1932 National Air Races

The 1932 National Air Races were again held in Cleveland Ohio August 27
       to September 5. Many new race planes were entered this year to dramatically
raise the interest level and attract more visitors. The Bendix race from
         Burbank CA to Cleveland would feature four new aircraft with identical engines
             and well qualified pilots. There would also be six other cross-country races on the
             on the program. Twenty one closed-course races including the Thompson Trophy
           Race for men and the Aerol Trophy Race for Women. Two speed dashes were
               again included on the program.

1932 pin - ribbon.jpg (181750 bytes) 1932 Logo.JPG (108482 bytes)
1932 Official ribbon 1932 Logo

The line-up for the Bendix would feature three Wedell-Williams's model 44's and
a Granville Brother's Gee-Bee Super-Sportster model R-2.

                     #92 WW Small.jpg (33082 bytes)       #121 WW Turner.jpg (228910 bytes)
                 #92 Jimmy Haizlip                                        #121 Roscoe Turner

#44 WW Jim-32.jpg (202871 bytes) #7 R-2 .jpg (178100 bytes)
#44 Jimmy Wedell #7 Lee Gehlbach

                Haizlip-Earhart.jpg (785282 bytes)
                   Haizlip wins Bendix in 8:19 hours
                                  Jimmy being congratulated by Amelia Earhart

Bendix Trophy Race

Place	Pilot	Race No	Aircraft	Time
1	Jimmy Haizlip	92	Wedell Williams	8.19
2	Jimmy Wedell	44	Wedell Williams	8.47
3	Roscoe Turner	121	Wedell Williams	9.02
4	Lee Gehlbach	7	Gee-Bee R-2	9.41
5	Claire Vance	61	Vance Flying Wing	1
7	Frank Hawks	13	Northrop Gamma	2
8	Frank Lynch	--	Hall Cicada	3
9	Robert Hall	6	Hall Bulldog	4
10	Jimmy Doolittle	400	Laird Super Solution	5

                                                                         1 Out fuel leak returned to Burbank
                                                                         2 Did not start
                                                                           3 Did not start
                                                                           4 Did not start
                                                                         5 Did not start

A host of new aircraft were introduced this year in the closed-course events.
Benny Howard was back with two almost identical, Menasco powered racers.

IKE sm.jpg (41537 bytes) Mike -Benny Sm.jpg (34380 bytes)
Howard "Ike" Benny Howard & "Mike"

        Bob Hall chief engineer and designer for the Granville brothers, who designed the Gee Bee
            model "Z", winner of the 1931 Thompson Trophy designed the "Bulldog" for the Thompson and
       the "Cicada" for the Bendix. Both planes were plagued with engine problems. Bob flew the
"Bulldog to disappointing 6th in the Thompson. The "Cicada" did not start the Bendix.
       Sometime after the Thompson the engine and prop were removed and returned to the
       manufacturer's. The "Cicada" crashed and burned.

Bulldog Sm.jpg (28612 bytes) Cicada sm.jpg (32373 bytes)
"Bulldog" "Cicada"

Other new racers to appear this year

Redhead.jpg (20652 bytes)
           Gordon Israel's "Redhead"                           Keith Rider "San Francisco"

            1932_Program_sm.jpg (17867 bytes)
                  Program Cover

Parachute contest.jpg (34150 bytes)

         Parachute jumping demonstrations and pin-point
         landing contests were big crowd pleasers.
         While the idea was to land in a prescribed circle
         in front of the grandstands, it was not uncommon
         for some to land in the grandstands or in the
         parking lot.

Shell 3-Kilometer Speed Dash

Men's Trophy	Women's Trophy
Jimmy Doolittle	Mary Haizlip

#11 Jimmy.jpg (34865 bytes) #92 Mae Haizlip.jpg (38589 bytes)
Jimmy Doolittle with Gee-Bee R-1 Mary Haizlip with W-W #92

Thompson color small.jpg (28339 bytes)

Thompson Trophy Race

Place	Pilot	Race No	Aircraft	Avg.Speed
1	Jimmy Doolittle	11	Geebee "R-1"	252.6
2	James Wedell	44	Wedell Williams	242.4
3	Roscoe Turner	121	Wedell Williams	233.0
4	Jimmy Haizlip	92	Wedell Williams	231.3
5	Lee Gehlbach	7	Gee Bee "R-2"	222.0
6	Bob Hall	6	Hall "Bulldog"	215.5
7	William Ong	39	Howard "Ike"	191.0
8	Ray Moore	131	Keith-Rider R-1	1

1 Out engine problem Lap 3

         The success of the Granville Brothers Model "Z", winning the 1931 Thompson
               encouraged them to build  two new racers for 1932. One for the Thompson (R-1)
                and one for the Bendix (R-2). While they were basically the same design, the R-1
              had a larger engine and a smaller gas tank than the R-2. When Jimmy Doolittle's
Laird was damaged due to a landing gear failure and Russell Boardman
(original pilot for R-1) was injured in a crash, Doolittle became the pilot.
          The Gee-Bee took an early lead and went on to win.

#11Doolittle sm.jpg (25264 bytes)
Gee-Bee R-1

Aerol Trophy

                                                                                                  1929 Aerol Trophy.JPG (308514 bytes)


               Aerol Trophy Race

Place	Pilot	Race No	Aircraft	Avg.Speed
1	Gladys O'Donnell	38	Howard "Mike"	185.5
2	Mae Haizlip	92	Wedell-Williams	183.1
3	F. Klingensmith	14	Monocoupe	174.0
4	Betty Lund	---	Waco	101.0

      The ladies entered in the Aerol Trophy Race showed great courage and
   skill as they took off into and approaching thunderstorm. A severe storm
            hit the Cleveland Airport while they were flying the third lap. Despite the storm
                   they continued flying until race officials brought them down. Winners were declared
            in the positions they held when the race was called off. Gladys O'Donnell had
                                                          never flown, or even taxied, the Howard "Mike" before the race.

           Gladys O-Donnell.jpg (25876 bytes)
                        Gladys O'Donnell

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Updated Tuesday, February 12, 2013