Lot 123
Pilots of Aviation History. 15¾"x19¾" sepia-toned Photograph of the newly-constructed Empire State Building and mid-town Manhattan, with three U.S. Navy bi-planes flying across the New York City skyline, Signed by just about everyone in the history of aviation, from pioneer aviators to astronauts, including: Orville Wright, Charles Lindbergh, Amelia Earhart, Howard Hughes, Neil Armstrong, Louis Blériot, Wiley Post, Eddie Rickenbacker, Douglas Corrigan, Dr. Eckner (chairman of the Zeppelin Company), Charles Yeager, Paul W. Tibbets, Charles Conrad, Buzz Aldrin, Frank Borman, Walt Cunningham, Wally Shirra, Deke Slayton, 1930s flying aces F. de Pinedo and Sabelli, Roscoe Turner, Errol Boyd, Frank Hawks, Lt. Gen. Jimmy Doolittle, and many others. The photograph is in very good to fine condition; some edge blemishes and tears. Housed in a simple wooden frame since 1977. There are over 100 signatures on this unique aviation treasure.
In addition to Amelia Earhart, other women aviators who signed were Jacqueline Cochran, Viola Gentry, Ruth Nichols, and Laura Ingalls. Famous non-aviation signatures include Britain's Prince Phillip, Barry Goldwater, New York Mayor Fiorella LaGuardia, Generals Spatz, LeMay, Westmoreland, Westover, Vanderberg, Lahm, Udet, Douglas, and Kemper; also, Admiral Richard Byrd, Admiral McMillan, baseball great Ted Williams, and "Zack" Moseley, the famous World War II cartoonist.
In 1931, Major James G. Adams was the Operations Supervisor at Floyd Bennet Field, New York's first airport. During his tenure in this position, Major Adams came into contact with many aviation "greats"; it was Adams who cleared Douglas Corrigan for take-off to California when Corrigan proceeded to fly to Europe, earning him the nickname "Wrong Way" Corrigan. Major Adams (1892-1977) was a world War I fighter pilot and a World War II squadron commander. As a young lieutenant, he trained with Eddie Rickenbacker. He was an aide to General Billy Mitchell and knew General C.L. Chennault of the famed "Flying Tigers," as well as Jimmy Doolittle. As a charter member of the Daedaliens, a group of World War I fighter pilots, Adams traveled the country for speaking engagements and continued his quest for the "Greatest Collection of Signatures in Aviation History."
Also included with this lot is a group of 27 photographs (14 of them are pasted front and back on 7 pieces of black paper), 4½"x2¾", c. 1930s, of some of the aviators, including Amelia Earhart, Wiley Post, Howard Hughes, Jacky Cochran, Frank Hawks, Ruth Nichols, and Roscoe Turner.
Estimated Value $25,000 - 50,000.
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