In 1903, America led the world in aviation. By 1919, its aviation industry was lagging behind other nations. Europe was beginning commercial airlines, but in the much larger United States, aviation seemed limited to aerial entertainment. Americans appeared to be losing interest in aviation.
“The Great Air Race: Glory, Tragedy, and the Dawn of American Aviation,” by John Lancaster, recounts an almost forgotten 1919 transcontinental air race. Hosted by the Army Air Service and limited to military pilots, it was billed as a demonstration of capability rather than a race. It attempted to revive America’s aviation industry.
The “Transcontinental Reliability and Endurance Test,” as it was officially known, was the brainchild of Brig. Gen. William “Billy” Mitchell, then America’s foremost air power advocate. In 1919, he was at the height of his influence as a war hero and director of military aeronautics, and he organized the race as a readiness demonstration. Army pilots starting in New York and San Francisco would cross the continent to the other city and then fly back to their origin. Half would start in each city. It was not intended to be a race—but the competitive instincts of the participants made it one….