nc4

This is a mine sweeping paravane. See: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paravane_(weapon)

Rhodes and machinist Christensen both get a mention at bottom right of books.google.com/books?id=zpJMAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA639&l.... Following the link back to books.google.com/books?id=zpJMAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA613&l... we find that they too were part of the transatlantic flight attempt of NC1 through NC-4. Howard was a special mechanic on NC-4. Christensen was on NC-1. Rhodes was on NC-3.

Chief Mechanic's Mate Edward H. Howard would suffer the misfortune of losing his left hand to a whirling propeller on the eve of the transatlantic expedition while working on an engine. He would be replaced on NC-4's crew by Eugene T. "Smokey" Rhoads (no relation to Braxton Rhodes).

Probably Braxton Rhodes (1892-1966) www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=1115152

Rasmus Christensen (1883-1960) www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=48839348

Probably Edward Harrison Howard (1887-1962) (the photo indicates that it's the same man IMO) www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=43181378 In 'The Flying Firsts of Walter Hinton: From the 1919 Transatlantic Flight to ...' by Benjamin J. Burns, he is referred to as Edward H. "Harry" Howard. books.google.com/books?id=uAw4ZwcARpgC&printsec=front... See also photo of him in the New York Tribune, May 18, 1919 (at bottom) cdn.loc.gov/service/sgp/sgpbatches/batch_dlc_belleauwood_...

The NC-4 was a Curtiss NC flying boat which was designed by Glenn Curtiss and his team, and manufactured by Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company. In May 1919, the NC-4 became the first aircraft to fly across the Atlantic Ocean, starting in New York State and making the crossing as far as Lisbon, Portugal, in 19 days.

See also www.flickr.com/photos/library_of_congress/32564944121/

Thanks Phil Osborne and B-59. We will add more details about the NC-4 when we update.