On 4th June 1927 this aircraft took off from America to attempt the first non-stop flight from New York to Berlin with a passenger but landed some 100 miles short of its destination, landing in a field at Eisleben, Germany. The pilot was Clarence Chamberlin and the passenger Charles Levine. In this picture it is seen to be carrying 'New York>Berlin Cottbus' but other markings carried are obscured by the interested persons viewing the aircraft. Note the board advertising 'Joy-Flying Daily, Croydon Aerodrome, 10/- & 21/-' (i.e. 50p & £1.10 in today's money!).

Two weeks after Lindbergh's solo flight, Clarence Chamberlin and Charles Levine crossed the Atlantic from New York to Mansfeld in Germany in the WB-2 Columbia. In their triumphant tour they visited Budapest. This excellent aircraft, which went on to make many long-range flights, had been Lindbergh's first choice, having set an endurance record of 51 hours. The number 140 may be an old race number. The original destination, Paris, has been painted out and oddly Cottbus, where the aircraft stopped by on 7 June before arriving in Berlin, has been added. Photo from: Fortepan