13thsquadron

Edgar August Goetz (1881-1956) See: www.findagrave.com/memorial/135499630/edgar-a.-goetz

Such a cool picture. I’d love to know what the How to keep happy sign suggests!

Flight ready for inspection sir!

Wonder if this was at March Field?

Waiting for the order to attack Kong as he approaches the Empire State Building?

Douglas Dolphin?

A30yoyo Looks like it could be!

Guy fourth from left totally popped his collar.

grace!

The Advanced Avigation (sic) Training Unit - "avigation" was a confusing term used briefly for aerial navigation - began in 1933 at Rockwell Field, Coronado, CA, with a class of 20 AAC pilots ranking from 2d lieutenant to major. The remaining 5 officers in the photo were probably instructors. In the light civvy suit front and center is Harold Gatty, "Prince of Navigators," who taught the Lindberghs and flew with Wiley Post. The Army engaged him as instructor at the Rockwell unit. The AAC had had only basic navigation training and very limited navigational aid equipment up to this time. This was a contributing cause to the loss of several planes and pilots during the 1934 air mail crisis. 3rd from right front is Capt. Westside Larson, who with Lt. Goetz as navigator in a Douglas Dolphin, intercepted an Army transport ship 130 miles off California in low visibility in May, 1934. (Goetz does not seem to be in this photo, probably because he was taking it.)