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As per Glenn Curtiss - Pioneer of Flight (1991), by Cecil R. Roseberry, this photo depicts the christening and launching of the Curtiss Model H Flying Boat "America" on June 22, 1914 in Hammondsport, New York, just adjacent to Keuka Lake. From left to right, aviators John Cyril Porte, George E.A. Hallett, and (builder) Glenn Curtiss stand below 16-year old Miss Katherine Masson. Miss Masson, the daughter of Leon Masson, an official with the Pleasant Valley Wine Company (and granddaughter of Jules Masson), was chosen to christen the America with a bottle of champagne (which proved to be a fitful task). The aircraft's construction by Glenn Curtiss was commissioned by Rodman Wanamaker, the son of department store founder John Wanamaker, in order to compete for the ₤10,000 prize offered by the Daily Mail newspaper for the first non-stop aerial crossing of the Atlantic Ocean. The Curtiss Model H-1 flying boat was Initially known as the "Rodman Wanamaker Transatlantic Flyer," but the name "America" was chosen for the aircraft by Wanamaker. Ultimately, the outbreak of the the First World War would intercede and "America" would never make its planned transatlantic flight. Here's a link to British Pathe newsreel film of the assembly and christening of the America, along with footage of a stubborn bottle of champagne. www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=80471 Another Bain photo of the trio and Miss Masson:

Other Bain/LOC photos of the flying boat, "America": and another Curtiss flying boat:

TVL1970: Thank you so much for the extremely detailed information, complete with source citation. And that video was a treat to watch! Quite the stubborn bottle of champagne, indeed. It's great to see moving footage to go along with these still images. We will add details to all of the photographs related to the 'America' using the facts you've provided. Thanks again!

John Cyril Porte, a retired Briish aviator, and George Hallett, were pilot and co-pilot on a project to attempt a non-stop Atlantic crossing by air. They were to fly the Rodman Wanamaker airship, America, from Newfoundland to Ireland in the summer of 1914. The original plan had been to fly in June, but problems with the plane's design led to postponement well into July. Porte insisted on flying at night during the full moon so that he could navigate by the stars. By the time the America was ready to fly, the next avialable date that met Porte's criteria was in August 1914. Unfortunately, the outbreak of The Great War that month caused the ocean crossing to be cancelled.

Other Bain/LOC photos of the flying boat, "America": and another Curtiss boatplane:

I started an entry for Hallett: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Eustace_Amyot_Hallett

puzzlemaster, Wystan and Richard Arthur Norton, Thanks to all for both bringing more information to these photographs as well as gathering related images. We will be adding new information to quite a few photographs related to the 'America' when we update our records.

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