Douglas O-2BS Biplane Original Photo 8x10
1927, McKee Trophy Aircraft
1927 Radial Conversion, Wings for Victory WWII ReissueDESCRIPTIONThis 8x10 original photograph documents the Douglas O-2BS, the only example of its kind ever built.Douglas produced this single civilian O-2 in 1926 for James Dalzell McKee, a Pittsburgh businessman and pilot, who fitted it with twin floats and flew it on the first floatplane crossing of Canada, from Montreal to Vancouver, in September 1926 with RCAF Squadron Leader Earl Godfrey alongside him.That flight led directly to the creation of the McKee Trophy, still awarded today by the Canadian Aeronautics and Space Institute as Canada's oldest aviation honor.This photograph, dated May 4, 1927 on the negative, captures the aircraft after Douglas reworked it into a three-seat, radial-engine configuration later that year, shown here on wheeled landing gear rather than the twin floats used on the record flight.The O-2BS was the only radial-engine conversion in the entire O-2 family, and the May 1927 date on this print lines up exactly with when that conversion took place, a combination that points squarely at this specific aircraft.The handwritten photo lab notation on the print reads MO-2B.The number 60 painted on the rudder appears to be a Douglas factory reference number rather than a civil registration.The reverse carries Douglas Aircraft Company's Wings for Victory Industrial and Public Relations Division release stamp, used when Douglas reissued archival photographs for its WWII bond drive publicity, giving this print a two-era history spanning both the Golden Age of aviation and the WWII home front. Images are scanned at 600dpi so you can review every detail before you buy.Every effort is made toward fact checking and provenance, including background research through news and historical archives. If any listing is incorrect in any way and you're unsatisfied with the item, please connect with me and I'll make it right.Orders placed before Noon CDT will ship same day Ground Advantage with tracking so you know exactly when it will arrive. Returns accepted on all items exceeding $25 in cost. Rigid, professional packaging on all shipments, sealed and protected in acid free protectors. Shipping is free and already built into the price, so the BIN price is exactly what you pay, no surprise shipping costs at checkout.CONDITIONThe photograph measures approximately 8 x 10 inches and is printed on glossy black and white photographic paper. The image is sharp and well resolved throughout, with the aircraft, landing gear, and background terrain clearly defined. The print shows light, age-consistent handling wear at the corners and edges, with no tears, creases, or heavy surface damage. The negative number, model notation, and date are handwritten in white ink at the lower right corner of the image, exactly as they appear on the original print. The reverse carries the Douglas Aircraft Company Wings for Victory release stamp in purple ink, fully legible. Overall a clean, presentation-ready vintage print consistent with its nearly hundred-year age.
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Douglas O-2BS Biplane Original Photo 8x10, 1927, McKee Trophy Aircraft
$129.99
