In 1926 Clifford B. Harmon, a wealthy aviation enthusiast, established the Clifford B. Harmon Award to honor the world's
most celebrated aviators. The international version of the award honored such famous persons as
Louis Bleriot and Charles Lindberg.
THE TROPHY
The Harmon National Aviators Trophy was used to honor outstanding aviation achievement on the national
level. Once a nation, in those very early days of organized aviation, had a national aviation
organization (such as Latvia's Aero Club) it could apply for the right to make an annual presentation to
the most outstanding aviator from that nation.
Accordingly, in 1928, Rudolfs Celms approached the Harmon committee and the Latvian Aeroclub of the
day was granted permission to award the annual trophy.
