APPENDIX 9 

 Report on the National Air Museum 



Sir : I have tlic honor to submit the followhig report on the activities 

 of the National Air Museum for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1951: 



HIGHLIGHTS 



Because of the tense international situation this year the National 

 Air Museum encountered difficult obstacles in the conduct of its op- 

 erations. As the program progressed, rumor of the reuse of war 

 plants became fact, and before the close of the year the Air Museum 

 was ordered to vacate its storage facility at Park Ridge, 111., to make 

 way for aircraft manufacture. Despite such deterrent factors, how- 

 ever, all normal functions of the bureau were carried on, including 

 the maintenance of the exhibited collections in Washington, the opera- 

 tion of the storage facility near Chicago, the survey for aeronautical 

 museum material, and the conducting of the bureau's informational 

 services. 



Although new material added to the aeronautical collections was 

 less in quantity than usual, the quality equaled that received in former 

 years. Foremost on the list of 99 objects received was the Bell X-1 

 supersonic airplane, considered by many to be the greatest forward 

 step in aeronautics since the Wright Brothers' invention of the Kitty 

 Hawk. The acquisition of this important addition to the aeronautical 

 collections and notes of other worthwhile items received are further 

 described under the heading "Accessions and Events." 



ADVISORY BOARD 



This year one meeting of the Advisory Board of the National Air 

 Museum was held, on June 28, 1951, called primarily to consider the 

 problem of the required removal of the Air Museum's collections stored 

 in the former Douglas bomber manufacturing plant, Park Ridge, 111. 

 The Board formally reaffirmed its belief in the great historical and 

 technical value of the collections and directed that all possible care be 

 taken to effect the preservation of the aircraft and other components 

 of the collections. In this connection, the wholehearted cooperation 

 of the Departments of the Navy and Air Force was assured. 



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