c1

The fellow in the rear cockpit is Lt. Robert Greim, later the Pour le Merite and Max Joseph Orden winner Lt. Robert Ritter von Greim who became a Luftwaffe General at the end of WWII. He is seen here with Flieger-Abteilung 3b (Bavarian) in Albatros C.I 62/15. He later commanded Jasta 34b. The term Ritter = Knight and came as a title of nobility when awarded Bavaria's Max Joseph Orden along with the right to use the word "von" before his last name.

NOT a Walrus - its a different model. This is the earlier one its a Seagull Mk III (the Walrus was the Seagull Mk V) - both HMAS Canberra and HMAS Australia had them as did HMAS Albatross. A9-6 This Airframe was Ordered by the RAAF in 1925 from Supermarine UK and it was shipped over to Australia crated as 'general cargo' on board the SS MALDARIA. It was then taken over by the RAAF and assembled and prepared for service in the usual manner. On 3 April 1934 this airframe and its RAAF Detachment (including Pilot) were embarked on board HMAS AUSTRALIA, they were disembarked on 8 April, then reembarked once more on 24 April 1934. On 26 April 1934 the Airframe was involved in making a forced Landing after suffering from engine trouble while becoming airborne off Port Jackson in Sydney Harbor and while still being on board HMAS Australia. Due to this the Airframe was Disembarked to RAAF Richmond on 9 May 1932 and in turn replaced on ship. After being reembarked by HMAS Australia after the completion of the necessary 'minor repairs' on 11 July 1932, she remained on board the cruiser as her regular aircraft for most of her service life. On 24 August 1934 the Airframe was wrecked while on board carrying out this duty during a severe gale while the Cruiser was under passage from Devonport to Bunbury, with the Airframe shortly afterwards being declared as beyond repair and SOC (Struck off charge) as of this date. A later combined RAAF/RAN Enquiry found that the cause of the Loss of A9-6 was that the main ring bolt securing the aircraft to the catapult platform failed. More Seagulls were lost in this manner on both HMAS Canberra and again on HMAS Australia before this situation was finally 'resolved'. This pick shows A9-6 shortly after this event took place. Stephen. NSW Aust.

Stephen Wow thanks for all the info Stephen - our records have been updated. A great pic!

It's very possible that this is a photo of Naval Air Station - Rockaway, in Queens, NY. It is identifiable by the building at the top of the photo, in the background, which appears to be US Lifesaving Station Rockaway, which was located just west of the air station, in Fort Tilden. Best guess on the date is sometime in 1917, soon after the air station was established.

This and the photo below, among this latest group of LOC Bain photos to be posted, is a photo of a US Navy C-Class blimp. See: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C-class_blimp For comparison purposes, see also this newsreel footage of C-Class blimps posted on YouTube by CriticalPast: YouTube - Critical Past: "U.S. Navy C-class airships at Fort Tilden, New York HD Stock Footage"

Looks like Rockaway is correct, see comment under

Art Siegel Excellent! Here's additional footage of a C-Class blimp taking off from the airship hangar at Fort Tilden (adjacent to NAS Rockaway) for a flight over Manhattan. The building in the photo on the left side of the frame is captured at approximately the 48-second mark of this film. YouTube - CrticalPast: "Manhattan, NY, viewed from U.S. Navy C-class Airship HD Stock Footage"