The review. [volume] (High Point, N.C.) 1908-19??, 1921-05-12
Knights of the Air
AS Well AS Knights
of the *. *. *.

Responding to petition signed by
seven hundred prominent citizens
throughout the country, including Ma
ior General Chas T. Menohor, chief OF
the air service of the United States
government, and General John j.
Pershing, it was announced here to-
day that Colonel William j. Sim
mons. Imperial Wizard of the>nKights
of the Ku Klux Klan, had accepted an
invitation to head an organization now
being formed in Philadelphia to be
known as the Knights Of the Air.
The petition was presented TO Col
onel Simmons at a closed meeting OF
the Ku Klux Klan held in the Atlanta
theatre this morning incident to the
annual anniversary celebration of the
order and was read by Major &. An
derson Wright, noted world war ava
tor, of Philadelphia and New York.
Major Wright, in an address urging
Col. Simmons to accept the prottered
position, declared the Knights OF the
Air, which is intended to guarantee
forever to the United States suprem-
acy in the aerial field, has the full en-
dorsement of government officials IN
terested in this phase of national de-
Velopment.
Others signing the petition besides
General Menohor and General Perish
ing were: Reed Lands, son OF Judge
K. M. Lands, of Chicago; Eddie Rick
enbacker. probably the most noted fly
er in the world; Jack M. Schwab, J.
S. Owens and Chas. ]. Biddlo, all fly
ers of national renown; VIM. C. Pot
ter, chairman of the board of direc-
tors of the Guarantee Trust Company,
of New York; Byrley J. Osborn, Pres
ident of the Aero Club of Massachu-
setts who, with his name, furnished
q list of 800 members of his organ1-
zation urging Col. Simmons to head
the Knights of the Air; K. M. Turner,
President of the Aero club of Southern
California; Commander A lbert q.
Read, of the Naval Air Service, who
was pilot of the famous NC-4 during
it's fight across the Atlantic. Major
Wright, who presented the petition
was a captain of Infantry until trans
ferred to the air service. He has re-
ceived citations and diplomas from
manv countries including England,
France, Italy, Belgium, Spain, Japan
The Netherlands and others. He holds
a reserve officers rank in the Air Ser
vice of the United States, is lieutenant
colnel in the National Guard and is
an honorary member of more than
fifty aerial clubs besides being presi--
detn of the Aerial Club of Texas and
the Mississippi Aviation Clubs Asso-
both of which he organized.
Major Wright told Col. Simmons
that several months ago leading avia--
tors and others interested in promot-
ing the interests of the United States
along aviation lines determined to
form a compact national organization
for this purpose. They desired this
organization should be headed by a
man of large type, nationally known
and with the genius to organize Such
a man, thev unanimously agreed, was
TO be found in Colonel Simmons. >Ac-
cording1y formal petition was
drawn up and sent to about seven
hundred prominent citizens, airmen
and others, all of whom returned the
petition and indorsed.
Further retails of the plans of or
yanization for the Knights of the Air
will be announced as soon as Colonel
Simmons has opportunity to confer
further with leaders in the movement.