JAMES L. RUTLEDGE A letter from the aviator sending a requested photograph and signature, and thanking the recipient for sending his own photographs of fellow aviator James Knight Typed letter signed: "James L. Rutledge/Electric Auto-Lite Co./Toledo, Ohio", 1p, 8½x11. Toledo, Ohio, 1941 March 31. To Bill Schneider, Jr., Rahway, N. J. In full: "Enclosed you will find the covers and pictures with my signature on them in the manner requested by you in your letter of March 17. [Items not included.] I am sorry not to have complied with your request sooner but since I was out of town it was not possible for me to do so till now. It was no trouble whatever for me to sign these for you and I was only to [sic] happy to be able to add in my turn to your collection. However, thank you for the photos of Jack Knight as I am glad to have them. Hoping that the enclosed are just in the order you desire, I remain, Very truly yours". JAMES L. RUTLEDGE was an early aviator. The Electric Auto-Lite Co., which was among the first American firm to produce headlights, promoted the sale of WWII war bonds in 1943, two years after this letter was written. JAMES "JACK" KNIGHT was known as the "hero of the U.S. Air Mail Service, for his 672-mile flight from North Platte, Nebraska to Chicago's Checkerboard Field during the first all-night transcontinental air mail flight. Knight, who was scheduled for the North Platte-Omaha, Nebraska leg of the relay, volunteered for the second leg despite the bad weather, lack of knowledge regarding the route and physical injuries from a previous accident while flying the mail. Lightly creased with folds, horizontal fold underlines signature. Lightly stained across upper blank margin. Darker 3x¾-inch stain at blank lower margin. Slightly frayed at right edge. Otherwise, fine condition. - Please contact us if you have any questions or require additional information. DOCUMENT 264412

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