A pre-World War II U.S. Army Air Corps pursuit aircraft sits on an airfield ramp, its striped tail and squadron number visible, while a helmeted pilot waits in the cockpit and two men in civilian dress -- each equipped with a parachute -- prepare to fly. The distinctive checkerboard-roofed hangar in the background was a common airfield marking of the era. Part of the Jervey Signal Corps photo album, this image reflects the close ties between early Army aviation and Signal Corps observation activities in the years leading up to America's entry into WWII. Project: 218293