This photo seems to show the take-off for the final - and fatal - transatlantic flight attempt before WWII. The aircraft does not wear a military roundel but basically the Horlick's Malted Milk company logo seen in the other photo of NC557N; however, a newspaper photo shows that Loeb and Decker had overpainted it with the coat of arms of Costa Rica, which they suggested was their destination as their Atlantic crossing was unauthorised. On 3 July, they had been grounded by officials at NY - Floyd Bennett Field following a tyre burst during a take-off attempt. Photo from: San Diego Air & Space Museum

Only three examples were built of the Ryan Foursome. This one was at first the C-2, powered by a Packard DR-980 diesel engine. Converted to Wright R-760 power it was operated by Horlick's Malted Milk Company from Wisconsin. In August 1939 Alex Loeb and Dick Decker attempted an Atlantic crossing in this light aircraft from the beach of Saint Peter's, Nova Scotia, but were never seen again. Their eventual destination was apparently Palestine and the aircraft was named Shalom; see other photo of NC557N. Photo from: San Diego Air & Space Museum