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FLYING ENTHUSIASM was stirred to new heights when the tri-motored Southern 

 Cross was flown through California's Golden Gate across the turbulent Pacific 

 to Australia in 1928. Few persons knew that Capt. Hancock had befriended her 

 brave commander, Sir Charles Kingsford-Smith, and made possible that epochal 

 flight. The two men who contributed much to the progress of aviation are shown 

 above at the rail of the Velero III when Sir Charles again visited America after 

 pioneering South Pacific airways. Before the history-making flight Captain Han- 

 cock made a detailed study of the problems involved and observed the charac- 

 ter of the men. He took Sir Charles and Captain Charles T. P. Ulm on a voyage to 

 Mexico aboard the S.S. Oaxaca. Satisfied as to their ability, he quietly went into 

 action and provided all that was needed for the flight. Later he made a gift of the 

 plane to her doughty commander. It was about this time that Captain Hancock 

 determined upon a plan to make it possible for young men to secure thorough 

 training in aviation at minimum cost. Having extensive interests in the Santa 

 Maria Valley, he established an airport on the outskirts of the city and soon 

 afterward launched the Allan Hancock College of Aeronautics. The school 

 started a large number of well-trained men on successful careers in aviation. 

 During the business recession there was a period of inactivity in the industry 

 and operations of the college were curtailed. As the demand for trained men 

 grew the flying school was revived on a larger scale early in 1938. When ex- 

 pansion of the air force v/as ordered by the War Department as a vital factor 

 in the national defense the Allan Hancock College of Aeronautics was ready 

 and able to cooperate. In July, 1939, a contract with the United States of 

 America was entered into providing for elementary training of Flying Cadets 

 for the Air Corps, United States Arm.y. The Santa Maria Airport v/as enlarged, 

 auxiliary flying fields were secured and adequate new buildings were erected. 

 The training program has been carried forward successfully and to the satis- 

 faction of the Air Corps. 



