Pictures of Canal Zone Panama in 1919

We find James six months after the war, in the Republic of Panama. Specifically, he was at France Field, in the Colon Province of the Canal Zone, Panama. France Field was the first military airfield established in Panama to protect the Panama Canal. James was now with the 7th Aero Squadron. His rank is again a Chauffeur and it seems he was able to travel quite a bit with this duty. Some of his pictures are from both the Atlantic (Cristobal) and Pacific (Balboa) sides of the Panama Canal. There are also photos of him visiting Portobelo, a town in northern Panama. His time in Panama was short, somewhere between two months to five months maximum.

In July of 1919, James left on the transport ship Kilpatrick from Cristobal Panama to New Orleans. Along the way was a brief two day stop in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The ship arrived in New Orleans on August 11th, 1919. Seven days later, James was discharged from the Army, probably at Camp Shelby, Mississippi.

I do question several of these photographs as being purchased STOCK photos of the Canal Zone. The writing and numbers at the bottom are a bit official, unless that is James handwriting and he numbered his pictures. I was not able to find any similar pictures online so maybe James did take them all. A handwriting sample would be helpful.

Passenger list for the transport ship Kilpatrick.
J. L. Willhite, Chauffeur fror the A.S. (Aero Squadron).
Shows stop in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Image of ship I found online.

Above is a picture James had of some ruins and some officers. Online I found the exact spot in a city in northern Panama called Portobelo (image on right).

S.C. 287 was commissioned on May 6, 1918 and sent to Balboa Harbor in Panama.

Atlantic Termanal Office Building in background

Palm Row, Colon, Republic of Panama

Same parade (or funeral) near the Atlantic Termanal Office Building

A Mule on the Panama Canal

Above: Administration Building, Balboa Below: same building in distance

Airplane says 7th Aero Squadron, US ARMY, down below says Flying Boat

The images on this page he took at these three locations, Balboa, Cristobal and Portobelo.

I think this picture is at the Panama City ruins

Location not identified but band matches the one above at the Atlantic Termanal Office Building

A picture of the Panama Canal

Probably the Canal Zone but not positive.