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Release Copy for your file B77 News Service Dept. National Air Races 400 Union Commerce Bldg. Cleveland 14, Ohio For release June 22, 1950 The National Air Races, which for a number of years have been held over Labor Day at the Cleveland Airport, will be postponed until the week-end of May 19 and 20, 1951, to coincide with Armed Forces Day. Decision to defer the date was made late Wednesday (June 21) by the officers and executive committee of the board of trustees of the National Air Races, according to announcement by Frederick C. Crawford, president of Thompson Products, Inc., and president of National Air Races. The new date was determined upon in order to comply with the expressed desire of Defense Secretary Johnson to curtail defense force participation in scattered events throughout the year. Secretary Johnson indicated that more than 70 major requests for air force participation had been received by his office this year. Mr. Crawford was directed by the trustees to name a committee to cooperate with the Defense Services in arranging participation in the National Air Races in the spring of 1951. It is hoped that this spring date will make possible the complete cooperation of the Armed Services so that Air Force, Army, Navy and Marine Corps units may be assigned to Cleveland's big air event in connection with the observation of Armed Forces Day. For the past twenty years, the military services have considered the National Air Races the proper setting for the annual public display of their aircraft and equipment and that the official character of the races, sanctioned by National Aeronautic Association and held under the rules of the Federation Aeronautique Internationale, have unquestionably served to advance all aviation. Mr. Crawford pointed out that a recent French National Air Festival at Orly Air Field brought out an estimated crowd of 300,000 visitors and that this increased activity in Europe should result in the return of foreign flyers to the National Air Races in Cleveland. Great Britain's annual "Flying Display and Exhibition," participated in by the military and the Society of British Aircraft Constructors, at Farnsborough, England, and which will be held this year on September 6 to 8, has previously conflicted with the dates of the National Air Races in Cleveland. Participants in this show, as w ell as in the new British National Air Races, patterned after the Cleveland races and scheduled for July of this year, would now be able to take part in our event. Mr. Crawford said that the May date will make possible increased participation by Canadian jet planes which this year are scheduled to be in England but which will be free to come here next spring. He also pointed out that the Turbo-prop and turbo-jet planes now being developed were more likely to be released for public showing by spring. Under the new plan, the Bendix Trophy Race, transcontinental speed dash, and the Thompson Trophy Race will be confined to jet airplanes. The Continental Trophy Race, a $25,000 purse event, is already established to stimulate research and design of light plane which will be flown in this event. A definite decision at this time as to dates for the races had to be made now in fairness to flyers who were considering entering the air race events. A full program of aerial acrobatic flying and parachute jumping is also included in the plans for the spring. -30- 6/21/50
