Society of Air Racing Historians

                                                                                                                                                                                    
                                                                                     1931 National Air Races
                                                                                                      By Bill Meixner

                            The1931 National Air Races returned to Cleveland Municipal Airport and
                                                arrangements were made to to hold the event here for at least the next five years.
                                                This arrangement prompted the building of new permanent wood grandstands and
                                                race administration building. Special buildings for Army, Navy and Marine Corps
                                                units were also added.  Dates for this year were August 29th through September 7th
                                                and Cleveland fans were eager to see the races return. The racecourse was changed
                                                to eliminate the racers over flying the grandstands, for safety reasons. The airfield is
                                                large enough to permit both commercial flights and air racing.   
                        
                                                                   

                                                                                          
                                                                                                  1931 Poster

                                                The schedule called for 38 events, with prize money totaling $100,000.
                                                New this year, Shell Trophies Speed Dash, Entries to qualify at a speed of
                                                no less than 200 miles per hour over a 3-Kilometer Straight-Away course in
                                                front of the grandstands. These speed dash qualifiers would also qualify the
                                                men for the Thompson Trophy race and the women for the Aerol Trophy Race.   
                                                The major event and attraction was the Thompson Trophy Race, held here in
                                                Cleveland for the first time.

                                                                                                      1931 Logo

                                       Cliff Henderson, managing director of the races convinced businessman Vincent Bendix
                                      to sponsor a new event. The Bendix Trophy Race------Transcontinental Speed Dash open
                                      to men and women. Starting at United Airport, Burbank California to Cleveland  Municipal
                                      Airport, a distance of 2043 miles. Non-stop or refuel, any type aircraft, must arrive
                                      Cleveland Airport before 6pm EST same day. With a purse of $15,000 the Bendix was
                                      scheduled to arrive Cleveland on opening day of the National Air Races.
                

                                                                         

                                                                                      Vincent Bendix and Trophy
                                                                                                                                                                                               
                                        
                                            The original intent of the Thompson Trophy Race was for it to be an international
                                             event. None of the European pilots of Countries invited entered the prestigious
                                             race. Al Williams trip to Europe was successful in bringing several of Europe's
                                             best aerobatic pilots. Capt. Boleslaw Orlinsky of Poland, Major Ernst Udet of
                                            Germany, Commander Mario de Bernardi of Italy, Captain Atcherley of England and     
                                            Captain Alois Kubita of Czechoslovakia to name a few. While none of them flew in the
                                            races all demonstrated their flying skills and their aircraft. Perhaps the favorite of the
                                            air race was Ernst Udet who performed difficult aerobatics with his low-powered
                                           "Flamingo" thrilled the crowd by picking up a handkerchief off the grass with his wing tip.
                                            Major  Ernst Udet a German ace in WW I shot down an  American pilot by the name of
                                            Wanamaker, Udet landed next to his crashed Newport 28 and offered him a cigarette while
                                            waiting for German Medics to arrive. At the same time Udet cut the tail fabric containing the
                                            pilots number as a prize of war. When Udet arrived at the races he arranged for Wanamaker,
                                            now the Mayor of Akron, Ohio to be in the stands. Udet had the fabric of Wanamaker's plane
                                            framed and presented it to him. It is now on display at the Air Force Museum in Dayton, Ohio           

                                                                                          
                                                                                                   ( Adam Snelly photo)
                                                                                                Wanamaker's tail fabric

                                 Major Ernst Udet                                                     Udet's "Flamingo"