APPENDIX 9 

 REPORT ON THE NATIONAL AIR MUSEUM 



Sir: I have the honor to submit the follomng report on the activi- 

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

 1950: 



HIGHLIGHTS 



The National Air Museum suffered a great loss in the death in 

 Januar}^ of General of the Air Force H. H. Arnold, whose interest in 

 the establishment of an aeronautical museum for the Nation was of 

 long standing. Following the close of World War II General Arnold 

 contributed generously both time and effort in the movement before 

 Congress to make the museum a reality, and after its establishment 

 in 1946 he continued, through correspondence and personal contacts, 

 to help the new agency. At its meeting on May 24, 1950, the 

 Advisor}' Board of the National Air Museum unanimously adopted 

 the following resolution: 



Whereas, The May 24 meeting of the Advisory Board of the National Air 

 Museum is the first since the lamented death on January 15, 1950, of General of 

 the Air Force H. H. Arnold; and 



Whereas, It was General Arnold who developed the idea of a National Air 

 Museum to memorialize the national development of aviation, and to preserve for 

 posterity aeronautical material of historic interest and significance; and who, 

 moreover, ordered the setting aside of examples of aircraft and aviation materials 

 used or developed during World War II for future preservation: 



Therefore be it 



Resolved, That the Advisory Board of the National Air Museum records in its 

 minutes its profound sorrow and its deep sense of loss in the death of General 

 Arnold, brilliant leader and man of vision and foresight; and be it further 



Resolved, That a copy of this resolution be sent to the family of General Arnold 

 and to the Secretary of the Air Force. 



On March 17, 1950, the report to Congress on the National Air 

 Museum, required by law, was submitted to the President of the 

 Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, respectively. 

 This report carries out the stipulation of section 3 of Public Law 722, 

 establishing the National Air Museum, that the Secretary of the 

 Smithsonian Institution shall submit "recommendations to Congress 

 for the acquisition of suitable lands and buildings for said national air 

 museum." 



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