IDENTIFIED: LWF Model V - Can Anyone Identify This Aircraft? World War I-era

[Boxman]

The US Library of Congress (LoC) continues to post photos from the (long-defunct) Bain News Service on their Flickr Commons site. As with other contributors to The Commons (such as the oft-posted/referenced here San Diego Air & Space Museum Archives (SDASM) photos) the LoC encourages the contribution of information and tags regarding the photos posted.

Well, recently the LoC has been posting photos from 1917-period, including these two photos below. The photos depict the two-bay fuselage of an aircraft of monocoque construction and powered by a water-cooled engine (featuring an circular/annular radiator). Unfortunately, the wings and control surfaces are not mounted. Other than "Test of 'Plane" and "Testing Aeroplane," the original Bain caption information leaves little clue as to the aircraft's identity. The surrounding structures and manner of civilian clothing suggest the photo was taken in the United States (perhaps Dayton?), and the surrounding soldiers are obviously American, wearing campaign hats and armed with M1903 Springfield rifles. I've tried to "Google" the various clues, in particular the monocoque fuselage and the circular (or "annular") radiator to hopefully come up with an identity, but to no avail. I'm hoping someone here might be able to identify this aircraft (or what it might be a precursor to) so it and these photos will not be "lost to history". Thanks.

Here are the photos below, along with links to the LoC Flickr pages upon which they are featured:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/library_of_congress/20378316401/in/photostream/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/library_of_congress/20372183405/in/photostream/

 

[iverson]

Re: Can Anyone Identify This Aircraft? World War I-era - United States(?)

Without tail and wings, I can't be sure. But the fuselage looks like an L.W.F V or L.W.F PC trainer.

 

[iverson]

Re: Can Anyone Identify This Aircraft? World War I-era - United States(?)

Here is the othr photo that I meant to attach. The engine looks like a Sturtevant 5A V-8.

 

[Stargazer]

Re: Can Anyone Identify This Aircraft? World War I-era - United States(?)

You beat me to it, iverson!

I was about to say that it really looked like an L-W-F Model V!

 

[Stargazer]

Re: Can Anyone Identify This Aircraft? World War I-era - United States(?)

Other photos of the Model V:

 

[Boxman]

Re: Can Anyone Identify This Aircraft? World War I-era - United States(?)

This board is amazing!Thank you both iverson and Skyblazer!With your information I came across this photo (linked) of Jack M. Foote and "observer from the aircraft manufacturer" H.M. Blakely in an L.W.F. Model V flown in a then-record setting flight from Chanute Field to Kelly Field on November 10, 1917. It is on page 42 of the book Rantoul and Chanute Air Force Base, authored by Mark D. Hanson. The L.W.F. Model V certainly looks like a match!