The first factory-owned Freighter was quickly sent on a tour through North America - Bristol must have thought this concept might catch on in these rich lands. We're told the car is an Austin - with left-hand steering. Photo by: Rudy Arnold / Smithsonian Institution

Part of the same original as photo 398840 which shows a Messerschmitt Bf 109 with a swastika applied over an RAF fin flash. The P-40 was destined for the RAF as a Kittyhawk IA, ET350, but retained by USAAF instead. Photo by: Rudy Arnold / Smithsonian Institution

Oberfeldwebel Karl Hier of I/JG 76 had to land his Bf 109E at Wœrth, Alsace on 22 November 1939. It was test-flown by the French at Orléans - Bricy, then handed over to the RAF on 2 May 1940. In 1942 it was shipped to the USA for testing at Wright Field. Note the faux swastika painted on by the Americans - they liked to dress up captured aircraft and amazingly, even in this stage of the war it was apparently not a safety concern. We found information that the photo was taken at LGA during the filming of a propaganda reel. P-40E 41-25026 is seen on the right and a P-39 Airacobra, probably 41-7249, on the left. Photo by: Rudy Arnold / Smithsonian Institution

About to be hoisted onto a barge 'for shipment, by Erickson and Remmert, to Czechoslovakia, at pier near Floyd Benett Field'- probably near the Coast Guard seaplane ramp. The Bata company's first L-10A Electra, also registered OK-CTA (c/n 1068) was damaged in Chicago on 4 April 1937. To complete his trip, shoe king Jan Bata immediately bought OK-CTB (c/n 1091). It has been assumed that OK-CTA (c/n 1068) was repaired, but it is clear now that Bata received another airframe (c/n 1114). Photo by: Rudy Arnold / Smithsonian Institution

Following the racing success of the DGA-6, the DGA-7 prototype first flew in 1936 and the Howard Aircraft Company was formed to produce the DGA-8 series for the executive market. Note overpainted NC reg and North Beach Airport sign. This small airfield was soon expanded to become La Guardia. LGA soon proved insufficient, prompting the construction of Idlewild (JFK). Photo by: Rudy Arnold / Smithsonian Institution

Designed for the Bendix Trophy, the DGA-6 won the 1935 edition from Burbank to Cleveland and surprisingly this four-seat aircraft also won the 1935 Thompson Trophy pylon race. Mister Mulligan is apparently seen here before the start of the 1936 Bendix from NY to Los Angeles, during which it crashed in New Mexico due to a propeller failure. Pilot Ben Howard lost a leg. The wreck was salvaged 34 years later and used to build the first of two DGA-6 replicas. Photo by: Rudy Arnold / Smithsonian Institution

The first Vega NR869E. Jimmie Mattern and Bennett Griffin, whose names are marked in the circle on the fuselage, flew this plane from Floyd Bennett Field to Berlin in July 1932 as part of a round-the-world attempt. They crashed in Belarus as the cabin door came off and struck the tailplane. Smaller parts of the wreck were returned to the USA and used in the refurbishment of Mattern's second Vega, ex NC106N, with the reg NR869E, too, carried over at his request. Both aircraft went by the name Century of Progress, but it is not worn here. Photo by: Rudy Arnold / Smithsonian Institution

The second Vega NR869E. The first (c/n 69) crashed during a round-the-world flight. Salvaged parts were used to prepare this plane, ex NC106N with Standard Oil, for a second attempt. The Stanovo eagle on the fuselage formed the basis for a spectacular red on blue livery. Jimmie Mattern departed solo on 3 June 1933, but found navigation difficult and crashed due to the use of tractor fuel following an unscheduled landing in Siberia. Photo by: Rudy Arnold / Smithsonian Institution

NR942M, see other picture, is seen here in New York in what was called the Brooklyn Skyport, at the Mill Basin. Brooklyn (B'klyn) Air Transport was described as a flying boat manufacturer and seems to have been defunct by 1934. Photo from: Dan Shumaker collection

In front of the Coast Guard hangar at Floyd Bennett Field. The source gives the same 6 July 1940 date for this as Rudy Arnold's other shots of this aircraft, but the special paint makes clear it was likely taken in February 1941, towards the end of its flight through the Americas. Rios Montenegro and Rivery Ortiz arrived at NOP on 4 February 1941 and departed for Havana via Miami one week later. Photo by: Rudy Arnold / Smithsonian Institution

Lt Juan Rios Montenegro and Sgt Frank Media were happy to turn their plane around for Rudy Arnold's camera. With Oscar Rivery Ortiz, Rios Montenegro made a Pan-American flight through 22 countries in this aircraft between October 1940 and February 1941. Photo by: Rudy Arnold / Smithsonian Institution

The Cuban navy, then the Marina de Guerra Constitucional, used this aircraft - not a DGA-8 - for a grand tour of the Americas starting on 12 October 1940. It is seen in New York earlier in 1940. Aviation photographer Rudy Arnold was based at Floyd Bennett Field and this is the north side of the airport, with the old Mill Basin Bridge visible on the far left. Photo by: Rudy Arnold / Smithsonian Institution

General Electric held an airshow at Schenectady County Airport to celebrate the opening of its Air Research Center hangar - see photo 297323. Airframe reported to be 75597 which is credible. Photo courtesy of CW Bayer who wrote the interesting online book Flying Without Instruction about his father, test pilot Al Bayer.

The Herrick HV-2 Vertaplane could fly as a biplane or as an autogyro. The upper wing could be unlocked, but not locked in flight. The earlier HV-1 crashed, but the HV-2A successfully converted from fixed-wing to autogyro mode for the first time in July 1937 over its Boulevard Airport, Philadelphia base. Test flying had already begun in 1936 and this visit to Floyd Bennett Field took place in that year if the date is correct. Photo by: Rudy Arnold / Smithsonian Institution

The PH-3 model of the Hall flying boat had a revised, modern-looking cockpit. Below is the terminal of Floyd Bennett Field, which was unsuccessful as an airport for New York. Note the civilian seaplane jetty. Coast Guard Air Station Brooklyn was on the far, eastern side of the field. Photo by: Rudy Arnold / Smithsonian Institution

'In front of the Erickson and Remmert hangar prior to the aircraft's export to Yugoslavia, Floyd Bennett Field, NY, March 20, 1939.' It was entered in the YU register on that day. One of eight L-10s acquired by Aeroput, it crashed in Croatia on 22 August 1940. Photo by: Rudy Arnold / Smithsonian Institution

The Hall Aluminum Aircraft Corporation was not terribly successful, but managed to sell nine PH-1 flying boats to the US Navy in 1930. Production of the PH recommenced in 1936 for the Coast Guard which ordered seven PH-2s, and seven PH-3s in 1939. These were the USCG's largest aircraft. Rudy Arnold photographed V164 off Coney Island - the building on the far right is the Half Moon Hotel which stood at West 29th Street. This one was lost in July 1939. The type was used for anti-submarine patrols during the war and kept in service until 1944. Photo by: Rudy Arnold / Smithsonian Institution