The Junior Birdmen of America was a national organization for boys and girls interested in aviation and model plane building, founded and promoted by the Hearst Communications newspaper chain, with the cooperation of the U.S. Bureau of Air Commerce. The Junior Birdmen of America (JBA) program was officially launched on April 15, 1934, with notices published in every William Randolph Hearst-owned newspaper in America. The cost to join and become a JBA member originally was one dime sent to your local Hearst newspaper. Within a year, Hearst newspapers were reporting Junior Birdmen membership was over 151,000 by 1935. By 1937, there were over 578,000 members.