SECRETARY’S REPORT 121 
nautical courses; and Pan American Airways was loaned photographs 
of Santos-Dumont’s airships for use in its publicity displays on Brazil. 
The historic sections of the Aircraft Year Book were compiled with 
help of the Museum staff; Bettman Archive received identification on 
a group of unlabeled photographs of airplanes; the Prewitt Aircraft 
Company used the Museum’s reference files during their search for 
details of rotary aircraft; and the United States Chamber of Com- 
merce and the Vallejo, Calif., museum, received assistance in display- 
ing exhibits. 
Another edition of the Handbook of the National Aircraft Collection 
was issued, embodying changes which bring it up to date. This is 
the eighth printing of 10,000 since the first issue in 1928. During the 
year the curator lectured on technical and historical aspects of flight 
and the progress of the National Air Museum to the Aero Club of 
Washington, the Air Transport Association, the “99ers” association 
of women flyers, the Washington Association of Building Superin- 
tendents, the Civitan Club, several local fraternal and church groups, 
and served as judge of scale-model craftsmanship at the National 
Capital Air Show, and at a kite contest held by local units of the 
Boy Scouts. 
In conducting its informational services the staff acknowledges the 
help given by members of the “Early Birds,” collectors of aeronautical 
photographs and clipping scrapbooks, pilots, manufacturers, airmen, 
and many others who donated reference material to the Museum’s data 
files and library. These helpful source data are assembled and readily 
available for serious study. 
SURVEY 
The survey over the Nation of aeronautical materials of technical 
and historical significance was continued during the year. Much of 
the work was conducted by staff correspondence. Frequently, how- 
ever, it became necessary to undertake direct investigation and study 
of suggested material and consultations with those acquainted with 
the material. It was in this connection, primarily, that the following 
visits away from Washington were made by the staff: 
Middletown, Pa., Olmsted Air Force Base, July 23, by associate curator Robert 
C. Strobell, to examine a group of Japanese trophy airplanes which had been 
evaluated and tested. 
Buffalo, N. Y., Airport, August 31, by associate curator Stephen L. Beers, to in- 
spect two Curtiss engines used in early Naval aircraft and two French engines 
of World War I. 
Roosevelt Field, Long Island, N. Y., and East Orange, N. J., October 11-16, by 
the curator, to examine a group of historic American, English, and French 
airplanes and to determine the availability of a Benoist airplane of 1912. 
Halifax, Nova Scotia, November 9-22, by the curater, to obtain the Wright 
Brothers’ aeroplane of 1903. 
