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1935 Bill Mitchell Air Race... airplanes...
1935 Bill Mitchell Air Race... airplanes...
Item # 721156
October 20, 1935
THE DETROIT FREE PRESS, Oct. 20, 1935
* Billy Mitchell Trophy Air Race
* Military airplanes - aviation competition
* Captain Karl Gimmler - U.S. Army Air Corps
The front page has a two column heading: "Capt. Karl Gimmler Takes Trophy Race at Selfridge" with subhead. (see images) More on page 12 with banner heading and related photo.
Complete with 14 pages, light toning and minor wear at the margins, generally nice.
AI notes: The Mitchell Trophy Air Race, established in 1929, was one of the most prestigious military aviation competitions in the United States during the interwar years. Named in honor of Brigadier General Billy Mitchell, the outspoken advocate of air power, the race was designed to promote speed, precision flying, and the development of pursuit (fighter) tactics within the U.S. Army Air Corps. It was typically held annually at Selfridge Field, Michigan, and open to pursuit squadrons from across the service, with each unit entering its best pilot and aircraft. The course generally covered a series of timed laps over a closed circuit, emphasizing not only raw speed but also control and accuracy. Winners’ names were engraved on the large silver Mitchell Trophy, a symbol of technical excellence and aerial supremacy. Notable champions included pilots who would later play key roles in World War II, such as Captain Karl G. E. Gimmler, who won the 1935 race with an average speed of 214.68 mph. The event reflected the rapid evolution of air combat technology in the 1930s and the growing recognition of aviation’s importance to national defense.
Category: The 20th Century
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