1935 National Air Races
By Bill Meixner
Cleveland was once again the home of the 1935
National Air Races and this year would also be
known as the "Benny Howard year" as you will see.
The Bendix Race would depart from Burbank CA
1935 Logo
Bendix Trophy Race
The starting line up for the Bendix included
eight aircraft.
The hybrid Gee Bee R1/R2 flown by Cecil Allen crashed
on take-off killing Allen and destroying the aircraft.
Earl Ortman was out early in the race. Benny Howard
with Gordon Israel as co-pilot in "Mister Mulligan" using
oxygen for the first time in the Bendix, were able to climb
over the weather beating Roscoe Turner in his Wedell by
only 23.5 seconds
| Place | Pilot | Race No | Aircraft | Time |
| 1 | Howard & Israel | 40 | Mister Mulligan | 8:33:16.3 |
| 2 | Roscoe Turner | 57 | Wedell Williams | 8:33:39.8 |
| 3 | Russell Thaw | 35 | Northrop Gamma | 10:06:45 |
| 4 | Roy Hunt | 72 | Lockheed Orion | 11:41:03 |
| 5 | Amelia Earhart | 88 | Lockheed Vega | 13:47:06 |
| -- | Roy Leonard | 90 | QED | 1 |
| -- | Earl Ortman | 9 | Keith Ryder | 2 |
| -- | Cecil Allen | 7 | Gee Bee R1/R2 | 3 |
1. Out at Wichita, broken oil line.
2. Out at Kansas City, loose cowling.
3. Crashed fatally on take off .
"Mister Mulligan" Flown by Benny Howard & Gordon Israel
Roscoe Turners # 57 Wedell Williams
Northrop Gamma #35 flown by Russell Thaw
(Sid Bradd Collection)
Roy Hunt Lockheed Orion #72
1935 Official Program Cover
Greve Trophy Race
In 1935 the Greve Trophy Race for planes with
no larger than _ _ _ cubic inch displacement
would again be flown in 2 heats and awarded
points with the winner receiving the highest
number of points. The race honored Louis Greve.
Louis Greve presenting trophy
| Place | Pilot | Race No | Aircraft | Speed |
| 1 | Harold Neumann | 38 | Howard "Mike" | 212.716 |
| 2 | Roger Don Rae | 131 | Rider R-1 | 210.126 |
| 3 | Art Chester | 15 | Chester Jeep | 199.078 |
| 4 | Steve Wittman | 111 | Chief Oshkosh | 189.384 |
| 5 | Marion Mc Keen | 33 | Brown B-2 | 199.078 |
| 6 | Lee Miles | 1 | Miles & Atwood | 189.603 |
| 7 | David Elmendorf | 22 | Wedell-Williams | 175.106 |
Thompson Trophy Race
Seven Racers were lined up for the race hoarse start of the
1935 Thompson including two of the Bendix racers, Benny
Howard's Mr. Mulligan and Roscoe's Wedell. It was a last
minute decision on the part Benny to enter Mr. Mulligan
considering the Pratt-Whitney Wasp engine had run near
or at maximum power for well over eight hours in the Bendix.
Perhaps Benny, whose airplanes had already won two out
of the three major races decided try to win all three races.
Due to a controversy at the starting line, the starters flag was
held for a very long time causing the spark plugs to foul in
Mr. Mulligan creating a rough running engine for Harold
Neumann. When the flag finally went down, Mr. Mulligan was
slow to get off. Once airborne, Harold's skill and experience
allowed him to close on the leaders, Roscoe Turner was in
first place on the 8th lap when his Pratt & Whitney blew.
Near the field, Roscoe climbed for altitude to make a decision,
at first he thought about jumping, but a look at all those people
in the stands and the thought of where a pilot less plane might
crash, Roscoe opted to make a dead stick landing, he very
skillfully brought the Wedell over the fence at a high rate of
speed and use all available land. Harold Neumann was not
aware he had won the race until after he landed. Benny Howard
won the Bendix, Harold Neumann won the Greve in a Howard
"Mike" and he also won the Thompson in Howard's "Mister Mulligan".
Is it any wonder it was called the "Benny Howard year" ?
Thompson Trophy being presented to Harold Neumann
by Fred Crawford and Ruth Chatterton with Roscoe Turner
congratulating Harold on winning the race.
| Place | Pilot | Race No | Aircraft | Speed |
| 1. | Neumann | 40 | Mulligan | 220.194 |
| 2. | Wittman | 4 | Bonzo | 218.686 |
| 3. | Don Rae | 131 | Rider R-1 | 213.942 |
| 4. | Jacobson | 38 | Howard Mike | 209.103 |
| 5. | Miles | 20 | Seversky | 193.594 |
| 6. | McKeen | 33 | Brown B-2 | 188.859 |
#40 Mister Mulligan
(Bob Christensen Collection)
#4 "Bonzo"
(Bob Christensen Collection)
#131 Rider R-1
#38 Howard "Mike"
(Bill Meixner Collection)
#20 Sever Sky SEV-3 Anphibian
(Bill Meixner Collection)
#33 Brown B-2 "Miss Los Angeles"
(Bob Christensen Collection)
Photos are from the Wes Hansen collection except where noted.
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| Updated Saturday, December 15, 2007 |