the quest for speed in racing made important contributions which were reflected in the superiority of our air power during the War. These developments included flush riveting and improved finishing methods for fuselage and wing surfaces. The development of the retractable landing gear was also encouraged by the eagerness of rival manufacturers to product faster planes and an assault was also made on the problems of high altitude flying.
After 1939 the War caused postponement of the Race. It was resumes last fall and was flown in two Divisions. The first was open to civilians flying gasoline reciprocating engines. The winner of this event was Paul Mantz of Los Angeles who flew a P-51 North American 'Mustang' and covered the distance in 4 hours and 42 minutes at 435 miles per hour.
The other Division was created for military pilots flying jet planes.
This new Division was necessary because only the military are in possession of jets which are obviously faster than planes with reciprocating engines.
The winner of the first Jet Division Bendix Race was Colonel Leon W. Gray, Commanding Officer of the Army Air Forces, 12th Reconnaissance Squadron of March Field, California. Flying a lockheed P-80 'Shooting Star' he flew the 2,050 mile transcontinental course in 3 hours and 35 minutes actual flying time at the sensational speed of 572 miles per hour. Colonel Gray's official time was 4 hours and 8 minutes for the distance but this included time required for a refueling stop at Garden City, Kansas.