China Clipper

For other uses, see China Clipper (disambiguation).

Martin model 130 China Clipper class flying boat.

The China Clipper (NC14716) was the first of three Martin M-130 four-engine flying boats built for Pan American Airways and was used to inaugurate the first commercial transpacific air service from San Francisco to Manila in November, 1935. Built at a cost of $417,000 by the Glenn L. Martin Company in Baltimore, Maryland, it was delivered to Pan Am on October 9, 1935.^[1]

Cover flown on the "China Clipper" on the first commercial transpacific flight from Alameda, CA, to Manila, PI (FAM 14) November 22–29, 1935

On November 22, 1935 it took-off from Alameda, California in an attempt to deliver the first airmail cargo across the Pacific Ocean. Although its inaugural flight plan called for the China Clipper to fly over the San Francisco – Oakland Bay Bridge (still under construction at the time), upon take-off the pilot realized the plane would not clear the structure, and was forced to narrowly fly under instead. On November 29, the airplane reached its destination, Manila, after traveling via Honolulu, Midway Island, Wake Island, and Guam, and delivered over 110,000 pieces of mail. The crew for this flight included Edwin C. Musick as Pilot Fred Noonan as Navigator^[2] The inauguration of ocean airmail service and commercial air flight across the Pacific was a significant event for both California and the world.^{[citation needed]} Its departure point is California Historical Landmark #968 and can be found in Naval Air Station Alameda.

Loss

The China Clipper remained in Pan Am service until January 8, 1945, when it was destroyed in a crash in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago reported as hitting a blacked out boat^[3]; 16 passengers and 9 crew members died in that crash.

Flight 161 had started at Miami bound for Leopoldville in the Belgian Congo. It had stopped to refuel at Puerto Rico and flew on to Port of Spain. On the second approach to land it came down too low and hit the water at a high speed and nose down over a mile out from the intended landing area. The impact broke the hull in two which quickly flooded and sank. Twenty-three of the 30 onboard were killed. Probable cause was attributed to the First Officer who was flying as pilot and a lack of supervision by the Captain of the aircraft.^[4]

Popular culture

• The China Clipper is the craft that was used as the initial primary transport for the heroes of the 1937 children's radio serial Speed Gibson of the International Secret Police.
• The China Clipper was referred to as "Sweet Sixteen"^[5] by Pan American personnel.^[6] The "Sixteen" is a reference to the aircraft's registration number NC14716.
• First National Pictures released a movie called China Clipper in 1936. It made use of much stock footage of the airplane and was one of Humphrey Bogart's early roles.^[7][8]
• Both the United States and Philippine Islands issued stamps for Air Mail carried on the first flights in each direction of PAA's Transpacific "China Clipper" service between San Francisco, CA, and Manila, PI. (November 22 – December 6, 1935)

See also

• Hawaii Clipper lost in 1938
• Pan Am Flight 1104, crash of Philippine Clipper in 1943.

References

Notes

1. ^ Volny, Peter China Clipper 75th Anniversary Commemorative Flight The Airport Journal, April, 2008
2. ^ Musick was a famous pilot of the time. Fred Noonan went on to work with Amelia Earhart and disappeared along with her over the western Pacific ocean in 1937.
3. ^ http://[www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1945/1945%20-%200846.html Her and There] Flight 3 May 1945
4. ^ Accident report citing CAB File No. 98-45
5. ^ Gandt, Robert L.: China Clipper, the Age of the Flying Boats, page 96. Naval Institute Press, 1991.
6. ^ Taylor, Barry: Pan American's Ocean Clippers, page 112. Aero, an imprint of Tab Books, McGraw-Hill, Inc., 1991.
7. ^ China Clipper
8. ^ "China Clipper" (1936) film footage from movie

Bibliography

• "Alameda". California Historical Landmarks. Office of Historical Preservation. http://ohp.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=21388. Retrieved 2005-08-25. 
• Cohen, Stan Wings to the Orient, Pan-Am Clipper Planes 1935-1945 Pictorial Histories.
• "Transpacific" Time (Magazine), December 2, 1935
• Accident description at Air Safety Network

External links

• China Clipper - The Martin 130
• "China Clipper is Giant of Pacific Air Fleet" Popular Mechanics, January 1936