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Cleveland Airport

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Major John Berry Claude F. King

Cleveland Municipal Airport, the first municipal airport in the world, was opened for traffic on July 1, 1925.

At that time the major activity was about eight (8) air mail trips daily. Its present traffic consists of 178 transport movements daily, and itinerant cargo and transport flights bring the total to well over 200.

There are four schools for flight instruction located on the port, and their daily operation of small ships involves an average of 1,800 landings and take-offs.

On its inaugural night the field consisted of one hundred (100) acres and no pavement. Today, the present Cleveland Airport comprises an all-way flying field of 1,040 acres with 400 additional acres purchased this year for expansion purposes.

Architects at the present time are engaged in the design of a new Administration Building which will cost approximately eight million ($8,000,000) dollars. An entirely new group of hangars is to be constructed within the next two years, if building conditions permit.

The growth and expansion of the airport, its recognition of "top position" among commercial airports of the world and its standing without a peer as one of the largest and best equipped airports is due chiefly to the untiring efforts and capable management of Major John Berry, Commissioner. In his daily tasks he has been most ably assisted by Claude King who is also serving the National Air Races as Chief of Operations.

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THE AIR FOUNDATION

The Air Foundation, composed of and supported by civic and industrial leaders, was founded in Cleveland shortly after the close of the war in 1945. Its purpose is to promote every phase of aviation so as to "Keep this nation first in aviation" –thereby insuring national security and continued leadership in commercial and private flying.

An Ohio corporation, not for profit, the Air Foundation is designed to promote and assist, financially and otherwise, scientific research and exploration relating to every phase of aviation. It will lend support and financial assistance to schools, colleges, universities and other institutions, either by providing funds or scholarships to encourage and aid worthy individuals in study and research, or by endowing and supporting departments or special studies in these fields. It will support and encourage dozens of other worthy aviation endeavors.

Recognized as the "Money Chest of Aviation," nation-wide in scope, the Air Foundation first undertook the underwriting of the National Aircraft Show held in Cleveland early this year. The project netted $75,000 to the Army Air Forces Aid Society. Its next task was to underwrite and guarantee the 1946 National Air Races now under way.

President and guiding spirit of the Air Foundation is Frederick C. Crawford, president of Thompson Products, Inc. and the National Air Races. Its business manager is Benjamin T. Franklin who is general manager of the National Air Races.

1946 NATIONAL AIR RACES

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presenting

Col. "Mike" Murphy

a familiar figure at the National Air Races, flying his "Murphy Special" with which he has won numerous coveted awards and International recognition.

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