1938 National Air Races

1938 Logo

Official Program
(Steve Zatroch collection)

Opening ceremony of the 1938 NAR with the US Marine Squadron
fly-by in Grumman F3F-4 's, our last bi-plane fighter.
 

Part of the Army's Squadron of Seversky P-35's

   The growth and expansion of the National Air Races and the Cleveland Airport had been somewhat coincidental.
 Behind  the  scenes one  finds  the hand of  Major  John  Berry,  airport commissioner. Under  his  direction,  the
 Cleveland Airport has gained top position among commercial airports of the world. The world's busiest airport is
able to maintain  operations  of the NAR  and commercial  traffic. Permanent stands to handle huge crowds and
  parking  for  about  30,000  automobiles  because  the  1040-acre  has  plenty  of  room. After  a  conference  in
Washington  following  the  successful 1937 Air Races  Cliff Henderson managing director announced that more
than $102,000 in prize money would be awarded in 1938. This allowed a full year for designers and builders to
make  ready  for the 1938 event.  A  change  in  racing  regulations announced that planes entered in the Bendix
 could  not be  entered in the Thompson Trophy Race. The 1938 NAR staged  as the second annual event, under
   the five year option obtained by the NAA organization. The organization  sponsoring the Cleveland show is a not-
     for- profit,  made  up  of  individuals  and  Corporations of  the City  of  Cleveland. There  were  only  three  major
  events  in the September 3-5  National Air Races, with only one race per day there had to be a lot of Military and
     stunt  flying going  on. Each  day after  the flag raising, the TEXACO  FIRE  CHIEF  BAND  played  the  National
  Anthem.  Len Peterson  opened  the day's events  with a novelty aerobatics act  flying a 2 place  90 h.p.135 mph  
    Dart,  courtesy  of  the  Dart Manufacturing Co. Harold Johnson flying the 6 ton Ford Tri-motor had the spectators
     spell-bound  with  loops, rolls  and  spins. Mike Murphy took off  and  landed a pontoon equipped Piper Cub from
    the  grass, he  later  took off  and  landed a  wheeled  Cub  from  the top  of  a  speeding  automobile.  Capt. Alex  
   Papana,  on leave from the Romanian  Air  Force was back again in  his  Bucher Jungmeister to perform a great     
   aerobatic routine. Champion Woman Glider Pilot of Germany, Hanna Reitsch performed aerobatics. Emil Kropf,   
    also of Germany, demonstrated the amazing short take-off and landing ability of the Feisler-Storch. New  records    
   were  posted in both  the  Greve and the Thompson  Trophy Races. Several  new  ships  in  this  year's  line -up.     

2-Place Dart Aircraft
 

German  Feisler Storch
demonstrated by Emil Kropf

Captain Hanna Reitsch and her glider
(The only woman Captain in the German Army)

Bendix Trophy Race

A  new rule for 1938,  no aircraft  entered  in  the Bendix  Race could  compete in the
Thompson Trophy Race. 10 starters left the Burbank Airport before dawn with storms
forecasted from Arizona to St Louis. Four of the starters were out due to mechanical
problems. Jackie Cochran and Frank Fuller were the favorites in their civilian version
of the new Seversky Army P-35.

Jackie Cochran's Seversky                                                                                Frank Fuller's Seversky
                                                                                                                                                                                                   

  
Paul Mantz Orion                                                                                                    Max Constant Beech

        
Ross Hadley Beech                                                                              Charles LaJatte Spartan

George Armistead Granville QED                                                                      Bob Perlick Beech 

    
Frank Cordova Bellanca                                                                                          Lee Gehlback Wedell-Williams