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The NAA Brewer Trophies
In 1943, the National Aeronautics Association established the Office of Air Youth and proposed to establish an annual trophy
to be awarded in recognition of unselfish service for the advancement of air youth. Mr. Frank G. Brewer, Sr.
accepted sponsorship service and endowment of this trophy to honor two sons who were World War II veterans, Frank Jr. and
Robert. Robert was a paratrooper, who jumped on D-Day, was captured, and later died in a German prisoner of war camp. In
addition, he established two others to recognize these same contributions in the State of Alabama and in his home city of
Birmingham.
The first trophies were awarded in December 1943 to commemorate the 40th Anniversary of the Wright Brothers’ first flight
at Kitty Hawk. The National Trophy was presented to the Civil Aeronautics Administration, the State Trophy went to the Birmingham
Exchange Club, and the City Trophy was awarded to Mr. Brown G. Hill.
Due to scarcity of metal during the war years, the first Brewer Trophy award was a certificate, not a trophy, presented in
the Office of the Vice President of the United States, Henry A. Wallace, to the Civil Aeronautics Administration "for the
Civilian Pilot Training Program, making it possible for 250,000 youths, 15 to 18 years of age, to exploit their interest in
aviation, by availing themselves of aviation education on a nation wide basis in high schools."
With determined resolve, Frank G. Brewer, Jr. negotiated an agreement with the Smithsonian Institution on May 26, 1952, whereby
the original of the Frank G. Brewer National Trophy was permanently enshrined in the National Air and Space Museum.
On December 17, 1952, as an indication that the Brewer Trophy had achieved prominence as "the nation’s highest award
for aerospace education" the award presentation was made at the Aero Club of Washington by the President of the United States,
Harry S. Truman to the Civil Air Patrol.
The three Brewer Trophies were awarded each year through 1956. Upon Mr. Brewer’s death in 1957, his son Frank Jr. requested that the State and City trophies be retired. The original Alabama State and Birmingham City trophies are on permanent
display at the Southern Museum of Flight in Birmingham. The National Aeronautics Association continues to present the National
Trophy annually.
In 1986 Mr. Brewer, Jr. established a trust fund with the National Aeronautic Association to provide in perpetuity the annual
awarding of the Brewer Trophy. This trophy is acclaimed to be the most prestigious award in aerospace education.
In 2006 Mr. Brewer, Jr. and his son Frank III began motions to form a corporation "to promote Aviation Education through the
Brewer Trophy and support the NAA, the Smithsonian Institution, and other organizations in enhancing the promotion and growth
of Aviation Education". The Brewer Trophy Aviation Education Association was formally incorporated on May 8, 2007 and became
an NAA Affiliate on June 6, 2007.
Family Biographies
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