"Jimmy Doolittle Thompson Trophy winner"

"Jimmy Doolittle Thompson Trophy winner"
by F. Warren.

The 1932 Thompson Trophy Race is considered one of the classics in the series. Eight aircraft participated in that year's race, which was ultimately won by Jimmy Doolittle flying the Gee Bee R-1 racer built by the Granville Brothers in Springfield Massachusetts. Roscoe Turner, one of the great aviation showmen of the era, flew a Gilmore Oil Co. sponsored Wedell-Turner racer. Robert Hall flew his newly designed Hall Bulldog. Jim Wedell participated in his Wedell 44, as did Jim Haizlip flying a Wedell-92. Other participants included Lee Gelbach flying the Gee Bee R-2, William Ong flying his new DGA-5 Ike, and Ray Moore piloting an aluminum Rider R-1.

The 1932 Thompson was the only race in which the infamous Gee Bee Model R participated. This aircraft was nasty to fly. Lowell Bayles had won the 1931 Thompson race flying a Gee Bee Z racer. However, Bayles was killed in a flying accident prior to the 1932 competition, and Bob Hall, who was formerly the Granville Brothers chief designer, left the organization to strike out on his own. Not to be left out of the 1932 race, the Granvilles developed two race aircraft the R-1 and R-2. Although similar in appearance, the R-2 was set-up for long distance racing whereas the R-1 was built for speed. The Granville's sold the R-1 to Russell Boardman who planned to pilot it in the 1932 race. Prior to the race Boardman was hospitalized. Jimmy Doolittle became available to fly the R-1 after he crash landed his Laird racer on the eve of the races. If anyone could tame the difficult-to-fly R-1, Doolittle was probably the man.

When the race began at 5:20 PM Doolittle used half power to maintain control during takeoff. On the first lap Jimmy took the lead despite flying wide turns in order to maintain control. On the second lap the R-1 began to emit a stream of gray-black smoke due to too high rich a fuel mixture. Doolittle continued to pour it on attempting to lap the entire field for a little frosting on his victory.

The 1932 Thompson would be Doolittle's last, and it was the only Thompson in which the infamous R-1 would compete.

The following material was extracted from the complete article which may be read HERE.

THE THOMPSON TROPHY STORY
By Bill Meixner

Early in the summer of 1929, Cleveland buzzed with excitement about the National Air Races scheduled to come to town. Mr. Lee Clegg of Thompson Products was approached by a volunteer worker of the National Air Races to ask if Thompson Products Co. would provide a trophy for one of the many races being held for the first time in Cleveland. Clegg and Ray Livingstone looked over the list of races needing a trophy and discovered that, for whatever reason, no other company chose to provide a trophy for the International Land Plane Free-For-All.

Clegg sent Livingstone down to the Webb C. Ball Co. where he purchased a very large loving cup for the sum of $25 plus $10 for the engraving. With the major success of the 1929 races in Cleveland, including Doug Davis winning the cup in a civilian Travel Air, Livingstone and Clegg suggested to Charles E. Thompson that a sanction be obtained from the National Aeronautic Association to establish a permanent Thompson Trophy and this was done.

A deed of gift for the Charles E. Thompson Trophy was drawn up along with a set of flexible rules to apply to the race. Mr. Thompson felt most trophies, were very poor and incorrect from a standpoint of art. Fred Witt wrote a remarkable description of the symbolism and inspiration the company felt the trophy should express.

Dr. Henry Turner Bailey, a national art authority, suggested the company contact four notable United States sculptors to prepare clay sketches. Dr. Bailey, aided by a committee of Orville Wright, David Ingalls, Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Aeronautics, Hon. F. Trubee Davidson, Assistant Secretary of War for Aeronautics; and Col. Clarence Young, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Aeronautics, would judge the sketches. When the five plaster sketches were received, Livingstone took them first to Dayton, Ohio for Orville Wright to judge, he than took them to Washington DC for the Secretaries opinion and than back to Dr. Bailey in Cleveland.

Unanimously, the five judges chose the design submitted by Walter A. Sinz, of Cleveland, as the most appropriate. This work was excellent in workmanship and rich in idealism and significance.

Walter Sinz working on the clay model of the trophy

The trophy was fashioned of bronze, mounted on a black marble base. It represented Icarus, the first man to fly, according to Greek mythology, with wings spread, facing skyward, symbolizing man's ever-constant desire to fly. A tapered cliff rises behind Icarus, suggesting man's progress in conquering the air throughout the centuries. In bas relief about the cliff are sculptured epochal milestones in man's attainment of great speeds. Above the cliff are billowy clouds, perched eagles, and a rising sun; and surmounting all is the high-speed airplane that won the last years Thompson Trophy Race. (Note: this was done for two years and discontinued). Names of the winning pilots were to be engraved on the ten shields mounted beneath the clouds.

According to the terms of the deed of gift, the trophy was to be in competition for at least ten years, after which it could be retired or continued at the discretion of the National Aeronautic Association. It was to be awarded annually to the foreign nation, department of government service, organization or chapter of the National Aeronautic Association represented by the winning pilot, (a plan never actually followed) to be properly exhibited until one month prior to the date it is next competed for. He also posted an endowment fund with the National Aeronautic Association, interest on which will be used to annually purchase gold, silver and bronze plaques of the trophy, to be awarded to the first three pilots in the race. Upon the trophy being retired, this fund would revert to the National Aeronautic Association for the use as that organization saw fit in the promotion of aeronautics.

Mr. Thompson expressed the wish that the prize money for the event also be consistent with its importance, with other awards made in similar circumstances, and in keeping with the ideas of the National Aeronautic Association. To carry out this intention, Mr. Thompson volunteered an amount, equal to the sum posted by the Chicago Air Race Corporation for the first flying year of the race. This body appropriated $5,000 and Mr. Thompson contributed a like amount, bringing the total prize money to $10,000, more than had ever been posted for an air speed contest.

The Thompson was an unlimited race in that there were no physical restrictions placed on the airplane as to engine size, number of engines, etc., although a qualifying speed had to be met. Later a restriction was included that said no women were allowed to enter.

Doolittle admiring the Thompson Trophy after his 1932 victory

For the Enthusiast who has everything...

You can now purchase a replica of the Thompson Trophy, as well as a number of other famous racing trophies, from:

and it only costs $4,500

2002 Wings Publishing