SECTION 2 OF 3

                             COLONEL ROSCOE TURNER
                            KNIGHT-ERRANT OF THE AIR
                                       by
                                 Roy Rutherford
                               Free Lance Writer

            Rickenbacker, in 1939, declared Turner had contributed more
       to speed in aviation than any other man in the United States.
            At the Indianapolis races of '47, automobile speed champion,
       Wilbur Shaw, told me:  "Roscoe Turner, in my opinion, is one of
       the most intensely competitive individuals I have ever known; a
       great sportsman, a good loser when unable to do anything about it,
       and his record clearly indicates that he is one of America's out-
       standing air-men."
            There are only four living three-time winners of mechanical
       speed events powered by internal combustion engines:  Wilbur Shaw
       and Lou Meyer in automobiles; Gar Wood on the water--many times
       winner; and Turner in the air.
            There is something elemental in Turner, an instinctive
       shrewdness.  His trophies did not just happen.  To begin with he
       sensed the truth of Kipling's word, "The opening verse of the
       opening page of the chapter of endless possibilities."  He and a
       small group of duantless daredevils saw the future of aviation.
       He felt there was no need to take to the air except to increase
       speed and he risked his life countless times to promote speed.  But
       the time came when he realized Dame Fortune might not be his
       cockpit companion, so this fellow, who had spent his life up in
       the air with feet planted on the clouds, sensed that the time had
       come to settle on terra firma.  He got out a map, chose
       Indianapolis, and with $15,000 in cash and $100,000 worth of
       planes opened an aviation school on a small scale, secured
       financial backing and now runs a business valued at well over half
       a million dollars.

                                  ~~~~~~~~~~~

       Ernie Pyle wrote in his column:
            "Roscoe is busier than a bird-dog; his secretaries never know
       where to find him.  I finally cornered him.  It was the first time
       I had seen him without his uniform.  His uniforms have always been
       a joke in the flying fraternity but he is not thin skinned,
       neither is he dumb.  He had a purpose.  It made the public
       remember him.  The uniform and the spiked moustache--"they are
       part of my business."  He is the busiest one man aviation industry
       I ever saw.
            "Roscoe is doing himself a lot of good.  He never did lay any
       claim to being a modest wallflower, he loves acclaim and the
       adulation of his fellow humans.  He loves to be a big shot and he
       has managed to step from the all-time winner's seat in the racing
       cockpit, right into a throne in the business world.  I envy him."

                                   ~~~~~~~~~~

            Early in his Indianapolis residence he was motoring home one
       day from the airport and an irresponsible driver ran through a red
       light, smashed into his car, breaking his hip.  (Only once before
       had he been in a hospital when a foot injury, incurred during a
       somnambulistic stunt, caused an infection.)  Many interesting
       wires were received:
            "Why don't you stay in your safe airplane and keep out of
       dangerous automobiles?  Fred Crawford."
            "Brush your teeth, comb your hair, go to bed, say your prayer
       and before you know it I will be there.  Franklin D. Roosevelt."
            With the coming of World Was II it was no surprise when
       Colonel Turner immediately made an effort to get into the Air
       Corps and organize a squadron of old-time fliers.  Lt. General F.
       M. Andrews wrote:
            "I do not mean to infer that you should not worry about
       getting overseas or into combat but you are making a bigger
       contribution to the war effort in training men to fly."
            And so the virile old eagle made his astounding and priceless
       contribution to the army and navy by training 3500 eaglets to fly
       and serve as instructors.
            During all the harrowing days of war he followed the air
       strategy closely and wrote to Doolittle suggesting the Tokyo raid.
       After this daring air thrust sent the Flying General a laconic
       letter which Doolittle confesses was the shortest he ever
       received:  "Dear Jimmy, You s.o.b., Roscoe."

                                   ~~~~~~~~~~

            Roscoe Turner was born in Corinth, Mississippi, September 29,
       1895.  His parents were of Scotch, Irish and English descent.
       They were farm folk; there were six children.  (A secretary remarked
       upon being shown a picture of his birthplace, a log cabin, "You've
       sure come a long way.")
            Roscoe amused himself by climbing trees; tied wires to limbs
       that he might swing; liked quick motion and built wagons in which
       he coasted downhill; tried to fashion kites large enough to lift
       him off the ground; tore down a phonograph, securing materials for
       making a flying machine.  It didn't work.
            A railroad ran through the farm and at one time the
       venturesome boy decided that would be his life's work but his Dad
       insisted it was entirely too dangerous.
            The Glidden Tour came by the farm and the automobile bug
       truly bit him.  He was able to do some tinkering around with an
       old Ford, with an E. M. F. and a Flanders; was set on becoming a
       chauffeur and a racing driver but his Dad tanned his hide good and
       proper, saying, "You'll never be worth shootin' if you fool around
       with things that burn gasoline and pop."
            The boy attended the country school and finished the tenth
       grade.  He favored geography, mathematics and history--generally
       knocked the teachers for 100 per cent--but because of a clash of
       ideas with his Dad he ran away from home at 16 going to Memphis
       where he became a shipping clerk for a wholesale grocery, met some
       truck drivers, studied the map and learned the town, bluffed his
       way to a license and became driver of a five ton ice truck.  Then
       came a turn with Packard and Cadillac as mechanic.

                                   ~~~~~~~~~~
            A year previous to World War I he had made an effort to
       enlist for training in the aviation section of the Signal Corps,
       but was turned down because of lack of college work.  When war
       broke, he enlisted as an ambulance driver with the promise of
       being sent overseas immediately but was later transferred to the
       aviation section of the Signal Corps, received his commission as
       2nd Lieutenant and at the end of a year was sent to Bordeaux,
       France, for more training, then into Germany as the Armistice was
       signed.
            His first experience in the air was in an observation
       balloon. 
       
       

                                   ~~~~~~~~~~

            After a period of flying duty in New York the young
       Lieutenant was drafted out of service at the age of 23; borrowed
       money, bought half interest in a plane; revvied it up; toured the
       south doing stunt-flying which netted from $500 to $1000 a flight.
       One feat was called "Falling a Mile in Flames."  This was a nose
       dive with smoke sticks simulating a burning plane.  A partnership
       was formed with Arthur H. Starnes and the death-defying "Flying
       Circus" was on.
            The following contract was drawn up and used in the various
       communities:

            We, The Roscoe Turner Flying Circus, agree to do over
            the business section of Corinth, Mississippi on ______
            day to-wit.

                    ONE WING WALKING SHOW, INCLUDING THE
                              "SWING OF DEATH"

                              A PARACHUTE JUMP

                  AN AIRPLANE ACROBATIC FLIGHT, LOOPS, SPINS,
                       WING OVERS, WHIP STALLS, ROLLS

            The undersigned hereby agree to give the amount set
                 opposite their names after this exhibition.

            He was thus occupied along with advertising Curlee Clothes,
       as "Flying Cigar Store" and other stunts until 1925 when he again
       borrowed money and bought the first plane built by Sikorsky in  
       America, an eighteen passenger job.  With it, he for three years
       broadcast from the air, held aerial pink teas for society women
       and transported notables hither and yon.
            In 1928 he went to California for the movies.  The Sikorsky
       was converted into a Gotha Bomber.  He and Howard Hughes (probably
       both being pronounced individualists) did not get along very well.
       One day the impetuous young director kept yelling at Turner to
       "fly lower, fly lower" in the taking of a sequence until finally
       the angered aviator obligingly (?) knocked over the camera.
            Another flier wrecked the $35,000 plane and Turner only
       received $10,000 in return.

                                   ~~~~~~~~~~

            He next became interested in an airline to Reno and ran what
       was known as Nevada Air Lines and named it "The Alimony Special."
       Bebe Daniels smashed the champagne, christening the four Lockheed
       planes.
            Among his passengers to and from were Carol Lombard, Mrs.
       Lawrence Tibbett, Clair  Brokaw--now Mrs. Henry Luce--Mrs. Bela
       Lugosi and many others.  One of the most noted of the divorcee
       group recently informed Turner that they used to wonder if he
       wore blue shorts and had his initials on them.
            He taught Bebe Daniels to fly.  Asserts Billy Dove was the
       most beautiful girl in Hollywood; she was a combination of all the
       things men like women to have.
            In 1928 nobody was flying in Hollywood with exception of
       Wallace Beery, so it fell to Turner's lot to introduce the plane to
       the movie industry.  Many is the person who took first flight with
       the Colonel:  Mariam Hopkins, Maureen O'Sullivan, Carol Bruce,
       Gail Patrick, Loretta Young, Joan Bennett; Warner, Schenck,
       Zanuck, Mayer; Clark Gable, Fred MacMurray, Joe Brown, Ben Lyons,
       Jimmy Hall and others.
            Will Rogers also had his first ride but would not enter the
       plane from the right side, declared you always mounted your horse
       from the left.
            During these days Turner became well acquainted with Hearst
       and Brisbane; the former had backed two flights which ended
       disastrously.  He finally took his first flight with Roscoe and
       then utilized the plane to fly New York guests from Los Angeles to
       San Simeon.  There was a standing week-end invitation to the
       famous ranch.
            It was during this period he poineered in lowering a plane by
       means of a parachute.
            He and Ben Lyons were, one morning, showering the Breakfast
       Club with flowers when the plane suddenly took a nose dive into
       the Los Angeles River, because of motor failure.

                                   ~~~~~~~~~~

            Now enters the three weeks old lion cub who had his first
    flight on April 13th, 1930.  He did not seem to enjoy the first few
    banks and turns, but finally went to sleep and subsequently became
    decidedly air-minded.  A special parachute was made for him and he
    stole the show at the Cleveland races, testing out his safety device
    and that night was brought to the radio and obligingly growled his
    greetings.  Turner later prepared to take up a Mr. White for a record
    parachute jump; oxygen equipment was provided for all parties,
    including Gilmore.  The canny lion must have sensed how cold it was
    going to be up there for he ate up his equipment, and remained below.
            Colonel always registered at the hotels for "Roscoe and
    Gilmore."  The lion was friendly with everyone; showed no aversion to
    cats and dogs.  He and the Turner yard dog were great friends. He
    seemed to put his heart in personal appearances at theaters, banquets
    and newspaper offices.  At a banquet he generally sat quietly for a
    while then became restless, wandering around chewing and scratching at
    the feet of the guests.  He particularly liked shoes.  When Eddie
    Cantor presented him on a New York stage he revelled in the spotlight,
    but when introduced at Graumann's Chinese theater in Hollywood at the
    premier of "Hell's Angels" he took a sudden fancy to the mop of hair
    worn by the orchestra leader and made desperate efforts to caress him.
    This stopped the show.
            Someone asked the Colonel why he preferred the company of
    Gilmore to that of the ladies.  He replied, "It is much safer.  He
    nevers gets me into any trouble.  He is always good company and always
    in a good humor."
            When four weeks old he was fed every two hours with milk and
    eggs.  The diet was gradually stepped up to three pounds of boneless
    raw meat per day.  He adored skating on the small rugs on the hardwood
    floor of the house; was always the first to answer the doorbell, much
    to the discomfiture of guests.  After he was grounded he showed no
    viciousness; enjoyed having his back scratched and head patted; his
    greatest punishment was to be ignored.  He responded readily to music
    and would trot from room to room trying to discover what made the radio
    tick.
            The cub is now in the Los Angeles zoo; weights 700 pounds;
    recognizes his former pal who always brings along a bone; each chews an
    end simultaneously.
            One of Turner's most prized possessions is a splendid
    photograph of the lion standing with his head on the man's shoulders
    and his paws around his waist.  The aviator sends $40 each month for
    the lion's keep confessing "For a long while the lion kept me.  Now I
    have got to be a good sport and keep him."
            The world's most publicized lion was the one which reputedly
    refused to devour Daniel.  Runner-up is Gilmore, the lion cub who,
    during two and a half years, travelled 25,000 miles with the intrepid
    flier, Roscoe Turner.  To millions he'll always be known as "the man
    who flew with a lion."

                                   ~~~~~~~~~~

            Roscoe become highly popular with moppets all over the
       country as he broadcast programs tailored to their measure.  In
       1943 a reporter in a metropolitan daily had the following to say:
            "The kids today who stroke their Dick Tracy badges and
       proudly display their Superman wings don't get half as big a
       thrill as I did ten years ago when gulping down my soup, I sat by
       my crystal set listening to Colonel Rosoce Turner knock down a
       squadron of flying smugglers with one hand while deciphering a
       secret code that was a key to a million dollars with the other
       hand.
            "I was tipped off through the Junior Commando underground
       system that Colonel Turner would arrive at the airport shortly
       after noon so I drove out and raced to the administration office
       breathlessly inquiring, `Is Colonel Roscoe Turner in yet?' `Who's
       he?' drawled a girl.  With disgust for her and all girls who know
       so little I turned away.  Hearing the name Turner, several other
       pilots in the office started relating legends surrounding the
       Colonel.  They talked about the lion, the mustache, his
       spectacular pilot's wings.  About that time a mechanic came
       reporting the landing of a plane.  It was a small Cessna.  I was
       confident my hero would not be there.  He'd come roaring in
       pilotng a silvery plane with at least six motors.  I was getting
       impatient to see my hero when the same mechanic came back to
       report that the pilot of the Cessna would not take landing
       instructions and was taxiing over to the south side of the field
       instead of parking on the north end.
            "`That sounds like an old time flier,' prompted one of the
       pilots.  `Just as stubborn as he can be.'
            "Anyway we went over to tell him he could not land there.
       `Say you can't tie down here,' he was told.  Someone said, `Look,
       Colonel Turner.'  `What's left of him, been bucking a head wind
       since I left Kansas City, someday I'm going to learn to fly,' said
       Turner.
            "The kids of today don't know what they've missed, not being
       about to hear how Roscoe Turner squelched a revolution single
       handed while downing a bowl of soup.  He is still wonderful in
       spite of his bay window and I'm going to start training my
       mustache to look like his."
            He has today a soft spot in his heart for all youngsters and
       declares that the uproarious welcome they gave him upon his
       initial public appearance in Indianapolis was "really the
       business" and started him with a bang.

                                   ~~~~~~~~~~

            There is no accounting for Roscoe Turner, waking or sleeping.
        He has been such a demon for speed and activity and has so much
       dynamism that even his sleep is disturbed and restless.  As a boy
       he was asleep, went out and hitched up the mules.
            There is a brother who also talks in his sleep and one night
       at the old home in Mississippi the father heard a great commotion
       in the room of the boys and opened the door to find them sitting
       up in bed shaking hands, evidently having consummated an important
       deal.
            Turner and his partner were stunt flying down south and were
       waiting in a barber shop.  A belligerently inclined person walked
       in and shot a man.  That night Roscoe wrapped his partner in a
       sheet, took him to the window and was about to bury him with honor
       at sea, when the dead man woke up.
            Once in Memphis, Tennessee, he evidently was dreaming of an
       avid battle and thought he was going down in a flaming plane.  A
       radiator was between him and a half open window.  He sailed
       through the aperture landing in the flower garden draped in a
       sheet.  Upon ringing the doorbell to get back inside, the kids of
       the house said, "Uncle Roscoe, the damned fool, flew out the
       window."
            While making "Hell's Angels" Turner and his pals had
       connecting rooms.  He walked blithely through their quarters,
       waking them up wandering to the window, shading his eyes to see
       how the fog was doing.  They bought a dog collar and chained him
       to the bed.  This he broke the next night.
            Recently he made a victorious nocturnal flight bringing home
       the trophy, piloting his apartment safely against all opposition.
       His wife woke to find him tensely seated at the foot of the bed
       guiding to an instrument landing.  He was yelling, "Keep the nose
       up, keep the nose up--lower the flaps."  She responded, "The flaps
       are lowered" and he calmly dropped off to sleep.  He generally
       barks signals which he expects to be answered properly.  She has
       learned to make satisfactory replies which prevent him flying into
       a rage.  Occasionally it is necessary for her to head him off
       before he gets to the door bent upon gunning his plane into the
       night skies.

                                   ~~~~~~~~~~

            Mythology records that Icarus learned the secret of flying.
       His father, Daedalus, fashioned for him wings and in the
       exuberance of his joy he flew too close to the sun, the wax
       fastenings were melted and he fell into the sea.  It is
       significant that the air races of 1929, which dates the
       beginning of our modern air age, Thompson Products Company offered
       a cup and in 1930 a noted sculptor carved this Greek legend in
       bronze symbolizing the yearning of both ancient and modern man to
       overcome.
            Doug Davis, in his Travel-Aire Mystery ship, won the cup of
       '29 with the speed of 194, the first time army and navy entries
       had ever been defeated.  From this grew the Thompson Trophy.  The
       Deed of Gift says:  "To offer inspiration and initiative to the
       development of aeronautics in general, and faster land planes
       immediately adaptable to commercial and military use in
       particular."
            The faint flutterings at Kitty Hawk in 1903 had burgeoned
       into Glenn H. Curtis' 46 1/2 miles per hour at the first races at
       Rheims, France, in 1909.  These speed contest were viewed purely
       as entertainment but by the time the first American air race was
       held at Mitchell, Long Island, Captain C. C. Mosely was able to
       drive his plane 154 miles per hour.  Then come Bert Acosta, Lt.
       Russell Maughm, Lt. Al Williams and in 1925, Lt. Pettis sped 248
       miles per hour.  There were trophies and named races:  The Gordon
       Bennett, the Collier Trophy, the Snyder Cup, the Pulitzer and
       Bendix races.

                                   ~~~~~~~~~~

            Little wonder then that Roscoe Turner, imbued with belief in
       the future of the plane and burning as ever with the desire to
       compete, souped up his Lockheed Vega in California and gave a
       graphic demonstration of the modern Lochinvar swooshing out of the
       West--off to the races.  He entered the Thompson cup race on '29,
       finishing third.
            His plane was one of the first three to use NACA cowlings.
       The other two were flown by Frank Hawks and Lee Schoenhair.  This
       cowling covered the engine, straightening out the air flow and
       making it hug the body of the plane, preventing the overheating of
       the engine, which almost cooked the cockpit passengers.
            Oil also became overheated, baffles were placed behind the
       cylinders and an oil radiator was added later on when more was
       learned about the NACA cowling.
            Turner and Wedell designed a plane for the '32 races.  Wedell
       took it up for a final test flight but because of intense
       vibration flying wires broke, the wings flew off, the plane rolled
       over on its back, Wedell was able to parachute to safety.
            After this experience Howard Barlow, a stress engineer at the
       University of Minnesota, who now is in charge of aeronautical
       engineering at Texas A & M, was employed.  He closely supervised
       the work of Turner and the other engineers.
            In '33 Turner landed well ahead of the field.  Throbbing
       girls brought flowers.  The winner's wreath was placed about his
       neck.  He was escorted to the platform and when handed the heavy
       trophy said, "I guess I am the only man in aviation strong enough
       to hold that."  And then came one of the most poignant moments
       which can possibly come to anyone.  A man wormed his way through
       the crowd, whispered into Turner's ear, "It is a mistake, the
       officials say you cut a pylon.  We must disqualify you."  The
       wreath was removed, the victory smile vanished, the crowd turned
       to acclaim the winner.  An onlooker said, "Never did I see
       anything sadder than that husky fellow and his mechanic with bowed
       heads plodding across the field together."
            Considerable difficulty had been experienced in building and
       preparing this plane for the race.  At one time Turner had been
       tuning up at high speed.  After landing discovered the prop did not
       turn freely.  The crankshaft had broken clean in two but the jaws
       were still standing in position.  "If they had parted there would
       have been no Roscoe.  It still scares me to think of it."
            The broken parts were taken to Pratt & Whitney.  Their
       metallurgist improved the quality of the metal.  It was also
       necessary to get higher compression, more r.p.m.'s, so the oil
       companies increased the quality of their fuels and lubrications.

                                   ~~~~~~~~~~

            In 1934, Turner and Davis waged a hard battle for first place
       until the fatal eighth lap when the tail surface of the high
       powered Wedell-Williams, plane, piloted by Davis, gave way, and
       this great pioneer of aviation plummetted in a silvery sheath of
       death.  Turner went on to win at 248.129.  The jinx, which had for
       years followed him, had been broken.
            Now comes an unusual and sparkling, though gruelling episode.
        "I became interested in the Centenary race from a sporting angle,
       wanted to compete against the best of the international pilots.  I
       had earned the title of American Speed King and wanted to keep the
       crown."
            Sir MacPherson Robertson had offered the prize of 10,000
       pounds and a gold cup for the winner in a race from London to
       Melbourne, Australia.  The course was 11,323 miles.  There were
       five control points:  Bagdad--2,553 miles; Allahabad--4,853 miles;
       Singapore--7,063 miles; Darwin--9,147 miles; Charleville- 10,356;
       and Melbourne.
            Turner had chosen a Boeing powered by Pratt & Whitney Wasp
       engines.  Its size was second in the race.  He selected Pangborn,
       who had circumnavigated the globe in 1931, as his co-pilot and
       Nichols as radio man.  To save their plane for the race they
       shipped by boat and were unable to land at Plymouth because of bad
       weather, going on to Le Havre where French customs demanded 4,000
       pounds.  This was finally guaranteed by the United States Lines.
            The conservative English papers immediately began featuring
       him:
              "Roscoe Turner, an American, is probably the most
         picturesque of the many dashing airmen in the race.  A handsome
         daredevil, he believes that the shortest distance between two
         points is the straight line joining them.  He takes everything in
         his stride.  From all accounts he is a good showman."
            When the King and Queen and Prince of Wales visited
       Mildenhall--the airport which was to see the start of the race--
       Turner did "aerobatics so daring that he kept everybody gasping,"
       and royalty was greatly impressed by him.
            The Manchester Guardian spoke of the "much fancied American
       ace."

                                   ~~~~~~~~~~

            On Sunday, October 20th, twenty machines were tuned up.
       "Trooping down the laneways of the morning sun, gilding their
       wingtips, dawn broke at 5:30.  The sky was cloudy.  Almost a
       shudder ran through the crowd when the broadcaster announced that
       there was only a minute and finally ten seconds to go.  As they
       stood on the airdrome in the glory of a perfect dawn the planes
       made a striking picture of power, beauty, class and color.  The
       rich pink, red and yellow hues of the sky were reflected from the
       highly polished wings and fuselages of the machines.  The Acting
       Lord Mayor of London stood with a small red flag and at exactly
       6:30 dropped it and the race was on.  The Mollisons made a long
       run, but Turner, ever flashy; made a short run."
            The first landing was made at Athens; at Bagdad an accident
       was narrowly escaped because of coming in with the wind.  Three
       hours were lost when they overshot Allahabad and at one time were
       faced with the possibility of landing in the jungle or a river.
       At Singapore, Turner was deaf; gulped a plate of ham and eggs and
       sausage.  At Charleville, engine trouble developed. "He is a
       colossus of energy; pushed and pulled, lifted and screwed, banged,
       hammered as hard and as enthusiastically as if he had just risen
       from a good night's sleep and kept the crowd smiling with a quaint
       familiar manner in referring to his co-pilot as `Pangey.'  He was
       told breakfast was ready but said, `I can eat when there is
       nothing else to be done.'  The oil pressure system had failed.  It
       sucked air instead of oil.  Each box had an experimental nut
       fitted on with an automatic lock and it did not work.  Almost cost
       us our lives to prove that this experiment was a failure."
            Nichols wise-cracked referring to the Allahabad rambling,
       "Roscoe is a good navigator as long as he has a railroad track
       beneath him."
            As "Nip and Tuck" came into the Melbourne airport executing a
       perfect landing RAAF officers said, "What an airman!"
       Perspiration poured off his unshaven face; he looked fatigued but
       happy; drank a glass of beer with relish.  "It was a great trip
       but I don't want to make another one right away."

                                   ~~~~~~~~~~

           He immediately captivated the crowd with his humor, entered the
    Chrysler car furnished him, waving his stick made from a lion's tail
    and said, "So long fellows."  The most noticeable thing about him was
    his quick, jerky movements and the speed with which he did everything.
    "A gay, unpretentious airman. Quick-silver would have been easier to
    handle than the Colonel. Zestful, he seems tireless.  When he smiles
    you think of Douglas Fairbanks.  There is a vivacious and breezy manner
    which fatigue could not obscure.  He is the big noise from America and
    does not mind who knows it.  A man with a lion complex and a lion
    heart, he is broad, massive and moustached."
            Scott had finished in 71 hours and 18 seconds, landing first in
    the speed section.  Turner and Pangborn were 19 hours and 42 minutes
    behind.
    

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