U.S. Aviation Schools - Aerial Navigation Instructions, circa 1917

The T. E. Bennett Aviation Collection is a small collection of World War I and Post-World War I related documents collected by Mr. Bennett. The collection is divided into two major series.

Mr. Bennett was Secretary of the Aero Club of Dayton during the early 1920s. Series I, Dayton Aero Club contains primarily newspaper clippings collected by Mr. Bennett. One file contains clippings documenting activities of the Aero Club of Dayton. A second file contains clippings of World War I events. Of particular interest are clippings reporting the death of Germany’s “Red Baron.” The third file contains clippings reporting aviation-related events after World War I. Of particular interest are clipping discussing the need to establish a separate Air Force, independent of the U.S. Army and several clippings reporting the altitude record established by Major R. W. Schroeder, Chief Test Pilot at McCook Field, Dayton, Ohio.

Mr. Bennett was a pilot during World War I. Series II, U.S. Army Publications/Records contains U.S. Army publications he received during and shortly after World War I. Of particular interest to aviation enthusiasts are instructions given to pilots and student pilots at the Kelly Field U.S. Aviation School including, “General Instructions,” “Notes and Rules for Pilots,” “Instructions for Spirals,” and “Aerial Navigation Instructions.” The series also contains some blank publications/forms including, “Morning Report,” “Efficiency Report,” and “Service Record.”