SECRETAKY'S REPORT 135 



At Suitland, continuing with the erection of the prefabricated But- 

 ler buildings, the remaining 4 of the 6 purchased last year were assem- 

 bled on concrete bases by late November. The 6 buildings provide a 

 total of 24,000 square feet and enabled the Museum to accept custody 

 of 3 of the 4 full-sized airplanes received this year and of the 2 large 

 Martin models ; but of very great assistance was the storage of the 20 

 loads of components sliipped from Park Ridge. This operation saved 

 double handling of those 3,000 boxes which, had Suitland been unavail- 

 able, would have had to be moved again from one building to another 

 at Park Ridge, stacked in vitally needed space, and otherwise cared 

 for. As it is, they are now near their final destination, some have 

 been inspected, and a few of the more interesting specimens that can 

 be accommodated are being prepared for exhibition. 



Within the Smithsonian buildings in Washington where there have 

 been two rooms devoted to aeronautical storage, the congestion has 

 been greatly relieved by transferring material to Suitland; these 

 rooms are being prepared as extensions of the reference-file space, and 

 for keeping handling equipment and exhibition supplies. 



ASSISTANCE TO OTHER AGENCIES 



A large portion of the time of the staff is required in answering 

 requests for information. During this anniversary year this public 

 service has increased greatly in voliune and variety, and many projects 

 that are part of the general effort to make this an outstanding year 

 in aeronautical progress have been aided by the Museum. One under- 

 taking that will be of great permanent value is the compilation by 

 the Division of Aeronautics of the Library of Congress of two volumes 

 intended to be a complete record of the work by the Wright Brothers. 

 The Museum made available its exhibits and files to the staff of that 

 division. Other departments of the Government have their Anniver- 

 sary projects : the Civil Aeronautics Administration is preparing ex- 

 hibits featuring famous flights, the Office of Education is compiling 

 lists of aeronautical material for distribution to schools, the Navy's 

 Bureau of Aeronautics assembled several displays showing historic 

 and current developments, and the Air Force for Armed Forces Day 

 prepared impressive shows. All these projects received help from 

 the Museum. Some units of the Government in need of assistance in 

 connection with current work were the Department of Justice, wishing 

 construction details on cockpit harnesses, parachute hardware, and 

 engine starters ; the Air Force, asking for the loan of ex-enemy aircraft 

 in order that the crews who were to examine the shot-down planes of 

 our adversaries in Korea could be indoctrinated in foreign techniques, 

 and requesting help in preparing educational and historical displays 

 for student airmen. The Navy received descriptions of helicopter 



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