Photographed St. Louis, Missouri, USA, October 6, 1923, source unknown
07/20/2026. Remarks by
Johan Visschedijk: "Since the USAAS won the 1922 Pulitzer Race with new Curtiss R-6 racers, the USN sought redress in 1923 and again ordered two examples of a later model from Curtiss. Since the Naval Aircraft designation system was changed slightly in March 1923, these were given the designations of R2C-1 (Model 32).
(A-6691) (
Jeff Huston Collection)
The two single-seat R2C-1s racers, BuNo. A-6691 and A-6692, were logical developments of the CRs and R-6s and were fitted with the slightly enlarged Curtiss D-12A engines boosted to 507 hp. Surface radiators were installed on both wings and a shorter wire-braced undercarriage with shock-absorbing wheels was used. The major detail departure was the lowering of the upper wings to the top of the fuselage and use of a new Curtiss C-62 airfoil.
On October 6, 1923, Lt. Alford J. Williams won the Pulitzer in A-6692 (Racing No.9) at 243.68 mph (392.15 kmh) with Lt. H.J. Brow second in A-6691 (Racing No.10) at 241.77 mph (389.08 kmh). On November 2, Brow raised the world straightaway speed record to 259.16 mph (417.07 kmh) in A-6692; ten days later Williams topped it with 266.59 mph (429.02 kmh) for a new world's straightaway record.
(A-6691) (
Jeff Huston Collection)
After the 1923 Pulitzer race, the USN sold A-6691 to the USAAS for the token price of $1.00. It was assigned the designation R-8 and serial number 23-1235, and was tested McCook Field, Dayton, Ohio, under the Project Number P-354. The R-8 crashed at Wilbur Wright Field, Fairfield, Ohio, on September 2, 1924, on a test flight before that year's Pulitzer race, the pilot was killed.
For the 1924 Schneider Trophy Race the surviving A-6692 was put on floats and redesignated R2C-2 (Model 32A), subsequently the race was cancelled. A-6692 was used as a trainer for the 1925 and 1926 Schneider races, unfortunately the aircraft crashed on September 13, 1926, before the Schneider race, killing the pilot instantly."
