SECRETARY’S REPORT 119 
The first Roadable Autogyro, transferred from the Civil Aeronautics 
Administration, was reconditioned by them for museum purposes. 
In the previous report, the services of the Air Force were acknowledged 
in moving the Army Curtiss Racer from the Aircraft Building to the 
Aeronautical Hall—a move made necessary by restricted space. This 
year, the plane was equipped with the original floats with which Lt. 
(now General) James Doolittle won the Schneider Trophy Race in 
1925. The bracing wires for this restoration were kindly provided 
by the MacWhyte Company, Kenosha, Wis. Valuable assistance 
was received this year from the Air Force in unloading and mounting 
four large engines donated by the Wright Aeronautical Corporation, 
in covering with Plexiglas the sides of the DeHavilland—4 and Gen. 
William Mitchell’s Spad—16, and in replacing the windows in the first 
nonstop transcontinental airplane, the 7-2. 
The exhibit which illustrates the accomplishments of John Joseph 
Montgomery of California, a renowned pioneer of gliding whose first 
glides were made in 18838, received additions through the cooperation 
of the Montgomery family, the San Diego Junior Chamber of Com- 
merce, and the biographer, Winsor Josselyn. ‘Through the generosity 
of the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company, the wheels on the Voisin 
bomber of World War I were equipped with tires. In the auxiliary 
exhibit which accompanies the Flagplane of the First World Flight, 
the group of portrait sculptures were renovated by its sculptor, Joseph 
A. Atchison, and the stereopticon story of this flight was reactivated. 
A special exhibition of model aircraft as flown by hobby enthusiasts 
was prepared in August 1948 during the period of the national show 
and contest. Improvements were made in the display of Col. Charles 
Lindbergh’s accessories and flight clothing. Extensive cleaning, 
rearranging, labeling, and repairing have brought the exhibits to a 
condition believed to be as presentable as the crowded conditions and 
work program permit. 
Special exhibitions arranged by the staff and involving the use of 
Museum material away from the bureau included a group of cases 
set up by Bolling Field for the Air Force anniversary on September 18, 
containing engines, models, and relics of the military air arm; and the 
loan of the original Liberty engine and models of historic Air Force 
planes for the technical exhibit and air show held at Andrews Field, 
Maryland, February 15. 
STORAGE 
Among the numerous aircraft installed this year in the Museum’s 
storage facility at Park Ridge, IIl., was the Swoose, flown there under 
its own power. This historic B-17—D bomber had served throughout 
World War II from Bataan to the defeat of Japan. Completing its 
military career as the command plane of Gen. George H. Brett, the 
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