Early Bird Plaque, National Air and Space Museum, 1992

EARLY BIRD PLAQUE
NATIONAL AIR AND SPACE MUSEUM

THE EARLY BIRDS
Membership shall be limited to those who piloted a glider or airplane, gas balloon or airship prior to December 17, 1916, upon evidence deemed sufficient by the Membership Committee and approved by the Board of Governors, except: Nationals of countries other than the United States engaged in World War I must have met the foregoing conditions prior to August 4,1914.

The Plaque Reads:

THE EARLY BIRDS OF AVIATION
COMMEMORATING WITH ADMIRATION AND GRATITUDE
THE SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE PROGRESS OF FLIGHT MADE BY THESE
PILOTS WHO FLEW SOLO BEFORE DECEMBER 17, 1916

The original bronze plaque is to be found in the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C.

COPIES OF PLAQUE MADE FOR MUSEUMS
In December 30, 1992, The Early Bird President asked that copies should be made and offered to Aviation museums in the country.
Maxine Hix was designated to create and distribute duplicates of the bronze plaque on heavy cardboard. Her report follows.

September 1, 1993
Dear Glenn Messer, Officers and Trustees,
I am pleased to report to you on the distribution of the replica plaques of the Early Birds which resulted from your letter dated December 30, 1992.
     This book documents the correspondence between myself and the recipients of the plaques. They have been placed in many of the finest museums in the country where they will long serve to honor the 598 pioneers named.
     It has been such a pleasure and a blessing for me to have personally known so many of the original Early Birds that it has been an honor to help in this small way to preserve the memory of these pioneers of aero space.
      All my correspondence was done in the name of the Early Birds of Aviation, Inc and their Associates.

The recipients are as follows:

1. Dominguez Adobe Museum
     Dominguez, California
     March 12, 1989
2. EAA Aviation Center
     Oshkosh, Wisconsin
     Sept 23, 1992
3. The Air Museum
     Chino, California
     Jan. 14, 1993
4. Pearson Air Museum
     Vancouver, Washington
     Jan. 14, 1993
5. Sun' Fun Museum
     Lakeland, Florida
     Jan. 15, 1993
6. New England Air Museum
     Windsor Locks, Connecticut
     Jan. 18, 1993
7. U. S. Air Force Museum of Aviation
     Warner Robins, Georgia
     Jan. 26, 1993 8. Ohio History of Flight
     Columbus, Ohio
     Jan. 26, 1993
9. Glenn H. Curtiss Museum
     Hammondsport, New York
     Feb. 6, 1993
10. Calif. Antique Aircraft Museum
      San Martin, California
      Mar. 6, 1993
11. Calif. Antique Aircraft Museum
      Oakland, California
      March 6, 1993
12. Fighter Pilot Museum
      Queensland, New Zealand
      April 29, 1993
13. Museum of Flying
      Santa Monica, California

      Sincerely,
      Maxine A. Hix

In addition, five plaques were given to Mary E. Rankin.
She in turn reports that they have been donated to the following locations:

1. Dunn Airpark
    Titusville, Florida
2. North Brevard Historical Museum
    Titusville, Florida
3. Valient Air Command Museum
    "T" Co. Airport
    Titusville, Florida
4. Aviation Section of Library
    In honor of Jim and Helen Allen
    Hammondsport, New York
5. Sun and Fun Air Museum
    Lakeland, Florida

Gallery 10


	THE EARLY BIRDS Membership shall be limited to those who piloted a glider or airplane, gas balloon or airship prior to December 17, 1916, upon evidence deemed sufficient by the Membership Committee and approved by the Board of Governors, except: Nationals of countries other than the United States engaged in World War I must have met the foregoing conditions prior to August 4,1914. The Plaque Reads: THE EARLY BIRDS OF AVIATION COMMEMORATING WITH ADMIRATION AND GRATITUDE THE SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE PROGRESS OF FLIGHT MADE BY THESE PILOTS WHO FLEW SOLO BEFORE DECEMBER 17, 1916 The original bronze plaque is to be found in the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C.