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SPURNED BY THEIR COUNTRY'S ARMED FORCES, THESE 'FORGOTTEN HEROES' CARRY ON

AIRMEN
AMERICA

Sat May 20, 1939

Although Negro aviators have fought and distinguished themselves in faraway lands and a black man was in charge of the air defense of Paris during the World war, the military leaders of the United States ignore the intrepid black men who would serve their country in the air. The above pictures show only three of scores of young colored men who are ignoring prejudice and, at the greatest scarifice [[sacrifice]] and risk, attempting to equip themselves for service to their country. Dale E. White and Chauncey Spencer, members of the National Airmen's Association of Chicago, are making a city-to-city flight to interest Negro aviators in an Air Show to be held in Chicago in August and to place before the public the aspirations of the Negro aviator. In the center above, White and Spencer are shown as they arrived at the Allegheny County Airport, Pittsburgh, from Cleveland. At the left is Lieut. Jimmie Peck, Pittsburgh aviator, who distinguished himself on the side of the Loyalists in the Spanish Civil war and at the right Spencer is shown getting "contact" for the flight from Pittsburgh to New York. Saturday morning, the flyers were greeted, as shown center, by Mrs. Bill "Bojangles" Robinson, wife of the famous tap dancer and unofficial mayor of Harlem.--Photos by John G. Taylor, Pittsburgh, and Billy Rowe, New York.

Here Are Main Facts Regarding Balbo's Flight

Some facts about the transatlantic flight of the Italian air armada:
DISTANCE--6,100 miles, much of it over water.
NUMBER OF PLANES--Twendy-four, each manned by a pilot, navigator, radio operator and mechanic.
NUMBER OF MEN--96.
COMMANDER -- General Italo Balbo, Italy's minister of aeronautics.
TIME CONSUMED--More than two weeks on account of delay caused by unfavorable weather.
TYPE OF PLANES--Twin-cabined (Savoia Marchetti) seaplanes with cruising range of 2,500 miles and cruising speed of 150 miles an hour, equipped with twin (Isotta-Fraschini) motors of 500 hourse-power each installed above the single wing, each plane equipeed with wireless.
PURPOSE OF FLIGHT--Pay Italy's respects to A Century of Progress exposition and observe meteorological conditions with view of establishing regular air service across the Atlantic.
LENGTH OF CHICAGO STAY--Three or four days.

RENFROE, LEWIS, WHITE, NASH