johnwmcclaskey

The handwritten label on this photo is partially incorrect. That is indeed Marine Corps aviator John McClaskey sitting at the controls of the aircraft, however, the gentleman standing next to him is not the Navy's John Towers, but the Army's Paul Ward Beck. Here's another photo of Beck in the SDASM Photostream: earlyaviators.com/ebeck.htm

TVL 1970 is correct: J. W. McClaskey is seated on the aircraft. He was a retired US Marine lieutenant who was the chief of flight instruction for the Glenn Curtiss School of Aviation in San Diego. Standing is Army 1st Lt Paul W. Beck, Signal Corps who, along with army officers, 2nd Lt G.E.M. Kelly, 30th Infantry and 2nd Lt John C. Walker, Jr., 8th Infantry, and Navy Lt Theodore Ellyson, formed the first military aviation school in the United States, under the training of the Glenn Curtis School of Aviation in San Diego.

All below from wikipedia: Theodore Gordon Ellyson, USN (27 February 1885 - 27 February 1928), nicknamed "Spuds", was the first United States Navy officer designated as an aviator ("Naval Aviator No. 1"). Ellyson served in the experimental development of aviation in the years before and after World War I. He also spent several years before the war as part of the Navy's new submarine service. A recipient of the Navy Cross for his antisubmarine service in World War I, Ellyson died in 1928 when his aircraft crashed over the Chesapeake Bay. [ed. note: Three army officers, First Lieutenant Paul W. Beck, Signal Corps; Second Lieutenant G.E.M. Kelly, 30th Infantry and Second Lieutenant John C. Walker, Jr., 8th Infantry joined Ellyson to form the first military aviation school in the United States, under the training of the Glenn Curtis School of Aviation in San Diego]. John Henry Towers (January 30, 1885 – April 30, 1955) was a United States Navy admiral and pioneer naval aviator. He made important contributions to the technical and organizational development of naval aviation from its very beginnings, eventually serving as Chief of the Bureau of Aeronautics (1939–1942). He commanded carrier task forces during World War II, and retired in December 1947. He and Marc Mitscher were the only early Naval Aviation pioneers to survive the extreme hazards of early flight to remain with naval aviation throughout their careers. He was the first naval aviator to achieve flag rank and was the most senior advocate for naval aviation during a time when the Navy was dominated by battleship admirals. John W. McClaskey, a retired US Marine lieutenant, was the chief of flight instruction for the Glenn Curtis School of Aviation in San Diego.

J. W. McClaskey at left, standing. A retired US Marine lieutenant who was the chief of flight instruction for the Glenn Curtiss School of Aviation in San Diego. Seated is Army 1st Lt Paul W. Beck, Signal Corps who, along with army officers, 2nd Lt G.E.M. Kelly, 30th Infantry and 2nd Lt John C. Walker, Jr., 8th Infantry, and Navy Lt Theodore Ellyson, formed the first military aviation school in the United States, under the training of the Glenn Curtis School of Aviation in San Diego.