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The Harmon Trophy is a set of three international trophies, to be awarded annually to the world's outstanding aviator, aviatrix, and aeronaut (balloon or dirigible). A fourth trophy, the "National Trophy", was awarded from 1926 through 1938 to the most outstanding aviator in each of the twenty-one member countries and again from 1946–1948 to honor Americans who contributed to aviation. The award was established in 1926 by Clifford B. Harmon, a wealthy balloonist and aviator.

The awards are described by the Clifford B. Harmon Trust as:

"American awards for the most outstanding international achievements in the arts and/or science of aeronautics for the preceding year, with the art of flying receiving first consideration."

World War II and Harmon's death

Prior to World War II, the award was administered by the International League of Aviators (Ligue Internationale des Aviateurs), an organization founded by Harmon to serve as "an agent for Peace and National security." The League became defunct during the war and Harmon's death on June 25, 1945 in Cannes, France put the awards in turmoil. Harmon left $55,000 of his estate to continue funding the award in "perpetuity," but Harmon's relatives challenged the bequest. Ultimately, a trust fund of $48,431 was created in 1948.

During the period the awards were in litigation (1945–1948), the American Section of the League awarded the International Aviator Trophy to three U.S. leaders in aviation. However, since the awards were not approved by other League Sections, the awards are technically invalid. Also, these three awards were given without consideration to the "art of flying" and the awards did not recognize a superlative aviation achievement, rather recognized American aviation industry leaders. President Truman's staff questioned the award to Alexander de Seversky, Secretary of the Air Force Stuart Symington stating, "he did absolutely nothing to deserve it." Truman also did not make time to present the 1948 award to Trans World Airlines CEO Ralph Damon or Brazilian aviation pioneer Francisco Pignatari The award to Pan American World Airways President Juan Trippe in 1946 was the only one presented without debate.

Since 1997 or 1998, the National Aeronautic Association has been responsible for awarding the trophies. With the exception of the Aeronaut trophy, all are inactive.

The trustees wrestled with how to treat space flight. Bound by the court to offer only three trophies, the trustees first agreed that "feats of piloting in both earth orbiting or outer space vehicles will be considered for the Harmon Awards provided the vehicles are controlled by their pilots rather than from the ground." The advisory committee directed the trustees to alternate awarding the aeronaut trophy between balloonists and astronauts, but the trustees decided to offer the aviator award to aviation and astronaut recipients. A fifth trophy was created in 1969 to honor achievements in space flight.

Some aviatrix awards from 1980–1990 were awarded by the Ninety-Nines based on research performed by Fay Gillis Wells. This work was not coordinated with the NAA or Smithsonian.

The original awards were 24-inch-tall bronze statues. The aviator trophy depicts World War I flying ace Raoul Lufbery launching a biplane set next to an eagle about to take wing. The statuette was created by sculptor Roussadana M'divani. The Smithsonian Institution acquired the aviator's trophy in 1950 from the Clifford B. Harmon Trust. The aviatrix trophy depicts a winged goddess cradling a falcon with outstretched wings. The aeronaut trophy was lost in Germany between May 1940 and October 1953 and was believed to have been sold as scrap. The three-foot-tall, 150-pound statue of five aviators holding the globe on their shoulders was found in a junk store and subsequently given to the Smithsonian after the presentation of the 1952 awards.

List of award winners

The following is an incomplete list compiled from several sources. The Aeronaut, National and Astronaut categories have not been listed in a central location. The NAA and the Smithsonian Institution's National Air and Space Museum worked to assemble a complete list to be published in conjunction with the NAA's hundredth anniversary in 2005, however this project was not completed and it appears that the source documents for a period of awards were destroyed.

National Aeronautic Association.

Source:

See also

• List of aviation awards

References

1. "Harmon International Trophies Origin and Purpose". Personal Collection of Charles E. Rosendahl. University of Texas, Dallas.
2. "Clifford B. Harmon to President Herbert Clark Hoover". Hoover Papers, Hoover Library. 1929-11-23.
3. "Col.Harmon Dies; Aviation Pioneer; Donor of Aeronautic Trophy a Leader in Modern Technique --Suggested World Force Turned to Ballooning Wanted International Air Force Part in Naval Bombing" (fee required). The New York Times. 1945-07-03. p. 13. Retrieved 2007-01-22.
4. "3 Endorse Fund for Air Awards; Harmon Trophy Winners Testify in Fight of Heirs Against Bequest of $55,000" (fee required). The New York Times. 1948-04-21. p. 56. Retrieved 2007-01-22.
5. "$48,431 to Harmon Fund; Sum Willed by Air Enthusiast to Maintain Trophy Awards" (fee required). The New York Times. 1948-10-27. p. 54. Retrieved 2007-01-22.
6. "RB to Matthew J. Connelly". Truman Papers, Truman Library. 1947-06-14. p. WHCF: OF 1049 357R.
7. "Estelle Friedrichs to Matthew J. Connelly". Truman Papers, Truman Library. 1946-12-02. p. WHCF: OF 1049 357R.
8. "Matthew J. Connelly to Joseph P. Rowan". Truman Papers, Truman Library. 1949-07-25. p. WHCF: OF 1049 357R.
9. "Raphael H. Beauduy to Charles E. Rosendahl". Personal Collection of Charles E. Rosendahl. University of Texas, Dallas. 1962-02-21.
10. ^ "Edward F. X. Ryan to Mary V. Brosnahan". Personal Collection of Charles E. Rosendahl. University of Texas, Dallas. 1967-08-03.
11. ^ "Maj. Gentry Gets Harmon Trophy" (fee required). The New York Times. 1969-09-08. p. 82. Retrieved 2007-01-22.
12. "Archived copy". www.nasm.si.edu. Archived from the original on 5 December 2004. Retrieved 12 January 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
13. "Missing Air Trophy is Returned to U.S." (fee required). The New York Times. 1953-11-06. p. 14. Retrieved 2007-01-22.
14. Awards from 1926-1952 from Significant American and International Awards in Aviation, Bureau of Aeronautics, Department of the Navy, Revised February 1954
15. Aeronaut awards from 1998 on provided by the National Aeronautic Association's Recent aeronaut list
16. "Peace Ace". Time. 1927-01-24. Archived from the original on March 7, 2008. Retrieved 2007-02-16.
17. "Air Mail Ace Wins Harmon 1926 Trophy; Aviation Award to Pilot Short Is for Merit of Consistent Flying Over Spectacular Performances". The New York Times. 1927-01-14. Retrieved 2007-02-16.
18. Carl "Ben" Eielson Biography, National Aviation Hall of Fame Archived 2007-07-07 at the Wayback Machine
19. ^ The Harmon National Trophy for Australia, Airways Museum Virtual Tour
20. "Carl Ben Eielson, Pioneer Aviator". Office of Governor, State of North Dakota. Retrieved 2021-03-20.
21. Aviation Trophy Given to Doolittle; He Receives Harmon Award at Cleveland for His Work in "Blind" Flying, The New York Times, April 8, 1931
22. ^ General Balbo Wins the Harmon Trophy; Declared 1931 World Aviation Champion -- Ruth Nichols, Pangborn and Herndon Honored, The New York Times March 5, 1932
23. ^ Amelia Earhart Honored; Receives Award of Harmon Trophy for Transatlantic Flight, The New York Times April 15, 1933
24. ^ Post and Settle Win Flying Prizes; Gain Harmon International Trophies for 1933 for World and Stratosphere Flights. Mrs. Lindbergh Honored Takes Award as Leading U.S. Aviatrix Last Year -- Rosendahl and Eckener Also Named, The New York Times April 22, 1934
25. ^ Harmon Air Prize is Won by Scott; Briton Gets the International Award for Best Aviator -- Capt. Lehmann Honored, The New York Times March 11, 1935
26. ^ World's Air Title is Won by Musick; Veteran Pilot of Pan American Clipper Ships Is Named to Get the Harmon Trophy, The New York Times, April 18, 1936
27. ^ Air Prize for Hughes; Jean Batten Honored; American Cross-Country Flier and New Zealand Girl Get Harmon Trophies, The New York Times, March 1, 1937
28. ^ Merrill, Jean Batten Win Harmon Awards; Aviation Honors American and New Zealander-Hughes and Miss Cochran, Named, The New York Times, February 18, 1938
29. ^ Hughes is Named Aviation Champion; Round-the-World Flier Gets Harmon Trophy--Olds of Army Wins Medal and Diploma, The New York Times, March 25, 1939
30. De Seversky Honored for Plane Advances; Receives Harmon Trophy From President--Sees Air Navies, The New York Times, December 20, 1940
31. Trophy Presented to Miss Cochran; Flier Receives the Clifford Burke Harmon Award From Mrs. Roosevelt, The New York Times, November 9, 1940
32. Harry S. Truman - The President's Day, February 27, 1947
33. "Harry S. Truman - Truman presenting aeronautics award to Alexander de Seversky, June 24, 1947". Archived from the original on June 4, 2016. Retrieved January 22, 2007.
34. Ralph S. Damon Honored, The New York Times June 24, 1949
35. "RLK to Matthew J. Connelly". Truman Papers, Truman Library. 1950-03-22. p. WHCF: OF 1049 357R.
36. The Harmon Trophy was presented once for the entire decade. Time, November 13, 1950
37. ^ Harry S. Truman - The President's Day, November 2, 1950
38. ^ Harmon Prize Won by Col. Schilling; Leading Fighter Pilot in Last War Named World's Top Aviator of 1950, The New York Times, July 5, 1951
39. ^ Airline Pilot Wins Top Harmon Prize; Capt. C. F. Blair Jr. Is Named 'Outstanding Aviator' - Award to Mme. Auriol, The New York Times, July 5, 1952
40. ^ 3 Fliers Selected for Harmon Prizes; Col. Balchen, Jacqueline Auriol and Blimp Test Pilot Named Winners of 1953 {presented in 1953 for 1952} Trophies, The New York Times, July 5, 1953
41. ^ Yeager, Cochran Win Air Trophies; Harmon Judges Pick Major and Aviatrix for Flights Topping Speed of Sound, The New York Times, July 5, 1954
42. Harmon Prizes go for 2 Air 'Firsts'; Vertical-Flight Test Pilot and Airship Endurance Captain Are 1955 Winners, The New York Times, July 5, 1955
43. ^ 3 Aviators to get Harmon Trophies; British Test Pilot, French Woman Flier and American Navy Officer Picked, The New York Times, August 5, 1956
44. ^ Three Fliers Win Harmon Awards; Honored for Aerial Achievements, The New York Times, August 11, 1957
45. ^ LeMay and Navy Blimp Man Get Harmon Air Prize, The New York Times, November 13, 1958
46. Frenchman Cited as Flier of Year, The New York Times, December 12, 1959
47. ^ 2 Air Force Pilots Win Harmon Prizes, The New York Times, July 3, 1960
48. John F. Kennedy - Remarks Upon Presenting the Harmon Trophy to Three Test Pilots of the X-15 Rocket Plane, November 28, 1961
49. ^ President Gives Harmon Trophies; Three Pilots and Widow of Another Get Awards, The New York Times, October 19, 1962
50. ^ Astronaut to get a Harmon Trophy; Cooper Will Be Honored for Orbital Trip in 1963, The New York Times, August 2, 1964
51. Award to Dutch Balloonist Canceled by Harmon Trust, The New York Times, September 7, 1964
52. ^ 2 Named Winners of Harmon Prizes; Max Conrad and Late Mrs. Smith Hailed for Flights, The New York Times, August 8, 1965
53. Astronauts Names for Harmon Award, The New York Times, August 7, 1966
54. ^ Harmon Winners for 1967 {presented in 1967 for 1966} are Named, The New York Times September 10, 1967
55. "Harmon Awards to Astronauts". Lincoln Journal Star. Lincoln, Nebraska. UPI. September 11, 1967. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.
56. Lyndon B. Johnson, Remarks Upon Presenting the Harmon Trophy to Maj. William J. Knight, USAF, December 3, 1968
57. ^ Two R.A.F. Pilots to Share Harmon Aviator's Trophy, The New York Times September 7, 1970
58. ^ 5 Top Pilots Cited, The New York Times, September 21, 1973
59. ^ Gerald R. Ford - Remarks Upon Presenting the Harmon International Aviation Trophies, May 2, 1975
60. ^ The Daily Diary of President Ronald Reagan, Ronald Reagan Library, December 7, 1982
61. National Aeronautic Association
62. NAA Announces John Petrehn to Receive 2011 Harmon Trophy for Ballooning
63. Troy Bradley and Leonid Tiukhtyaev of the Two Eagles Balloon Flight to Receive the 2015 Harmon Trophy

External links

• Harmon Aeronaut Trophy (National Aeronautic Association)
• National Air and Space Museum list
• Harmon National Trophy for Australia

• Aviation competitions and awards
• Aviation awards
• Awards established in 1926
• Harmon Trophy winners