1936 Newspaper Abstracts

The Providence Sunday Journal, Providence, RI, Sun., May 31, 1936:
p. 1, c. 6-8 -

50,000 JAM R.I.STATE AIRPORT
        FOR TERCENTENARY AIR DISPLAY
                AND REDEDICATION CEREMONIES
        ----------------------------
Col. Turner Pilots Speed Plane
        New York to Hillsgrove in
        38 Minutes, One Second.
        ----------------------
        PARACHUTE JUMPER HURT
        ----------------------
   Misses Field and Lands on Auto;
     Regular Passenger Flights to
         New York Are Resumed

        More than 50,000 persons thronged Rhode Island State Airport at
Hillsgrove yesterday for the formal rededication of the field, resumption
of scheduled air transportation between Providence, Boston and New York,
and an air show that brought to the city a number of stellar performers.
        The ceremonies and the airshow, which will continue today, are
among the major events of the tercentenary year.
        The arrival of Col. Roscoe Turner, California speed ace, at 2:13
p.m., in his tiny, golden racing plane, gave the crowd its biggest
thrill.  He flew from Floyd Bennett Field, New York, in 38 minutes and
one second.
        It was announced at the field that Turner had established a new
record.
        Turner himself said his time was slow, owing to a cross-wind all
the way, and some trouble from an over-filled oil tank.
        The sun-tanned, nattily-dressed speed flier was cheered
repeatedly after he had greeted the crowd through the airport amplifying
system.
        He was formally welcomed to Rhode Island by Governor Theodore
Francis Green, his host during his Providence visit, and Col. Joseph
Samuels, sponsor of Turner's attemped transcontinental speed flight two
days ago.  Last night Governor Green was host at a dinner for Col. Turner
at the Hope Club.
        Soon after his arrival, Turner revealed plans for an assault on
the world's landplane speed record, to be made at the State Airport this
fall or early next year in a special speed plane now being built in
California.  He said the plane is being designed to fly at 400 miles an
hour.  The present record, held by Howard Hughes of Hollywood, is 352
miles an hour.
        Hughes had also been expected in Providence yesterday but did not
put in an appearance.
        The airshow, which followed the dedicatory ceremonies, and lasted
from 2 o'clock until after 5 o'clock, gave the crowd watching from every
vantage point thrill after thrill.  They craned their necks to see stunt
fliers, army manoeuvres, parachute jumps, glider exhibitions and flights
by various types of transport and sport planes.
        The show opened with a transportation pageant...followed by the
flying program, announced by Cy Caldwell, aviation commentator.
        Upon arrival, Governor Green... formally turned over the airport
to the Department of Public Works...
        Chief Kiely of the airport division pointed out the advantages to
the State which will accrue from the new field, which was described by
President Smith of American Airlines and Col. Turner as "the best in the
world."...
        Airlines officials and those in charge of the program declared
themselves well pleased with the first day's events.  The same flying
program will be repeated today.


PICTURES:  At the Top Left:  Col. Roscoe Turner, Governor Theodore
           Francis Green and Col. Joseph Samuels Who Sponsored Turner's
           Flight from the West Coast.  Top Right:  Governor Green is
           Handed the Receipt for the First Airmail Express Package to Be
           Sent from the Airport.  It was a present for President
           Franklin D. Roosevelt. Daniel J. Kiely, Chief of the Division
           of Airports in Rhode Island is Shown at the Left, in the
           Middle Panel, Speaking Into the Microphone.  At the Right is
           Douglas McArthur at the Controls of a 1912 Model Plane Which
           He flew in the Air Pageant.  Col. Roscoe Turner is Shown in
           the Drop as He Was Greeted Upon His Arrival by Willard
           Fletcher, Manager of the Airport.



The Weekly Corinthian, Vol. XXXXI #33, Thurs., Aug. 13, 1936:
p. 5, c. 6 -

AIRPORT WILL
        BE USED FOR
                SURVEY BASE
        -----------
Crosby and Sherman Plan To Use
    Ports In Mapping Pro-
         posed Canal
        -------------
     The Roscoe Turner Airport will be used as one of the bases from
which aerial engineers, mapping the Tennessee Valley for the purpose of
making a survey of the proposed Tennessee-Tombigbee canal region, will
operate.
     The Corinthian was informed today that Crosby and Sherman, engineers
in charge of the airport project, have been awarded the contract to make
a 4,000 mile survey of the area from Pickwick Dam to Demopolis, Ala.
     Purpose of the survey, it was announced, is to obtain information
for the War Department, air photos, maps, etc., from which further study
of the canal project may be made.
     The contracting firm announced that airports at Corinth, Tupelo and
Aberdeen will be used as bases for the operations.


Nevada State Journal, Reno, NV, Sun., Aug. 31, 1936:
p. 1, c. 2-4 -

ROSCOE TURNER, WELL KNOWN IN
RENO, CRASHES SPEEDY PLANE
--------------------------
Flier Heads for L.A.
From Colorado Where
Mishap Occurred
--------------------------
Attempt to Save Ship
Almost Costs Life of
Famed Flier
--------------------------
        GALLUP, N.M., Aug. 30 - (U.P.) - With his golden modified
Wedell-Williams racing plane, with which he won every major aviation
trophy in four years- a wreck on the Zuni reservation, 60 miles south of
Gallup, Col. Roscoe Turner, 42, turned back to Los Angeles tonight by
train for a thorough medical examination of aching ribs, shoulders, neck
and head, and to hasten completion of a new racer which he said would
outspeed the crashed low wing monoplane.
        While Osteopath Louise Hatton rubbed his neck the flyer said his
throttle "probably became" disconnected, shutting off the carbureter and
causing the motor to idle at ten thousand feet.
        "I started to leave it, but I hated to lose the ship, so I stayed
with it and darn near broke my neck," said Turner.
        Coming in at a landing speed of 90 miles per hour, the ship
bounced on rough grazing land and dug in with the left wing, causing it
to turn over twice.  Turner said he was a little dazed and was surprised
the plane did not burn.
        Astride a Zuni Indian horse and with an Indian as a guide, Turner
rode 18 miles to the Zuni pueblo, where an Indian service worker drove
him 42 miles to Gallup.
        Turner said the crash occurred at 9:45 a.m.  He reached Zuni
Pueblo at 5 p.m.
        The ship was wrecked.  Turner planned, however, to return next
week to salvage the motor and instruments.
        He was en route to New York to enter the Bendix races when the
crash occurred.
                ----------------------------------
        Col.Roscoe Turner is well known in Nevada.
        He was an honorary member of Gov. Fred B. Balzar's personal staff
for seven years and he had flown the late governor all over the United
States.
        Accompanied by the late Gov. James Rolph of California and Gov.
Balzar, Turner made a record speed flight in his famous Lockheed plane
several years ago from Los Angeles to New York.
        At one time he attempted to establish an air service between Reno
and Los Angeles.
        He has many friends here and has often been accompanied in his
flights by Dan Renear of Reno.


The Weekly Corinthian, Vol. XXXXL #36, Thurs. Sept. 3, 1936:
p. 5, c. 1 -

ROSCOE TURNER
        WRECKS PLANE,
                SLIGHT INJURY

-- Monday's Daily --

        A broken throttle was blamed for the crack-up of Colonel Roscoe
Turner's speed plane Sunday morning, in which the Corinth speed pilot
sustained several broken ribs, and painful body bruises.
        Colonel Turner's father, Bob Turner, was informed by his son that
his racing plane, in which Colonel Turner has won a number of
transcontinental speed records, was totally wrecked with the exception of
the motor, in the crack-up on the Zuni reservation, sixty-five miles
south of Gallup, New Mexico.
        Describing the accident to his father, Mrs. Roscoe Turner said by
telephone last night the ship dropped suddenly when the broken throttle
prevented its getting gas, bounced about 15 feet into the air, and
started rolling.  The ship had landed on soft earth on the Indian
reservation.
        Whether the demolition of his racing plane will prevent Colonel
Turner's entrance in the air speed races this month was not learned.
        The ship he destroyed was one of the two he had planned to bring
to Corinth and Tupelo next month at the opening of two airports; and the
dedication of the Corinth landing field as the Roscoe Turner airport.
        Mrs. Turner assured her father-in-law, however, that they plan to
be here for the dedication of the airport on the 15th   She and Colonel
Turner left for Los Angeles by train last night.
        Concerned over failure to hear from Colonel Turner, who had taken
off from Burbank at dawn for Albuquerque while on his way to New York and
the Bendix air races officials at Los Angeles had started a search for
him.
        Al Smith, department of commerce inspector, was accompanied by
John Kimmel, of the United Airlines, in a flight over the mountainous
stretches between the airport and Mount San Antonio, because this was the
roughest country Roscoe Turner would have to cross before reaching the
desert.



The Weekly Corinthian, Vol. XXXXI #36, Thursday, September 5, 1936: -
p. 3, c. 3  -

RIVALS GANG UP
        FOR CHANCE AT
                TURNER RECORD
        --------------

        "Headliners of the Airways" are lining up for the annual
east-west transcontinental Bendix trophy race, which will feature the
four day program of the air races to be held at Los Angeles from Sept.
4-7.  The east-west race now held by colonel Roscoe Turner, Corinth flyer
with his mark of 11 hours and 30 minutes, has called out keen competition
this year, including 3 women flyers, Amelia Earhart, Laura Ingalls, and
Jacquiline Cochrane.
        The record of Colonel Turner is said to be threatened by the
nationally known contestants in new high speed planes.
        Turner's name is entered on the list of competitors for the
record despite the fact that his bullet-like speed plane cracked up this
week on a trip to the east, where he was to prepare for the race.



The Weekly Corinthian, Vol. XXXXI #37, Thurs., Sept. 19, 1936:
p. 5, c. 4 -

Wrong Impression Out,
        Says WPA, Airport Is
                Memorial, Not Legacy
        --------------------

     Just to drop in and lend an ear to parts of a conversation that has
become routine with one of the Alcorn county WPA leaders during the past
few weeks you'd think he was "nuts" or something.
     If you walked up suddenly and heard him explain to an interested and
argumentative person:  "No, the Alcorn county airport is a Works Progress
Administration Project.  It belongs to the government.  It couldn't be
given to any individual,"  you might get the impression that somebody had
taken boondoggling to the Nth degree and was asking too much of the WPA.
     Then, if you heard him answer, somewhat peeved about his audience's
insistance that he was wrong -- that the airport could and had been given
away, you might see some light beginning to dawn.
     The WPA man's retort:  but dedication doesn't mean a gift, - - it
means, -- well, it means the airport has been made a memorial -- not a
monument, because Turner didn't get killed when his plane cracked up, but
a memorial in his honor while he is living, a recognition of his
achievements as Alcorn county's most famous native son.
     Then if the other continued to insist:  "But I've heard a lot of
talk about this airport being given over to Roscoe Turner, and I just
don't think it is right to give all that to a man who don't need it no
worse than he does,"  you might, like the WPA man, turn around and walk
away.


The Weekly Corinthian, Vol. XXXXI #42, Thurs., Oct. 15, 1936:
p. 5, c. 1 -

State Has Many
        Native Sons On Top
                In Aviation World
        ------------------

     Mississippi will celebrate the prominent part played by native sons
in the development of aviation in the United States when this months a
number of WPA airports are dedicated in the Northeastern section of the
state Eddie and Katherine Stinson, pioneer gave citizens of the Magnolia
State, their first thrills when they returned to their native state on a
barnstorming tour, entertaining the multitudes with their repertoire of
stunts and passenger hopping.  Captain Eddie has been dead for several
years, but his sister, Katherine is now fighting the great plague in
western climes.
     No less sensational was the pioneer work of the Stinsons, then the
spectacular achievements of their successors in the limelight of
aviation.  Roscoe Turner several years ago was the focal point for the
eyes of millions when he shattered the transcontinental flight record.
Al and Fred Key, Jasper countians now of Meridian, Miss., co-holders of
the world endurance flight, of 653 hours and 34 minutes established in
June 1935, and the Mississippian of more recent fame, Dick Merrill,
former Illinois Central engineer, who, with Harry Richman, just recently
completed the first round trip trans-Atlantic airplane flight.
     Perhaps less spectacular, but pioneers in aviation, nevertheless,
were Captain Alton J. Parker, of Crystal Springs, pilot with Byrd on his
first antarctic flight; Lieutenant Eugene Hoy Barksdale, Rankin County,
test pilot for Dayton air field, and world war ace; Lt. Ogden, Gloster,
round world flier in 1919; Lt. Doxey, Jackson, Pan American Clipper
pilot; Lt. Donald Duke, Jackson, aide to General Patrick, Chief of air
service; Samuel Kaye, Jr., Columbus, and H. G. Rossun, Columbia, World
War aces and others.
     One of the  earliest illustrations of the need for organized airways
in the state was when Colonel Lindberg, prior to his epochal flight to
Paris in the 'Spirit of St. Louis' was forced down in a cow pasture near
Maben, Miss.
     J. D. Sellers of Jackson, organizer of the Mississippi Airways,
Inc., was perhaps the first resident of the state to go into aviation in
a commercial way.
     Since the inaugural of Federal agencies to replace direct relief
work in Mississippi, the state's neucleus in airways has been augmented
by fields constructed under the sponsorship of local county and city
governments.  This program was fostered by the Department of Commerce as
part of a nation wide program in the interest of furthering aviation in
the United States, and making it safe for the casual traveller.



Abstracts (c) Copyright 1993 Stephanie L. Sandy

    Data transcription by: Milton Sandy, Jr. Corinth, MS - May 14, 1993