Leach Aviation Print: “The First Bail-Out” (depicting Harold R. Harris use of parachute in 1922), autographed by Harold R. Harris, 1967

The collection consists primarily of 28 aviation prints from Leach International’s advertising art series “Heritage of the Air,” commemorating WWI era planes, pilots, and events. The full series included 45 images, all painted by Merv Corning. One of the included prints, “The First Bail-Out,” depicts the first use of a parachute to save the pilot’s life, that of Harold R. Harris in 1922; the print is autographed by Harris. Also included is a 1981 snapshot of Harris standing near the Old North Dayton location of his famous parachute landing.