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THOMPSON TROPHY

For Jet Airplanes

Sponsored by Thompson Products, Inc. 
including
THE ALLEGHENY LUDLUM AWARD
Sponsored by the Allegheny Ludlum Steel Corp.

Competition for the Thompson Trophy has been an annual event at the National Air Races since 1930, and is sponsored by Thompson Products, Inc., under leadership of Frederick C. Crawford, Chairman of its Board of Directors.

This famous event, which has always been recognized as aviation's top closed course classic, was established by the Cleveland automotive and aircraft parts manufacturing concern to foster higher air speeds, combined with safety and practical maneuverability in the belief that such a combination would assure our country's leadership in commercial and military aviation.

The Thompson Trophy had been unlimited as to horsepower or the type or the number of engines used.

The Allegheny Ludlum Award will be made in the event that a new record is set.

In 1946, when the first postwar Thompson Trophy Race was flown, the classic was transformed into a double feature event. It was the first closed course race in which jet powered airplanes ever participated. The "J" Division, as it was termed, was flown over a 30-mile rectangular course for a distance of 210 miles. The contest was won by Major Gus E. Lundquist at an average speed of 515.85 mph. Major Robin Olds came in second in the duel of the six P-80's at an average speed of 514.71 mph.

The 1947 jet division of the Thompson contest was won by Lt. Col. Robert L. Petit of the U.S. Air Force. The colonel zoomed his gray Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star eight times around the 22-1/2 mile course at an average speed of 500.70 mph. Second place winner was Lt. Joseph R. Howard whose average speed was 497.94 mph.

There was no jet division of the Thompson Trophy Race in 1948, but it was resumed at Cleveland.