The 1930's could rightly be called the golden era of comedy films as this classic RKO release shows:
However Hollywood's light-hearted hilarity belied the mood of tension caused by war scares starting with the Czech Crisis in 1938. By September of the following year, an actual war had broken out in Europe. Attempting to reassure the public, the U.S. Army Air Corps displayed the 27th pursuit squadron's P-36 fighters in warpaint at the Cleveland air races. Photos of this famous flight-line in combat colors have become iconic.
Utterly forgotten today is that this Air Corps effort was not confined to just one air show or just one unit. In fact, the U.S. Left Coast got a display of Air Corps' readiness at the 1939 Los Angeles air races. also running that Labor Day weekend.
The ostensible excuse for this unique scheme were the regional Chowchilla war games held only days before. The 34th pursuit squadron's P-36 Hawks did indeed look every bit the business.
The crowd at the LA Air Races gaped at the intimidating camouflage, probably imagining air battles taking place in the skies above the great metropolis.
The pilots of the 34th squadron "Thunderbirds" were more than happy to oblige such flights of fancy and flew numerous aerobatic displays which culminated in speed dives that seemed aimed right at the grandstand.
Of course, having the public, especially the ladies, thinking war was imminent only served to enhance the pilots' prestige, not to mention their chances at the bars once night came.
Needless to say, the colorful Curtiss Hawks were the hit of the LA Air Races and everyone wanted to see them. Crowds swelled over the three days and all attendance records were shattered by the time the spectacle concluded.
While the "battle-ready" 34th pursuit squadron's P-36s and pilots got plenty of local press, they were completely over-shadowed by the concurrent display at the Cleveland Air Races.
Little evidence of the "Thunderbirds" war-like antics exist today save for a few blurry Kodak Brownie snapshots which were used (with liberal interpretation) as a reference for this model commemorating the event.
Despite numerous F.O.I.A. requests, no further documentation has been provided by either the Army, Air Force or General Services Administration. Queries to the air show's sponsor, the long-defunct California Chamber of Air Commerce went unanswered. A search of Los Angeles press archives yielded no usable photographs, but the pertinent local news briefs were at least well-written.
Brian da Basher
