138 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1953 



searcli by the staff, but as opportunity permitted, several projects 

 were advanced. 



Anticipating that the Fiftieth Anniversary of Powered Flight 

 would be celebrated during 1953, the Museum intensified the collect- 

 ing of photographs and other material relative to the Wright Broth- 

 ers. Persons who had taken pictures of the Wrights and their air- 

 craft and pupils in America were generous in sharing them with the 

 Museum, but it was difficult to find photographs taken when the 

 brotliers were in Europe. Persistent correspondence by the associate 

 curator finally located several helpful sources in England, France, 

 Germany, and Holland and, thanks to such cooperation, the Museum's 

 collection is now one of the most complete. This material has been 

 of great service to many publishers, writers, artists, modelmakers, 

 and others, and selections will form part of the special Wright dis- 

 play being planned for December of 1953. 



Efforts were continued throughout the year to procure authentic 

 documents and drawings about America's early work in the guided- 

 missile field. Extensive material was obtained describing the Dayton- 

 Kettering developments during the First World War, but little has 

 been received about the Long Island-Sperry efforts. 



ACCESSIONS 



This year the National Air Museum received 32 accessions from 28 

 sources totaling 112 specimens. Those from Government departments 

 are recorded as transfers; others were received as gifts except as 

 noted. 



Air Fokce, Department of, Washington, D. C. : German Messerschmitt Me 163 

 rocket interceptor, used in World War II to oppose operations of American 

 and English bombers (N. A. M. 763). (Through Pratt & Whitney Aircraft) 

 The Pratt & Whitney R-4360-35 Wasp Major aircraft engine. Serial No. 

 P-675, from the I3-50-A bomber Lucky Lady II which made the first nonstop 

 flight around the world, February 26-March 2, 1949 (N. A. M. 753). 



Allegheny Aiklines, Washington, D. 0. : Scale exhibition model 1 : 16 of Stinson 

 SR-10 airplane of type used by the predecessor company, All Ajnerican Air- 

 ways, from 1939 to 1949 for airmail service, featuring a unique pickup-in- 

 flight system (N. A. M. 758). 



Akmy and Navt Club, Washington, D. C. : An automatic pilot from a German 

 V-1 flying bomb which came down in the vicinity of the United Service Club, 

 London, England, World War II (N. A. M. 757). 



AuQUSTiNK, David, Landover, Md. : An airplane propeller of Micarta, a com- 

 pressed resinous material, in use about 1928 (N. A. M. 782). 



Burke, Mbs. Oli\'l\ Bkndelari, New Hoije, Pa. : An aviator's restrictive garment 

 for maintaining pressure on parts of the body to reduce effects of inertia 

 during extreme maneuvers at high speeds. Devised by her husband, Wood- 

 ward Burke, test pilot, who gave his life in 1945 during development of a 

 Navy jet fighter (N. A. M. 765). 



Eastern Aib Lines, New York, N. Y.: Douglas DC-3 airplane No. 164, con- 

 structed 1937, and veteran of over 8V2 million air miles (N. A. M. 766). 



