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National Air Races Cleveland Ohio Home Movie Jimmy Doolittle Geebee Racing Plane 53204 (1932)

1932 · Short film · 25 min

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Synopsis

This silent, black and white home movie appears to date to 1932, the year that James "Jimmy" Doolittle flew the GeeBee racing aircraft and won the Thompson Trophy at the National Air Races. The 1932 races were held in Cleveland Ohio August 27 to September 5. As it was the height of the "plane craze", many new racing planes debuted at the N.A.R. In addition to the Bendix race from Burbank, California to Cleveland there were six other cross-country races, twenty-one closed course races and two speed dashes. The film opens with a view of the airfield and the grandstand of the National Air Races in Cleveland Ohio. The radio tower marked " Bendix " (mirrored in this case as the film is flipped) can be seen in the foreground at:35. The GeeBee airplane rolls across the field to a soft landing 1:11. Men approach the plane and escort it towards the grandstand 1:40. The plane is taxied by the men to a group of people assembled under an American flag 2:00. Flags flying with the letters N.A.A ( National Aeronautic Association ) ripple in the breeze 2:16. A biplane, billowing smoke make sharp turns on the grassy field 2:44. The biplane maneuvers dangerously close to the ground 3:26. The biplane is piloted by a man in the top hat 3:30. A biplane loops upside down over the airfield 3:47. The upside-down biplane sores overhead 4:21. Announcers and radio reporters at the event 5:03. Cliff Henderson, chief promoter of the event, is likely visible in this shot. A biplane soars into the air and…

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Details

Running time
25 minutes
Collection
Ephemeral Films

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