Evening star., 1939-12-17
Great u. ). Air Force
Seen Best Way 10
Honor Wrights
Aviation Leaders Mark
36th Anniversary
Of First Flight

The best way to honor the
Wright brothers is for this coun-
try to develop the most powerful
air force in the world, Representa-
tive Melvin j. Mas of Minnesota
declared yesterday in an address
at the annual Wright Day Lunch
con-" held jointly by the Aero Club
OF Washington and the Washington
Air Derby Association in the May
nower Hotel to pay tribute to this
country's great aviation pioneers,
Orville and the late Wilbur Wright.
The luncheon was held just one
day before the 36th anniversary of
Orville Wright's first flight at Kitty
Hawk, N. c., on December II, 1903,
the first flight Of man in heavier
than-air craft.
Mr.. Mas urged that this country
have the greatest air force ito in
sure peace" and predicted that with
1t I'VE will be let alone"
Towers Recalls Experiences.
Rear Admiral John H. Towers,
chief Of the Bureau of Naval Aero
nautlcs, recalled his early expert
ences in aviation, explaining that in
1911 plane pointed out to him in
which he, as a young naval officer,
was to learn to fly was the second
airplane he had ever seen and that
he had never before then seen an
airplane in flight,
Admiral Towers recalled a recent
conversation with Orville Wright in
which he quoted the latter as COM
planning of an automobile "vibrat-
ing whenever it was driven as fast
at 40 miles an hour" Admiral
Towers drew a verbal picture of Or
vile Wright, emphasizing his mod
esty and keenness of mind during
the famous flyers advancing years.
Brig. Gen. Barton K. Yount, as
>sistant chief of the Army Air Corps,
declared the United States owes
great deal to the Wright brothers
and expressed satisfaction over the
progress being made in this coun-
try's program of expansion of its
military air force and predicted
the United States will have the
best" He told of efforts of the
military authorities to cooperate
In development of civilian aviation,
stressing Importance of the latter.
Parts of Plane Shown.
Col John H. Jouett, president of
the Aeronautical Chamber of Com
merce of America, declared it ap-
propriate that the two clubs should
keep alive the anniversary of the
first flight of man and quoted sta
tistics to show aviation's develop
ment from pioneer days.
William p MacCracken, chair
man of the Aviation Committee of
the Washington Board of Trade.
and former Assistant Secretary of
Commerce in charge of aeronautics,
described the first flight by Orville
Wright as the greatest event in the
history of the world" He exhibited
q piece of cloth and wood, which
were parts of the airplane in which
the first flight was made.
Other speakers included Col. E.
w. Hill, commander of Boiling Field,
and Capt. H., .Brintnau Merchant,
president Of the Air Reserve Associa-
ton of the United States.
The meeting was called to order
by Capt. Corley p. McDarment,
president of the Aero Club OF Wash
ington, who presided jointly with
Chester H. Warrington, president of
the Washington Air Derby Associa-
ton.
Guests of honor included John F..
Victory, secretary of the National
Advisory Committee for Aero
nautics: DR.. Gilbert Grosvenor,
president of the National Geo.
graphic Society; DR.. c. L. Marlatt,
life member of the Aero Club of
Washington and one of it's founders;
Peter Riedel, famous pilot; 1t. Gen.
Friedrich Won Boetticher. military
and air attache at the German EN-
bassy, and Wayne Parrish, editor of
American Aviation.