Evening star., 1933-07-12
REBEL AIR PILOTS
FATE IS UNKNOWN
N. A. A. May Suspend L.
censes for Competing in
Meet at Chicago.

The fate OF rebel pilots who defied
compete in the unsanctioned Chicago
air races, July l to-4, hangs in the
balance today before the Contest Com
mittee of the National Aeronautic AS
sociation. While no final action had
been taken on the matter up to early
this afternoon, it was indicated the
pilots may face maximum penalty OF
Suspension of their sporting licenses for
three years.
A report on the unSanctiCned Chicago
meet, held in direct competition with
the National Air Races, which were
flown during the same period at Los
received BY the Contest Committee
during. the morning. There is a posi-
bility that the committee may act on
the matter before it adjourns this after
noon.
Noted Pilots Involved.
Among the noted racing pilots who
face punishment for their participation
in the Chicago meet are John LlWngs-
ton. frequent winner in previous Ma
tional Air Races; Art Davis, one OF the
country's leading civilian acrobatic
pilots; Harvey Mummert, Matte Laird,
designer and builder Of racing planes
and few one of his own ships In the
meet; Harold Neuman and Lon Yancey.
Should their sporting licenses be sus-
penoed, they will be barred from COM
petition in all sanctioned air meets IN
the United States during the period OF
suspension and will be unable to obtain
official certification of any record they
may make.
Col. Turner Appeals.
Col. Roscoe Turner, disqualified at
Los Angeles after apparently having
won the Thompson Trophy race, great
est of all American speed classics OF
the air, appeared before the commlttee
to appeal from the decision OF the Los
Angeles Contest Committee He was
DISQUALIFIED for missing the fourth pylon
of the 1OO-mile course on the first lap.
although on he second lap he clrcled
the pylon twice to make up Tor MS
error. He declared he could not safely
turn out at the time he missed the
pylon because he was "blanketed" by
other racing planes and feared that a
crash would result if he attempted 10
turn out.
Consideration of Col. Turner's ap-
peal was postponed until August y.
Competing pilots in the thompson race
will be notified and requested to present
affidavits or to appear in person or by
proxy before the Contest Committee at
that time. Turner told members OF
the committee that his appeal was
made in the interest Of safety In air
racing. He offered to turn over por-
ton of the cash prize for first place
to the fourth place winner who would
lose his award if Turner's claim IS up
held. Turner's prize would be $3.50:
The fifth place award was S375. ana
to the Contest Committee in case his
claim is upheld.
Balloon Teams to Be Named.
The committee also is expected to
announce the appointment OF balloon
teams to represent the United States
this Fall in the international balloon
races for the new Gordon Bennett
Trophy. For the sake of economy, no
elimination races will be flown this year
to determine United States entrants IN
the international, as has been done IN
the past.
The committee also will take under
consideration selection Of the winner OF
the Looming Intercollegiate Flying Club
Trophy. which during the past two years
has been won by the Harvard Flying
Club.
1t is understood that the members
of the committee, in executive session,
are considering action to meet storm
of complaints from racing pilots, ana
amateurs against the methods employed
bv the National Aeronautic Association
in handling air meets and sporting
events in various parts OF the country
William P MacCracken, Jr., former
Assistant Secretary of Commerce for
aeronautics, who recently succeeded
Orville Wright as chairman of the Con-
test Committee, presided at today's ses-
sion.