hearstprize

www.first-to-fly.com/History/History of Airplane/hearstprize.htm

This image had to be between 1910 and 1912...there is no way it could be later than April 3rd of that year. In a flight over Long Beach, Rodgers flew into a flock of sea gulls; his plane crashing into the surf. He perished with a broken neck.

Hudson Maxim: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hudson_Maxim

That's James "Jimmie" Ward www.earlyaviators.com/eward1.htm Considering that by mid 1912 Ward was arrested on bigamy charges and Grant lost a battle with Cancer, I would date this pic at 1911.

More Bain/LOC photos of Aviator James "Jimmie" Ward on Governor's Island, September 13, 1911: Receiving a sendoff from Governors Island resident General Frederick Dent Grant: Taking off on his [aborted] transcontinental flight, pursuing the Hearst prize:

James J. Ward Aero Club of America Pilot # 52 August 8, 1911 September 30, 1912 Chicago, Il. Freed in municipal court from bigamy charge brought by his wife , Maude Manger Ward. In May 1912, she had charged Ward with having married Margaret Warner in 1909.She refused to prosecute, saying the evidence that Ward was married twice was merely hearsay ( Washington Post Oct. 1 , 1912)

That's James "Jimmie" Ward www.earlyaviators.com/eward1.htm I would date this pic at 1911 -- he did a lot of flying then and as arrested on bigamy charges in June of 1912.

The inscribed date on the photo (reversed) reads "9/13/11" (albeit with a poorly inscribed "3"). This dates the photo to September 13, 1911, the day Jimmie Ward took off from Governors Island in his Curtiss Pusher (named "Hearst Pathfinder") in pursuit of the William Randolph Hearst Prize, a $50,000 prize to the first aviator to complete a transcontinental flight of the United States within 30 days by October 11, 1911. Ward's aircraft would suffer an engine failure a three days after this photo. After repairs, Ward would continue his journey, but would be forced to withdraw after his aircraft was wrecked beyond repair (again, after an engine failure and crash landing) on September 22, 1911.

Thanks so much for filling in the picture, TVL 1970. Amazing to think of flying one of those planes. We'll fill in the title information and add the date next time we update the record. We appreciate your help!

Other Bain/LOC photos of Aviator James "Jimmie" Ward on Governors Island: Receiving a sendoff from Governors Island resident General Frederick Dent Grant:: Ward takes off:

Aero Club of America Pilot # 52