Evening star., 1946-09-02
II Crack Pilots Set
For Thompson Today;
JetAverages 57S MPH
BY The ASsoeioted Press

CLEVELAND, Sept. 2.-Avia- =
ton fans looked for speed COM
bined with skill in the Thompson
Trophy race today after wit
Messing the fastest straightaway
ever flown in public demon
stration-578.3 miles an hour in
two trips over a measured mile
course.
The speed dash was yesterdays
feature event at the National Air
Races, with six Army Air Force
Lockheed P-80 Shooting Stars flash
ing past a crowd estimated at more
than $4,000.
1t. William j. Reilly, Is, of San
Francisco averaged 57s36 miles an
hour for two passes-one in each
direction to nullify the wind ad-
vantage. His combined time for the
two miles was 1245 seconds.
$4,000 in Prizes.
The fastest single lap was 6ll.725
miles an hour in the first pass over
the course by 1t. John J. Hancock,
26. OF Wichita. Kans. His average
was pulled down to 566.75l by an up
wind leg flown at 526 miles an hour,
the slowest of the IL passes.
| Eleven race pilots were ready for
the Thompson. 300-mile race
around 30-mile rectangular course
with $4,000 in prize money at stake
! They will fight it out on the turns
In what Is traditionally the most
thrilling battle of the National Air
Races, resumed after a six-year
cancellation because of the war.
Tex Johnston of Niagara Falls
N. Y, flying a Bell P-39 Airacobra
will have the pole position when
the flyers take off from a standing
start in parallel lanes. He averaged
400 miles an hour in the qualifying
flights Wednesday.
Flyer Gets New Plane.
Johnston's teammate, Jack Wool
ans, was killed Friday while test
flying his racer, a sister ship in
which he had averaged nearly 40C
miles an hour.
There was possibility that
Robert Swanson, Of Miami, Fla, ano
Cleveland Heights, Ohio. might still
be permitted to qualify for the 18th
starting place. Swanson damaged
his plane during a qualifying run
but now has another North Ameri.
can Psi Mustang.
The winner will get the Thompson
Trophy and $4,000, with $4,000 fol
second and $4,000 for third place
and the remainder spread over the
next four places.
! 1t. Reilly gets only trophy anc
glory for his dashes yesterday but
Albert J. Weatherhead. jr, sponsor
of the straightaway event, will con
tribute $25 900 to the Army All
Forces Aid Society.
He said he intended to offer thu
prize to civilian competitors wher
jet engines were available for non.
military purposes
Pilots and Speeds.
The pilots who flew in tn,
Weatherhead event and their aver
age speeds included:
Capt. John L. Moutier, 26, o
Peoria, Ill, 572.7 mph.; Capt. Don
aid E. Eberhardt. "a, of Redwood
City. Calf. 5698 m.p.h.; 1t. w. j
McAuley, 20, of Vernon, Tex, 566I
m.p-h,, and Capt. Jack E. Sullivan
Is. OF Hamilton, Ohio, SAT mp.h.
Six P-80s, powered with the 1000
pound thrust General Electric 1-4l
turbo-jet engines will fly the Thomp
son course for seven laps-210 mile
in special event for jet planes
They will fly for medals and fun.
Pilots listed to fly in the specia
y" division of the Thompson wer
listed as 1t. Col. Robert Petit O
Ventura, Calf: Maj. Robin Olds O
Beverly Hills. Calf; Capt. Castor
M. Hensley of Inglewood, Calf.
Capt. Albert w. Fell of Lewis. Kans
and Maj. G. E. Lundquist and MAJ
X. o. ChilStrOm of Chicapo