raymondmorris

On the far left side of the frame is Curtiss test pilot and flight instructor Raymond V. Morris (1889-1943). See: www.earlyaviators.com/emorris.htm

The same photo was published in Aerial Age Weekly, July 19, 1915, p. 423. The photo, at the bottom of page 423, has a caption which states: "A group of enthusiasts taken at San Diego, Cal. From left to right, George Hallett, Raymund V. Morris, Katherine Stinson, Lieut. R.A.B. Sutton, Lieut. Jose Morrow, Lieut. Bown, Lieut. Walter R. Taliaferro." books.google.com/books?id=znbmAAAAMAAJ&printsec=front... There are some slight misidentifications in the Aerial Age caption of the photo - "Raymund V. Morris" is Raymond V. Morris, "Lieut. R.A.B. Sutton" is Redondo B. Sutton (who would come to later infamy in a 1920's swindling scheme), "Lieut. Jose Morrow" is Joseph C. Morrow, Jr., and "Lieut. Bown" is Thomas S. Bowen. Given the identity of those in the photo, this almost certainly was taken at the Curtiss Aviation School at North Island sometime in the first half of 1915.

Curtiss Model M Flying Boat, a monoplane flying boat ordered by aviator Raymond V. Morris (the "M" in "Model M" is for Morris), the manager of the Curtiss Aviation School at North Island, San Diego. The Model M was powered by a 90-H.P. Curtiss OX-5 V-8 engine. The New York Times published a short item regarding the aircraft's first flight in January 1914. ICE INCRUSTS FLYING BOAT.; New Craft Designed by Curtiss Makes 100-Mile Speed. New York Times January 13, 1914 HAMMONDSPORT, N.Y., Jan. 12. - Traveling at the rate of 100 miles an hour with the temperature close to zero, Raymond V. Morris of New Haven, Conn., made four flights here to-day in the smallest flying boat ever built in America. query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F60611F73F5912738...

That is a beautiful fuselage!