[Rex in OTZ]

Was this before or during WWI?

[Penguin]

It's a Budd BB-1 Pioneer, an experimental flying boat of the 1930s.
On display in front of the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia.

Just got lucky on a google search.

[PAPA G]

BR Howard | Budd Pioneer X-749-N

Budd BB-1 Pioneer - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

not a lot of info to be found on the internet. i guess this was not a big deal, even in the 1930's!