gardencityny

Given the aircraft type, the pilot's name, and the fact that this is among the latest series of photos posted from the Bain Collection (which includes photos of the 1920 Collegiate Aerial Races at Mitchel Field), this photo depicts aviator Clarence B. Coombs flying an Orenco Type F Tourister ("Orenco Tourister") at Mitchel Field, Long Island, in May 1920. Coombs' flying the Orenco (built in nearby Baldwin, Long Island) is noted in an Aircraft Journal report about the aforementioned air races (Aircraft Journal, "Collegiate Flying Competition at Mineola," Vol. VI, No. 19, May 10, 1920, Page 6), "At the close of the meeting the Orenco Tourister, piloted by Clarence Coombs and carrying three passengers, established a new altitude record for four on board by climbing 16,000 feet, beating the previous record by some 2,000 feet." See also, additional photos and information on the Orenco Tourister: aviadejavu.ru/Site/Crafts/Craft33176.htm

Clarence Blair Coombs (1888-1944) www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q41673938

United States Army Air Service aviators of the 1920 Alaskan Expedition, photographed at Mitchel Field, Long Island, (L to R), St. Clair "Bill" Streett, Clifford C. Nutt, Ross C. Kirkpatrick, Erik H. Nelson, and Clarence E. Crumrine. The same photo is featured in U.S. Air Service, Vol. 4, No. 1, August 1920, Page 8. The expedition consisting of four Army Air Service de Havilland DH-4B aircraft and crew (several of which would have distinguished careers in aviation), flew round trip from Mitchel Field, Long Island to Nome, Alaska, from July 15, 1920 to October 20, 1920. For more on the expedition, see: "The Alaskan Flying Expedition - A Remarkable Achievement for the Army Air Service," Flying, Vol. IX, No. 10, November 1920, Pages 626-630.

Thank you TVL1970 for the great details about these men and the Alaska Expedition. We will add some of them to the description when we update.

Aviators Robert K. Perry and Harry Goodman, representing Williams College, next to a Curtiss JN-6 Jenny, at the 1920 Collegiate Air Races at Mitchel Field, Long Island. See comments: www.flickr.com/photos/library_of_congress/37274929460/

Thanks, TVL1970, we'll add info to the record.