98 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1955 



Fifteen schools and colleges are listed among the educational organ- 

 izations that applied to the Museum for assistance, ranging from de- 

 tails of performance and design of aircraft to the planning of 

 instruction courses. The Buffalo Society of Natural Sciences was 

 helped in preparation of a special exhibit honoring the Wright broth- 

 ers, the Air Education Council was supplied with descriptions of 

 Museum aircraft, and the National Geographic Society consulted the 

 Museum to check details of manuscripts pertaining to aeronautics and 

 noted aviators. The Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago 

 was helped in planning a hall to include exhibits of Naval aircraft, 

 and the French Musee de I'Air received assistance in the preparation 

 of exhibition models of American airplanes. Among the organiza- 

 tions that came to the Museum for assistance was the Air Transport 

 Association, which required information about the Junkers-Larsen 

 airplane of 1919. The Army and Navy Club in Washington, search- 

 ing for illustrations of air squadrons for its walls, found in Museum 

 files an excellent group picture of the First Aero Squadron. The 

 American Helicopter Society was assisted in planning exliibits for its 

 annual meeting, and the Junior Chamber of Commerce of the District 

 of Columbia received help in planning a contest for youthful model- 

 makers. 



Ten authors and four illustrators of aeronautical books consulted 

 Museum specimens and records for facts. Many newspaper reporters 

 checked details of their stories with the Museum staff. Magazines that 

 turned to the Museum for help included Life, Aero Digest, Popular 

 Mechanics, True, and Aviation Daily ; and the World Scope Encyclo- 

 pedia and Aircraft Yearbook depended upon the Museum for as- 

 sistance in the preparation of several articles. Commercial photog- 

 raphers received identification of photographs in their files by 

 referring to the Museum staff. Model-airplane manufacturers, who 

 cater to tens of thousands of enthusiasts of that sport, requested 

 Museum aid to insure the accuracy of their products. United, Capi- 

 tal, and Pan American Airlines received assistance in preparing ad- 

 vertisements and publicity; the Boeing Aircraft Co. obtained facts 

 about refueling history ; North American Aircraft consulted Museum 

 airplanes to check details of engine cooling; the General Electric Co. 

 came to the Museum for photographs of early jet engines; and Fokker 

 Aircraft of Holland received assistance in restoring its files from 

 which valuable records had been lost during World War II. Toward 

 the close of the fiscal year three motion-picture companies were en- 

 gaged in producing pictures about famous events in aeronautical 

 history. Warner Brothers' film on the Spirit of St. Louis depended 

 upon the original airplane in the Museum for the accuracy of the re- 



