cbaustin

Standing and to the left-most side of the frame is Erik Henning Nelson, who would go on to be one of the Around The World Flight aviators in 1924, one year after this photo was taekn. Here are just a couple of the dozens of photos of Nelson in the SDASM's Flickr photostream: See: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_aerial_circumnavigation www.dmairfield.org/people/nelson_eh/index.html and www.afhra.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=11346 Sitting at center is Thomas G. Lanphier, Sr. (1890-1971). en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_George_Lanphier_Sr. Sitting to Lanphier's left is Charles B. Austin (1891-1928).

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

United States Army Air Service pioneering aviator, Lt. Charles B. Austin (1891-1928), sitting atop a modified license-built de Havilland DH-4 aircraft. The photo was taken at France Field in the Panama Canal Zone (PCZ) (see linked photo from the SDASM below regarding the location). Given the date on the photo ("10/9/20") and the modifications to the aircraft (in the form of the faired-over front cockpit, which now held an additional fuel tank), this photo was likely taken as part of coverage of his aborted attempted solo air mail flight from France Field, Panama Canal Zone (PCZ) to Washington, D.C., in October 1920. See: Charles Bernard Austin (1891-1928) - Arlington National Cemetery Website "The Aborted 1920 Airmail Flight," by Robert J. Karrer, Jr., The Canal Zone Philatelist, Vol. 31, No. 4, Fourth Quarter 1995. "Army Air Flight from Panama to Washington," Army and Navy Journal, Vol. LVII, No. 49, Pages 1510-11, August 7, 1920 "The Canal Zone - U.S. First Air Dispatch," Scott's Monthly Journal, Vol. I, No. 10, Page 5, December 1920 The San Diego Air & Space Museum (SDASM) Archives on the Flickr Commons, features a collection of photos belonging to Charles B. Austin taken and collected during his time based at France Field in the Panama Canal Zone (PCZ). See: Flickr Commons - San Diego Air & Space Museum (SDASM) Archives - Lt. Charles Austin Special Collection Here is a photo of Austin from that collection: Also, among the photos in the SDASM's Austin Special Collection is a photo of President-elect, then- Senator Warren G. Harding visiting France Field, on November 27, 1920. Note, Harding's traveling party and military officers are photographed in front of same type of (if not the very same) hangar and building depicted in the Bain Collection photo of Lt. Austin and his aircraft above.

Thanks for all the information and useful links! We'll add details to the description at our end.