Big Doings at Kill Devil Hills
By CARL GOERC1I
Suit Chairman North Carolina Commission
Flfitrth Anniversary of Powered Flltht
Although all the details have not
as yet been worked out. here's a gen¬
eral idea of the program which it is
planned to carry out at Kill Devil Hills
December 14-17. Monday through
Thursday.
Last summer Governor Umstcad
appointed a nine-man state commission
which has been in charge of various
details in connection with the 50th
anniversary of powered flight. There
have been school programs, speeches at
civic clubs, aero tours, radio programs,
special articles in newspapers and
magazines and many other features.
Sponsored by the state commission,
another committee was appointed last
August, composed of Miles Clark,
chairman, and Elbert Cox, Carl
Gocrch, Wade Marr. Ralph Whitener,
Christopher Crittenden and Aycock
Brown. This is the committee which
is in charge of the Kill Devil Hills
celebration. The event is sponsored
by the Kill Devil Hills Memorial So¬
ciety, the Air Force Association, the
National Park Service and the North
Carolina Commission.
So much for the background: now
for the program.
The hangar and work-shed used by
the Wright brothers arc being re¬
stored. So is the monorail they used
while undertaking the first flight.
There will be many static exhibits
in the neighborhood of the monument,
featuring interesting phases in the
progress of aviation.
Monday will be private fliers’ and
pioneers’ day. It is expected that more
than a hundred private planes will land
at the airstrip just south of the monu¬
ment. Many old-timers in the field
of aviation are expected. There will
be a dawn-patrol flight sponsored by
the C.A.P., there will be a program
in the vicinity of the monument, lay¬
ing of a wreath at the base, flights
made by various types of aircraft and
a luncheon at the Carolinian Hotel.
Tuesday will be aviation industries
day. A feature of the program on this
day will be the raising of three flags
— that of the United States, the United
Nations and an International Good
6
•*=ч
Will Flag. The latter will be a flag
that will be flown around the world a
few days before the start of the cele¬
bration.
Wednesday will be Defense Day and
most of the program will have to do
with the military, including brief talks
by prominent officers and a display of
military aerial strength.
On all three of these days there
will be flights by dirigibles, helicopters
and small and large planes of other
types. There will be demonstrations
of gliders, crop dusting, etc. There also
will be luncheons at the Carolinian
Hotel, and a buffet supper Wednesday
night.
Thursday will be Anniversary Day.
Again there will be a dawn patrol,
there will be wreaths placed by heli¬
copters at the base of the monument.
At 10:35 the first flight of the Wright
brothers will be re-enacted by the old¬
est plane that could be found — 1910
vintage. There will be the introduction
of high military officials, governors.
U. S. senators, congressmen and men
prominent in the field of aviation.
Hundreds of military planes of all
types will fly over the monument. The
distinguished visitors will be enter¬
tained at a luncheon following conclu¬
sion of the program at Kill Devil Hill.
These arc just a few of the many
features of the elaborate program
which is being prepared, and we feel
sure that those people who attend —
regardless of which day they select for
their visit — will feel well repaid for
making the trip.
A few words about accomodations:
There arc at least half a dozen ho¬
tels on the beach that will be open
for this occasion. Also the Fort Ra¬
leigh Hotel at Mantco. If you’re plan¬
ning to spend the night. I suggest you
write Mrs. Sarah Halliburton. Cham¬
ber of Commerce, Nags Head, for
rooms.
Lloyd Griffin of Goldsboro will have
a portable kitchen on the monument
grounds and will serve fresh barbecue.
Some of the church organizations ol
Dare County also will serve sand¬
wiches and other things to cat. Din¬
ing rooms of some of the hotels will
be open.
If the weather is favorable, indica¬
tions arc that more than 25,000 visitors
will be at Kill Devil Hills during the
four days. If the weather is bad. there
will be comparatively few people in
attendance. Regardless of this, how¬
ever. North Carolina during the last
six months has received publicity over
radio programs and in magazine and
newspaper articles that could not have
been bought for many hundreds of
thousands of dollars.
The Governor of Oklahoma, to¬
gether with a party of twenty, will fly
from Oklahoma City. General Mat¬
thew Ridgway, General Emmett
O’Donnell. Jr., General James Doo¬
little and many other prominent mili¬
tary officers will be there. So will
Senators Bricker, Goldwater.
Носу.
Lennon, and several members of Con¬
gress. Governor Umstcad and members
of the Council of State have signi¬
fied their intention of being present.
Congressman Bonner, in whose dis¬
trict Kill Devil Hills is located, will be
another distinguished guest. So will
Comptroller General Lindsay C. War¬
ren. who did so much toward mak¬
ing the monument possible.
THE STATE. OCCCMOCR 12. 1953
