Since we have started our website, we have received numerous requests for identifying photographs, aircraft artifacts, and celebration pieces. As part of our public program, education, and preservation, we are presenting to the public, an opportunity to share and participate in this most interesting and newly developing aspect of our program.
Mystery Painting! The following narrative, accompanied this unique “Mystery Painting,” a beautiful watercolor that was presented to Seattle World Cruiser Association by Kendra and Robert Setlow.
This antique watercolor rendition of the Douglas World Cruisers was hidden for years behind a still life oil painting which our father, Col. Martin K Newland, USAF pilot, retired, had purchased on his travels to England in the early 1980's. When he removed the still life from the old frame to have the oil painting re-framed, he discovered the watercolor of the "DWC Three" tucked behind the still life.
He was unable to discover an artist's signature, but recognized the planes as part of the Around the World Cruisers. He gifted the watercolor to his daughter, Kendra, and her husband, Lt. Col. Robert E. Setlow, USAF (retired), in the hopes that they might be able to discover the artist and help the watercolor find its rightful place in posterity with its legacy depicting the first flight around the world by U.S. Army Air Service Pilots.
Although the artist's identity has yet to be discovered, the Setlows are in hopes that this watercolor will add historical accuracy and detail to the romance of the first flight around the world.
-- Kendra Setlow
Mystery Pin!
Beverly Ramsey Frisbie has generously contributed a beautiful commemorative pin, in honor of her grandmother, Edna J. Whitaker, who worked at the Douglas Airplane Company during WWII as a supervisor in the parts department.
Any information on the history of commemorative pins, such as this fine example, would be most welcome.
Mystery Plaque!
"This celebration plaque is presented by Mr. Jon Borlin. I have identified it as being of the Silver Jubilee, commemorating the 25th anniversary of the first flight around the world and the first nonstop flight around the world, using aerial refueling.
An interesting fact is that Lowell Smith, the pilot of one of the World Cruisers, The Chicago, participated in the first aerial refueling and set a record by flying Canada-to-Mexico, before the 1924 world flight.
The metal plaque shown is approximately 3 X 4 inches, and is believed to have been mounted, perhaps, on a larger wood plaque. Can anyone specifically identify its origin and what the complete piece looked like? I surmise that it was part of the Silver Jubilee Celebration ceremony." - Bob Dempster
Mr. Robert Munson submitted this photo from his father James’ memorabilia. The photo is believed to be taken on the delivery flight of the prototype, which was named Boston II, after the original Boston was lost in the North Atlantic. The Boston’s crew picked up the airplane in Nova Scotia and completed the world trip with the Chicago and New Orleans. If anyone has more information about this photo, please help us document and preserve this part of our national and world aviation history.
Mystery Photo Solved!
Robert Munson has discovered that the photo was taken in Eastport, Maine. His research led him to the Eastport Sentinel, 12 August 1924 issue. The title of the article, "Boston II Lands Here. Beached at Shackford's Head Sunday for Repairs. Away Tuesday."
Here is the article, paraphrased:
Out of the fog, the Army "hydro-aeroplane" descended, landing in Broad Cove. The harbor was spotted because the top masts of a four-masted schooner were poking up through the fog. The prominent figures in the photograph, at the head of the floats were Mayor Firth and local carpenter, Guy Sullivan, who made repairs on the aircraft's floats. Guy Sullivan, it turns out, is Robert Munson's great-grandfather. This obscure photo--in a box in a closet--is now framed and proudly displayed as part of the Munson Family history.
We are very pleased that Robert Munson contacted us. We were able to tell him the background of the world flight and the Boston II, with which he was inspired to do his research and share with us another part of the story that was the First World Flight.
