China Clipper
The China Clipper was the Martin M-130 flying boat NC14716 used by Pan American Airways for its San Francisco to Manila route. It was built by the Glenn L. Martin Company.
On November 22, 1935 it took-off from Alameda, California in an attempt to deliver the first airmail cargo across the Pacific Ocean. 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 consisted of:
- Edwin C. Musick - Pilot
- R. O. D. Sullivan - First Officer
- V. A. Wright - Flight Engineer
- Fred Noonan - Navigator
- W. T. Jarboe - First Radio Officer
- George King - Second Officer
- C. D. Wright - Second Radio Officer
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.
Interestingly, just prior to the China Clipper's maiden flight, two Japanese nationals were caught aboard the aircraft as they were attempting to sabotage the plane's radio direction finder. The incident was kept quiet in an effort to avoid publicity.
The China Clipper remained in Pan Am service until early 1945 when it was destroyed in a crash in Trinidad.
Trivia
- 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.
- The China Clipper is a popular model airplane subject.
- 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.
- Navigator Fred Noonan went on to work with Amelia Earhart and disappeared along her when in 1937.
- Although its inaugural flightplan 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.
- "The China Clipper" is also a nickname for former Canadian Football League running back Normie Kwong.
- "China Clipper" is also a Classic Sail Yacht commissioned by Alan Miller, designed by Sparkman & Stephens, built by Wing on Shing, yacht-builders in Hong Kong in 1963.
References
- "Alameda". California Historical Landmarks. Office of Historical Preservation. Retrieved 2005-08-25.
- Wings to the Orient, Pan-Am Clipper Planes 1935-1945. Author: Stan Cohen. Publisher: Pictorial Histories.