102 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1956 



At the close of the fiscal year, the Smithsonian Institution was pro- 

 ceeding with plans of buildings for other bureaus of the Institution. 

 It was decided that as soon as other units, now occupying space in the 

 Arts and Industries Building, are thus provided for, the space they 

 vacate will be made available to the National Air Museum. Such 

 space should be considered, however, only as an interim provision, and 

 not as a permanent solution of the constantly increasing need to give 

 adequate care and proper educational display to the Institution's mar- 

 velous collection of aircraft. Four-fifths of that collection is hidden 

 away in storage, prevented from accomplishing its educational and 

 inspirational function for the students, engineers, and pilots of this 

 Nation which first gave powered and controlled wings to mankind. 

 Aeronautics is too important to the defense, industry, and progress of 

 our Nation to have this collection, embodying its very foundation and 

 development, so confined and suppressed as it now is. 



ADVISORY BOARD 



This Board of five members, specified in the Act establishing the 

 National Air Museum, continues to assist in the planning and opera- 

 tion of the Museum. Shortly after the beginning of the fiscal year, 

 Maj. Gen. George W. Mundy, the Air Force member, was assigned to 

 other duties away from the Washington area and was succeeded on the 

 Board by Maj. Gen. John P. Doyle. He and his assistant for Museum 

 matters, Maj. George C. Bales, have not only been ever ready to assign 

 Air Force personnel to help in maintaining the Air Force planes in the 

 exhibit, but also have directed the construction of a series of dioramas 

 and scale-model groups being made for the National Air Museum at 

 Wright-Patterson Air Force Base to illustrate significant events in 

 Air Force history. 



The Navy member of the Board, Bear Adm. James S. Russell, and 

 his alternates, Capt. C. C. Case and Alfred Verville, have kept close 

 contact with the Museum on a number of projects. These include the 

 restoration of a World War I Curtiss N-9 training seaplane, the 

 improved display of the series of models illustrating the develop- 

 ment of naval aircraft, and the preservation of the original wind-tun- 

 nel models developed at the Washington Navy Yard. Associated with 

 the latter project is the intention to construct a scale model of that 

 wind tunnel, which was developed in 1914. The Museum is indebted 

 also to the Navy for its continued storage of Museum material, thus 

 relieving the Museum of this physical custody while its own premises 

 and facilities are completely occupied. 



On March 20, 1956, William B. Stout, one of the Presidential 

 appointees to the Board, passed away at his home in Phoenix, Ariz. 

 His constant interest and wise counsel were a most helpful resource in 



