SECRETARY’S REPORT 129 
of aviation to the Air Force Flying Club at Andrews Air Force Base 
in Maryland, the Army Flying Club at Fort Myer, Va., and to several 
units of reserve officers and the Civil Air Patrol. At the request of 
the Navy Department, the talk on Glenn Curtiss was repeated before 
the combined Naval Reserve companies of the Washington area. Con- 
ducted tours of the aeronautical exhibits were provided for a group 
of naval enlisted men selected for their proficiency in aviation, and 
for units of the Reserve Officers Training Corps. <A talk on Brig. 
Gen. William Mitchell and a description of his statue in the Museum 
was given at the Air Force Historical Association meeting at Bolling 
Air Force Base, September 6. A similar talk was made on January 
8 at a meeting of the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity, of which the General 
had been a member. On February 19 the Washington chapter repre- 
sented the fraternity in laying a wreath at the base of that statue, and 
on April 25 the American Legion paid similar tribute. 
The head curator served as chief judge at the National Model Air- 
plane Contest held in Cleveland, March 27, where he spoke on the 
recent progress by the Museum in acquiring significant material; and 
during the same month he was judge at a model contest conducted 
by the Washington Junior Chamber of Commerce. 
Tours of the aeronautical collections were conducted for groups of 
young aviation enthusiasts at the request of Congressmen Peter Mack 
of Illinois, and Robert W. Kean of New Jersey. In all, Mr. Garber 
gave during the year 24 lectures, conducted 6 tours, and made 7 trips 
in connection with these educational services and for inspection of 
material offered to the Museum. 
IMPROVEMENTS IN EXHIBITS 
Some improvements were made during the year in the exhibits in 
the Aircraft Building and the Arts and Industries Building. With 
the unveiling of the William Mitchell statue, this became a permanent 
part of the exhibit in the Aeronautical Hall of the Arts and Industries 
Building. With the statue is a case containing Mitchell memorabilia, 
and directly adjacent is the restored and reconditioned SPAD-XVI, 
General Mitchell’s airplane. Twenty dioramas lent by the U.S. Air 
Force, depicting the development of military aeronautics from the 
Civil War to the present time, were installed in this hall and provide a 
colorful and instructive exhibit. A revolving globe, with flight path 
and model airplanes illustrating the first “Around the World Flight,” 
was added to the Collier Trophy case. The “Falcon” guided missile 
exhibit was added to the Aircraft Building. 
Improvements were made to several exhibition cases by adding 
overhead lighting and powered displays. These improvements in- 
volved the Pulitzer, Lowe, Mitchell, and Collier cases. 
