Page 12 - Demo

Beginning at 2 pm, on Sunday July 19, 1931, Paul Baer Municipal Airport hosted an Aviation Day. Kenneth Siebert was in charge of the event which included loops and other aerial stunts such as a Dead Stick Landing. The winner was the pilot who could land his plane without power, then coast nearest to a specific mark on the field. In the Balloon Bursting event a pilot released balloons into the air, then attempted to pop them with his propeller. Attendees were also able to watch Transcontinental and Western Air%u2019s large trimotored planes take off and land on their scheduled runs between Columbus and Chicago. Musical entertainment was provided throughout the afternoon by the Two Play Boys.This cover was signed by two of the participating pilots, Harold Franklin Preston and Lloyd Kenneth Pierce. Preston was the Chief Pilot at the local Wayne Flying Service, and lived until 2001, when he died at the age of 95. Pierce died young, in 1940, when he and his student pilot had to parachute out of a spinning plane. The student landed safely, but Pierce%u2019s parachute malfunctioned. His was only 38 when his shattered body was found with his hand still clutching the ripcord.Printed on back: %u201cMfd. By J.W. Stoutzenberg, Maplewood, MO, All Rights Reserved%u201dAlso rubber-stamped on back, with the Edmond L. Miller logo above.