A Wedell Williams racer at United Airport (Bob Hope Airport), owned by famous pilot Colonel Roscoe Turner. Turner was known as a serious racing pilot, a Hollywood stunt pilot and showman. In 1930 he took on a new and unexpected flight partner--a lion. A year before, Turner had secured sponsorship by the Gilmore Oil Company, who had a lion as a corporate logo (see rear of plane), and realizing the potential publicity for both him and his sponsor, Turner acquired a lion cub and began flying with him. "Gilmore," the lion became a well-known national figure and, like Turner's uniform, one of the aviator's trademarks. Photo taken on August 22, 1932 at the start of the 1932 Bendix races to Cleveland, in which Turner placed 3rd with his flight time of 9:02:25.
Bob Hope Airport (Los Angeles County, Calif.) Airplanes--California--Burbank (Los Angeles County) Aeronautics--Competitions--California--Burbank (Los Angeles County) Endurance flights--California--Burbank (Los Angeles County) Turner, Roscoe,1895-1970 Burbank (Los Angeles County, Calif.) Wedell-Williams Air Service
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