salmson2

Caption on photos states it's taken at Karthouse, Coblenz (Koblenz) 1st of October 1919. There appears to be a brass band centre left. The trenches and pock marks in the field beyond would indicate it's a former training ground for Stosstruppen (German storm troops), etc. At left is a row of captured German aircraft, including what appear to be from L-R a Phalz D.XII, Phalz DIIIa, Albatros DVa (with black and white longtitudinal stripes) and six Fokker DVII. At right are eleven American-operated Spad XIII In the foreground row and facing across the field are 18 American operated Salmson 2A2 two seaters

A photo of Arthur Coyle (who donated this album) and fighter ace William Erwin. Erwin would perish during an ill-fated attempt to find lost aviators during the 1927 Dole Air Race from Oakland to Honolulu. See: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Portwood_Erwin Here are a couple photos (among several) of Erwin in the SDASM collection:

looks like Salmson 2A2 aircrafts

The date mark in the top right seems to show 12/13/24. As a note, this date aligns with the publishing of Lowell Thomas' "The First World Flight", covering the 1924 World Flyer's, who circumnavigated the world between March 17 and September 28. Thomas published parts of his book in newspapers, and in mid-December it covered the period in Japan, including greetings with the Imperial Japanese Navy officers after they landed in Tokyo in May 1924. An example of Thomas' diary being published: Casper daily tribune. [volume] (Casper, Wyo.), 14 Dec. 1924. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. (chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn86072160/1924-12-14/ed-...) Lowell Thomas (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lowell_Thomas) "The First World Flight" (archive.org/details/firstworldflight0000thom)

Thanks Luc Brocard and Dean Z. We'll add the plane type and the date on the negative.