Referring back to an exchange of correspondence I had in the past with Vancouver resident and Chinese aviation historian, Ms Patti Gully, I can add some additional comment regarding this intriguing 1923 image thoughtfully submitted by IDJ.
The photograph was taken on August 8, 1923 at the Canton airfield near White Cloud Mountain.
General M.A. Cohen, aviation promoter and A.D.C. to Dr Sun Yat-sen, is on the extreme left. The figure in the middle with the walking stick and black arm band and flanked by his personal assistants is the Minister of Aviation in the Canton Military Government, Eugene Chen (Chen Youren 陳友仁). On the right is the Air Bureau Chief, Hawaii-born Colonel Young Senyat (Yang Xianyi 楊仙逸). Standing above on the plane are U.S. aircraft builder, Arthur Wilde on the left and U.K. aircraft engineer, Guy Colwell, on the right.
In his 1979 memoir, China Called Me, on page 35 Percy Chen recalls: “My father, Eugene Chen, had a few photographs showing Dr Sun Yat-sen standing near the wings of a small biplane, while Madame Sun was seated in the pilot’s seat. My father appeared in one of these photographs. He was at the time the Minister of Aviation. The total strength of the air force was three planes, with the other two crated and stored in Hong Kong. In the warehouse there they were listed as machinery.”
Thank you for the correction on the gentleman with the black armband. I was lazily assuming it was Sun Yat Sen as there is also a related photograph of him standing in front of the aircraft with his wife Sun Ching-ling on 8 August 23.
Posted is a photo of ROSAMONDE aka Madame Sun Ching ling sat in ROSAMONDE No1. It’s a well-used image, but I do not have a photographic copy at the moment.
I also have been in correspondence with Patti over the years during which we exchanged much research materiel.
Comments
Dedication of the ROSAMONDE
Referring back to an exchange of correspondence I had in the past with Vancouver resident and Chinese aviation historian, Ms Patti Gully, I can add some additional comment regarding this intriguing 1923 image thoughtfully submitted by IDJ.
The photograph was taken on August 8, 1923 at the Canton airfield near White Cloud Mountain.
General M.A. Cohen, aviation promoter and A.D.C. to Dr Sun Yat-sen, is on the extreme left. The figure in the middle with the walking stick and black arm band and flanked by his personal assistants is the Minister of Aviation in the Canton Military Government, Eugene Chen (Chen Youren 陳友仁). On the right is the Air Bureau Chief, Hawaii-born Colonel Young Senyat (Yang Xianyi 楊仙逸). Standing above on the plane are U.S. aircraft builder, Arthur Wilde on the left and U.K. aircraft engineer, Guy Colwell, on the right.
See also IDJ’s follow-up submission:
M.A. Cohen with Minister of Aviation, Eugene Chen (Chen Youren) dedicating the aircraft named ROSAMONDE | Gwulo
In his 1979 memoir, China Called Me, on page 35 Percy Chen recalls: “My father, Eugene Chen, had a few photographs showing Dr Sun Yat-sen standing near the wings of a small biplane, while Madame Sun was seated in the pilot’s seat. My father appeared in one of these photographs. He was at the time the Minister of Aviation. The total strength of the air force was three planes, with the other two crated and stored in Hong Kong. In the warehouse there they were listed as machinery.”
Thank you for the correction…
Thank you for the correction on the gentleman with the black armband. I was lazily assuming it was Sun Yat Sen as there is also a related photograph of him standing in front of the aircraft with his wife Sun Ching-ling on 8 August 23.
Posted is a photo of ROSAMONDE aka Madame Sun Ching ling sat in ROSAMONDE No1. It’s a well-used image, but I do not have a photographic copy at the moment.
I also have been in correspondence with Patti over the years during which we exchanged much research materiel.