Berry & McCullough

This is an image of St. Louis competitors Pilot John Berry and his aide Paul McCullough as they sort through their equipment and balloon on June 4, 1909. This image was published in support of an article in the Indianapolis Star on June 5, 1909, the morning of the start of the Aero Club of America's national championship balloon race. The men were among the last to arrive at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway where the event was hosted and started. They worked into the evening to assemble and inflate their balloon, the University, as well as organize their tools and provisions for the trip. This was the team that was eventually recognized as the winner of the national championship race.