MUSICK MEMORIAL

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 140, 16 June 1939, Page 8

MUSICK MEMORIAL

THE FIRST AWARD

PRESENTATION CEREMONY

(By Air Mail, from "The Post's" London Representative.) LONDON, May 26. Before a distinguished gathering at the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Whitehall, the Musick Memorial, Trophy, which was founded last year by the people of Auckland, was presented to Mr. Arthur Gouge, B.Sc, F.R.Ae.E., chief designer of Messrs. Short Bros., of Rochester, last night. The presentation was made by Major Lester Gardner, secretary of the Institute of Aeronautical Science of the United States, immediately before Dr. G. Lewis, president of the institute, delivered the Wilbur Wright Memorial Lecture. Major Gardner is one of the best-known personalities in American aviation. It was a short, simple ceremony. After the annual awards of the Royal Aeronautical Society of Great Britain had been presented to the winners by Mr. A. G. R. Fedden, the president, Major Gardner was "called upon." "About a year ago," said Major Gardner, "we had a letter from New Zealand saying that they wished to establish an award, and asking for the Institute of Aeronautical Sciences to act as adviser with the Royal Aeronautical Society. "The first award of this trophy has been made to Mr. Arthur Gouge, chief designer of Messrs. Short Bros., Ltd. The Musick Memorial Trophy was founded in.1938 as a memorial to Captain Edwin Musick and his six companions who were lost in the Samoan Clipper on January 12, 1938, on the first commercial flight from the United States of America to Auckland. RECIPIENT'S THANKS. ■ "The Musick Memorial Award is presented annually to the group, body, or individual who has made the contribution, development, or improvement which by its practical application has become most effective in furthering the safety of aircraft with special regard to trans-oceanic aviation. It is a great pleasure to me to present this first award to Mr. Arthur Gouge." With the entire audience applauding, Mr. Gouge received from Major Gardner a replica of the Musick Memorial Trophy. The two men shook hands, and Mr. Gouge returned to his seat. I The presentation was over. Dr. Lewis I proceeded to give his lecture. After tlie lecture, which was entitled "Some Modern Methods of Research in the Problem of Flight," and dealt with experiments in wind tunnels conducted in America, Major Gardner and Mr. Gouge were photographed together beside the trophy itself. "I am delighted to be the first man to whom the Musick Memorial Trophy has been presented," Mr. Gouge said. "You may be sure that this replica' will find an honoured place in my home. The original, of course, will remain in the keeping of the Royal Aeronautical Society in Hamilton Place until the next award is made. "Please convey my warmest thanks to the people of Auckland. They can rest well assured that, the founding of the award has the entire approval of aeronautical circles, and the news of its presentation every year will be received with the greatest interest."