donalddouglas

On the left is the founder of Douglas Aircraft Company and designer of the Douglas DWC aircraft used in the Around the World Flight, Donald W. Douglas. See: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Wills_Douglas,_Sr. At right is Douglas Aircraft general plant manager, Harry Wetzel. At center is Maj. Frederick L. Martin, the leader of the flight (until his aircraft, "Chicago" crashed and was destroyed near Port Moller, Alaska). Martin and mechanic SSGT Alva Harvey would eventually find safety ten days after the crash upon reaching a nearby settlement. Martin, after being promoted to General would later serve as the commander of the Hawaii Air Force during the Japanese sneak attack on Pear Harbor on December 7, 1941. See: www.arlingtoncemetery.net/flmartin.htm

Possibly Douglas O-25 29-164 c/n 550 (O-2H with 600 hp Curtiss Conqueror V-1570-5 engine, to Wright Field as P-538). Compare this to the image at the link below, with an awesome Boeing Images watermark: www.boeingimages.com/archive/Douglas%20O-25%20Observation... Below is another SDASM image of 28-164, no watermark, but of unfortunate quality: See also O-25A 30-164 below, which has no rear gun installation: And below, another version of our subject image, also from SDASM in the low-rez days.

The man in the suit not wearing a hat, appears to be Donald Douglas himself. Here is a photo (apparently) taken at the same occasion with Victor Bertrandias:

Donald Douglas, Sr.