Birmingham Air Carnival in 1940

In March 2021 I posted an article about the 8th annual National Air Carnival held in Birmingham on June 4-5, 1938. This air show was a well-attended event over a number of years in the city. As fate would have it, I have come across an item on the 1940 Carnival in the Gadsden Times. Several individuals are mentioned; let's explore the details.See comments below the article.Source: Gadsden Times 26 May 1940Steadham Acker [1896-1952]Source: Birmingham Aero Club Acker was a Gadsden native who became an important figure in early aviation, especially in Alabama. He was a member of the Early Birds of Aviation, pilots who flew before World War I. While serving in the U.S. Navy, he organized its first night flying unit. Acker was named manager of the newly opened Birmingham Municipal Airport in January 1932. About the same time he and Asa Rountree organized the National Air Carnival, which eventually attracted hundreds of thousands of spectators and many performers to the city. Although…