“Grace and speed” are not adjectives that come to mind when one glances at a Loening OA-1. On the other hand, the aircraft was incredibly tough and reliable and saw far more years of service than your average airplane of the era. Seen here bobbing on the waters of Lake Gatun in Panama, this bird (26-436) is from the 7th Observation Squadron based at France Field in the Canal Zone. Judging by the smoke stains angling from the exhaust stacks toward the cockpit area, flying could be an aromatic and messy experience. (Like many aircraft of the 1920s, Loening’s OA-1 was not unique in that regard)
The Jive Bomber 