, 1921-10-13

president of the congress. He accepted the posi-
ton, turned over his business affairs to his partner
and went to work. The first step was to get
twenty-five Omaha business men to back the
project for 1000 each. This was easily done.
1t was also easy to get the Endorsement of all
Omaha business and social organizations. A
speakers bureau was formed to educate the citi-
zens. Arrangements to raise funds for financing the
congress were made. Attention was then turned
to the preparation of a program worthy of the
occasion.
incidentally 1t became necessary to provide a
landing field large enough to stage the program.
a little thing like this, however, did not deter the
air men, who located a farm of 16 acres showing
possibilities as a field, although 1t was uneven and
contained $50 large trees.
A field day" was duly announced, and the air
men and their friends rolled up their sleeves and
with the assistance of two Holt caterpillar trac-
tors donated for the occasion, pulled the trees and
leveled the land.
An open drainage ditch traversed the center Of
the field, which lies on the edge of one of the
residence districts, only fifteen minutes ride from
the heart of Omaha. The city council was induced
to vote unanimously to build n covered sewer
through the field at n cost Of $21.OOO. SO the
problem Of a flying field wa satisfactorily solved.
In the meantime, an office force was busy mail
ing thousands OF Invitations and pamphlets to
the air men and celebrities, such as President
Harding, Marshal Foch. OrvIlle Wright, Glenn
Curtiss and Judge X. NJ. Lands.
The graduates of Fort Omaha balloon school.
the center Of Americas wartime balIooning. were
invited for their first reunion. Squadrons and
escadrilles of flyers were asked to hold their first
reunions In Omaha. The dfty-two American aces
were Invited. as well Ms everyone else Interested
In aviation.
The aid OF Kansas City was enlisted in sending
the American Legion convention delegates on TO
Omaha. The Endorsements of national headquar-
tiers OF the American Legion, of the Aero Club Of
America, OF the Worlds Board OF Aeronrutical
Commissioners and OF the Aircraft Manufacturers
AasnpiaffOu nhfuInaI Tho -
the Army and Navy air headquarters was asked
for and received.
The railroads helped out by Offering a fare and
II half rate for the round trip from all parts OF
the country to Omaha. Gutzon Borglum, world
famed sculptor, offered a commemorative medal
design symbollcal of the work Of the American
air man during the war, as his bit" james
Hanley, song writer Of New York. wrote "A special
song praising the work of the flyers. to be sung
for the first time at the congress.
In preparing its program. Omaha had a piece
of rare good luck right at the outset. As every
one knows, the Pulitzer Trophy Race became the
worlds most famous air event with its first run
ming In November Of 1920 Mt Mitchell Field. New
York. under the auspices OF the Aero Club Of
America. There were twenty-five Army. eight
Navy, seven Marine Corps and one civilian en-
trants In the contest. The winner wns Lieut.. c.
@. Mosely OF the Army air service. who flew 1872
miles in Il Verville-Pnckard machine at an average
speed OF 1TS miles an hour. The Army won seven
Of the first ten places In the contest and the Navy
two. There were 10000 spectators. Including celeb.
rifles from all walks OF life.
Wei, the Pulitzer Trophy Race for 1921 had
been scheduled for Detroit, but difficulties had
arisen and the Aero Club of America had can
celled the race for the year. Omaha stepped In
and offered the necessary funds. In consequence,
the first announcement on the program Is this:
"The First International Aero Congress an.
nounces the second annual aerial contest for the
Pulitzer Trophy. in connection with the first con-