<p>c/n 1398.
This is a genuine Hanriot and is potentially a true ‘Plane of Fame’. It was one of ten built for the US Navy as HD.2 seaplanes and was given the serial ‘A5624’. It was later converted to an HD.2C landplane, which retained the HD.2s larger rudder. In August 1919 it was used in trials from a platform mounted on the turret of the USS Mississippi. In October of that year it was wrecked during a ‘turret’ take-off. Rebuild, it was later flown by French WW1 ace Charles Nungesser during filming of the classic movie ‘Dawn Patrol’, released in 1930. He flew as himself, with his own personal markings on the aeroplane. The Hanriot was representing the Nieuport 17 he actually flew in combat. 
In May 1927, Nungesser and navigator François Coli attempted a non-stop crossing of the Atlantic, vanishing during the attempt. Their L’Oiseau Blanc (The White Bird) was never found. Two weeks later, Charles Lindbergh succesfully flew the Atlantic solo.
The Hanriot, civil registered as N5934, has long been part of the PoF collection and still carries Nungessers personal skull and crossbones marking on the rear fuselage.
On display in the ‘Foreign’ hangar at the Planes of Fame Museum,
Chino, California, USA.
</p>
28-2-2016
<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.flickr.com/people/65001151@N03">Alan Wilson</a> from Stilton, Peterborough, Cambs, UK
<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ajw1970/26335020003/">Hanriot HD.2C [A5624] (N5934)</a>