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Distinguished aviator, Thomas G. Lanphier, Sr. (1890-1972), is the officer sitting and holding the child on the left side of the frame. He led the Army Air Service flight of six aircraft from from San Antonio, Texas to Puerto Rico in March 1923. Given the timeframe, it is likely that the child he is holding in his lap is his youngest son, James Lanphier (1920-1969), who'd later go on to become an actor. See: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_George_Lanphier_Sr. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Lanphier www.imdb.com/name/nm0487036/ Another distinguished aviator, Erik Henning Nelson (1888-1970), is sitting on the ground, next to Lanphier, second from left. He'd be among the Army Air Service aviators that from from San Antonio, Texas to Puerto Rico in 1923. The following year, he'd be a one of the Air Service aviators who would fly as a member of the Around the World Flight expedition flown with Douglas World Cruiser aircraft. See: dmairfield.com/people/nelson_eh/ en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_aerial_circumnavigation Charles B. Austin (1891-1928) is the third person standing from the right side of the frame. Austin attempted the first mail flight from Panama to Washington, D.C. in October 1920. See: www.arlingtoncemetery.net/cbaustin.htm

This is a photo of the would-be US Army Air Service Round The World Flight aviators. First row, sitting, from left to right, Erik H. Nelson, Frederick Martin, and Lowell H. Smith. Second row, standing, from left to right, Laclair D. Schulze, Leigh Wade, Leslie Arnold, and Jack Harding. See: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_aerial_circumnavigation Schulze (1891-1927) was an alternate for the flight. His name is frequently misspelled as "Le Clair D. Schulze." On August 2, 1927, he'd perish flight testing a new Curtiss engine. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery. See: www.arlingtoncemetery.net/ldschulze.htm Frederick Martin (1882-1954) was the commander for the expedition, but his aircraft would crash onto the side of a mountain in the Aleutians. Both he and co-pilot/mechanic Alva Harvey would survive the crash, and hike down to a cannery after a 10-day ordeal. Martin would go on to have a military career of note. In fact, he would be the commander of US Army Air Forces in Hawaii during the Imperial Japanese Navy's (IJN) sneak attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. See: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederick_Martin_(general)

This photo was published in the New Britain Herald. July 30, 1923, Page 9 chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn82014519/1923-07-30/ed-... From the caption: "Official Photo, U. S. Army Air Service" "Photo gives splendid indication of the real size of the Barling Bomber, world's largest air plane, soon to take the air at Wilbur Wright Field, Dayton, O. Note the height of the wheels compared with that of General Mitchell. Left to right: Walter H. Barling, designer of the plane, General William Mitchell, assistant chief, Air Service; Major Martin, Major A. W. Robins, Mr. Carisi. Lieutenant Dichman and Lieutenant Blackburn." The Evening Star. August 19, 1923, Page 4 chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045462/1923-08-19/ed-... has a description of the aircraft. See also www.earlyaviators.com/eschobe5.htm

This took a full day of research, but I have identified each and given them a Wikidata entry, if they lacked one already: Walter Henry Barling (1890-1965) www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q107577357 General William Mitchell (1879-1936) www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q863201 Major Harold Smith Martin (1892-1961) www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q107580274 Major Augustine Warner Robins (1882-1940) www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q4821225 John Carisi (1884-1960) www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q107577822 Lieutenant Ernest Wyckham Dichman (1892-1955) www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q107579240 Lieutenant Thomas Welch Blackburn (1892-1964) www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q107580412