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Underwood & Underwood : Original Publicity Photograph - Dornier Delphin Flying Boat (and) Lieutenant Ralph E. Davison (Composite Photograph)

Underwood & Underwood, New York

Original black-and-white publicity photograph. This is a composite photo with two photographs within it. The left photo shows a Dornier Delphin flying boat flying just over the water. The right photo is a portrait of Lieutenant Ralph E. Davison. No date, circa 1923 (description is dated November 10, 1923). The composite photo measures 9 1/4" x 8." Each of the constituent photos measures about 4 1/2" x 6 1/4." Underwood & Underwood copyright stamps are on back in blue ink. Photograph is clean and intact overall but has slight age toning, light to moderate rippling throughout, a closed tear in upper-right corner measuring 1/4" from top edge (limited to margin), a closed tear in lower-right corner measuring 1/2" from bottom edge (limited to margin), and a typed or photocopied description tipped in on back. A Very Good copy. A stunning piece of aviation history related to Arctic exploration of the 1920s. The composite photo by Underwood & Underwood shows a Dornier Delphin and Lt. Ralph E. Davison. The Dornier Delphin was slated to be the mode of transport for Roald Amundsen's flight to North Pole. Ralph E. Davison (1895-1972) was an American pilot and United States Naval Aviator. Davison had volunteered to be a part of Amundsen's expedition and was selected to fly one of the Dornier Delphins. However, Amundsen's flight, which was originally planned for 1924, was postponed to 1925 due to funding issues. Online documentation about Davison's connection to the 1925 expedition is scarce, but it is assumed that he was no longer part of the expedition at that point. Davison later served in World War II and achieved the rank of Vice Admiral upon retirement. Roald Amundsen (1872-c. 1928) was a Norwegian explorer of the Arctic and Antarctic. Amundsen undertook many expeditions among which is the one referenced in this photo and its accompanying description. In 1925, Amundsen ultimately used two Dornier Do J flying boats, named N-24 and N-25, in his attempt to fly to the North Pole. Both planes reached 87 degrees, 44 minutes North, the northernmost latitude reached by plane at the time. However, the N-24 became irreparably damaged, and for weeks, the crew survived on meager rations and worked with rudimentary tools in the harsh Arctic environment while trying to build a runway for the N-25 so they could return home to Norway. The crew eventually managed to build a runway, cram into the single remaining plane, and fly back to Norway. While Amundsen and his team did not reach the North Pole, the expedition was still considered a success given the remarkable feat of flying to the Arctic, achieving a new record for the northernmost flight, and that the entire crew survived the harrowing ordeal. The following is an excerpt from the tipped-in description on the back of the photo: "Navy Lends Aviator to Capt. Amundsen for Flight to Pole. Photo of one of the three Dornier Delphin flying boats which will be used on the Amundsen flight over the North Pole, and of Lt. Ralph E. Davison, U S N, Air Service, who will pilot one of the planes. Lt. Davison was selected from among more than 30 American naval aviators who volunteered for the expedition. He is a native of Missouri and was graduated at Annapolis in '16. For the past two years he has been at Pensacola, Fla. Note the unique bottom of the plane--designed to land or takeoff on ice, snow, or water--and the commodious, enclosed cabin, as completely fitted as a small yacht's. Each plane will be equipped with radio sounding and receiving sets and will carry two men, Captain Roald Amundsen commanding one of them. The expedition will fly from Spitzenbergen [Spitzbergen or Spitsbergen] across the pole and land at Point Barrow, Alaska, photographing and mapping much unexplored territory from the air. An attempt will be made to discover whether or not the theory held by scientists that a large continent exists in this region is correct.". Photographic Image. Book Condition: Collectible-Very Good. Binding: No Binding

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