China Clipper
Encyclopedia
The China Clipper was the first of three Martin M-130
four-engine flying boat
s 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.
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
The inauguration of ocean airmail
service and commercial air flight across the Pacific was a significant event for both California
and the world. Its departure point is California Historical Landmark
#968
and can be found in Naval Air Station Alameda
.
, Trinidad and Tobago
reported as hitting a blacked out boat; 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.
Martin M-130
|-See also:-External links:* at the University of Miami Library*...
four-engine flying boat
Flying boat
A flying boat is a fixed-winged seaplane with a hull, allowing it to land on water. It differs from a float plane as it uses a purpose-designed fuselage which can float, granting the aircraft buoyancy. Flying boats may be stabilized by under-wing floats or by wing-like projections from the fuselage...
s built for Pan American Airways and was used to inaugurate the first commercial transpacific air service from San Francisco to Manila
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
in November, 1935. Built at a cost of $417,000 by the Glenn L. Martin Company
Glenn L. Martin Company
The Glenn L. Martin Company was an American aircraft and aerospace manufacturing company that was founded by the aviation pioneer Glenn L. Martin. The Martin Company produced many important aircraft for the defense of the United States and its allies, especially during World War II and the Cold War...
in Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
, Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
, it was delivered to Pan Am on October 9, 1935.
Alameda, California
Alameda is a city in Alameda County, California, United States. It is located on Alameda Island and Bay Farm Island, and is adjacent to Oakland in the San Francisco Bay. The Bay Farm Island portion of the city is adjacent to the Oakland International Airport. At the 2010 census, the city had a...
in an attempt to deliver the first airmail
Airmail
Airmail is mail that is transported by aircraft. It typically arrives more quickly than surface mail, and usually costs more to send...
cargo across the Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
. 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
Midway Atoll
Midway Atoll is a atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, near the northwestern end of the Hawaiian archipelago, about one-third of the way between Honolulu, Hawaii, and Tokyo, Japan. Unique among the Hawaiian islands, Midway observes UTC-11 , eleven hours behind Coordinated Universal Time and one hour...
, Wake Island
Wake Island
Wake Island is a coral atoll having a coastline of in the North Pacific Ocean, located about two-thirds of the way from Honolulu west to Guam east. It is an unorganized, unincorporated territory of the United States, administered by the Office of Insular Affairs, U.S. Department of the Interior...
, and Guam
Guam
Guam is an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States located in the western Pacific Ocean. It is one of five U.S. territories with an established civilian government. Guam is listed as one of 16 Non-Self-Governing Territories by the Special Committee on Decolonization of the United...
, and delivered over 110,000 pieces of mail
Mail
Mail, or post, is a system for transporting letters and other tangible objects: written documents, typically enclosed in envelopes, and also small packages are delivered to destinations around the world. Anything sent through the postal system is called mail or post.In principle, a postal service...
. The crew for this flight included Edwin C. Musick
Ed Musick
Edwin Charles Musick was Chief Pilot for Pan American World Airways and pioneered many of Pan Am's transoceanic routes including the famous route across the Pacific Ocean on the China Clipper....
as Pilot Fred Noonan
Fred Noonan
Frederick Joseph "Fred" Noonan was an American flight navigator, sea captain and aviation pioneer who first charted many commercial airline routes across the Pacific Ocean during the 1930s...
as Navigator
The inauguration of ocean airmail
Airmail
Airmail is mail that is transported by aircraft. It typically arrives more quickly than surface mail, and usually costs more to send...
service and commercial air flight across the Pacific was a significant event for both California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
and the world. Its departure point is California Historical Landmark
California Historical Landmark
California Historical Landmarks are buildings, structures, sites, or places in the state of California that have been determined to have statewide historical significance by meeting at least one of the criteria listed below:...
#968
China Clipper flight departure site
California Historical Landmark number 968 on Alameda Naval Air Station marks the site from which Pan American World Airways initiated trans-Pacific airmail service on 22 November 1935. A flying boat named China Clipper made the first trip, and the publicity for that flight caused all flying boats...
and can be found in Naval Air Station Alameda
Naval Air Station Alameda
Naval Air Station Alameda was a United States Navy Naval Air Station in Alameda, California, on San Francisco Bay.NAS Alameda had two runways: 07-25 and 13-31...
.
Loss
The China Clipper remained in Pan Am service until January 8, 1945, when it was destroyed in a crash in Port of SpainPort of Spain
Port of Spain, also written as Port-of-Spain, is the capital of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and the country's third-largest municipality, after San Fernando and Chaguanas. The city has a municipal population of 49,031 , a metropolitan population of 128,026 and a transient daily population...
, Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago officially the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago is an archipelagic state in the southern Caribbean, lying just off the coast of northeastern Venezuela and south of Grenada in the Lesser Antilles...
reported as hitting a blacked out boat; 16 passengers and 9 crew members died in that crash.
Flight 161 had started at Miami bound for Leopoldville
Leopoldville
Leopoldville may refer to:* The capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, today known as Kinshasa* SS Leopoldville, a troopship sunk in 1944...
in the Belgian Congo
Belgian Congo
The Belgian Congo was the formal title of present-day Democratic Republic of the Congo between King Leopold II's formal relinquishment of his personal control over the state to Belgium on 15 November 1908, and Congolese independence on 30 June 1960.-Congo Free State, 1884–1908:Until the latter...
. 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.
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 PoliceSpeed Gibson of the International Secret PoliceSpeed Gibson of the International Secret Police was a radio adventure series written by Virginia Cooke. It was centered on the adventures of Speed Gibson, a fifteen year old pilot who, through his uncle Clint Barlow, becomes a member of the International Secret Police...
. - The China Clipper was referred to as "Sweet Sixteen" by Pan American personnel. 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 footageStock footageStock footage, and similarly, archive footage, library pictures and file footage are film or video footage that may or may not be custom shot for use in a specific film or television program. Stock footage is of beneficial use to filmmakers as it is sometimes less expensive than shooting new...
of the airplane and was one of Humphrey BogartHumphrey BogartHumphrey DeForest Bogart was an American actor. He is widely regarded as a cultural icon.The American Film Institute ranked Bogart as the greatest male star in the history of American cinema....
's early roles. - 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 ClipperHawaii ClipperHawaii Clipper was one of three Pan American Airways Martin M-130 flying boats. It disappeared with 6 passengers and 9 crew en route from Guam to Manila, on July 28, 1938....
lost in 1938 - Pan Am Flight 1104Pan Am Flight 1104Pan Am Flight 1104, Trip No. 62100, was a Martin M-130 flying boat nicknamed the Philippine Clipper that crashed on the morning of January 21, 1943 in Northern California. The aircraft was operated by Pan American World Airways, and at the time of the crash was transporting ten US Navy personnel...
, crash of Philippine Clipper in 1943.