Thomas Lanphier Around the World Flight, New York Return, 1949

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Thomas Lanphier Around the World Flight, New York Return, 1949

Colonel Thomas G. Lanphier, Jr. carries the Air Force Association's Wright Brothers 46th Anniversary Air Mail Envelope on his AFA-sponsored record-setting commerical airline passenger Around the World Flight, December 2-7, 1949. Robert Johnson (lower left), AFA President, and Cyrus Rowlett "C. R." Smith (upper left), CEO of American Airlines, welcome Lanphier (center) upon his arrival at New York, NY, at the conclusion of his flight; December 7, 1949. Edward Egan (right), former holder of the record for a commercial around the world passenger flight, congratulates Lanphier.