China Clipper

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.^[2] 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.^[3]

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 and Fred Noonan as Navigator^[4] 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.

WWII

The "China Clipper" was painted Olive Drab with a large American Flag painted below the cockpit.^[5]

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. Flight 161 had started at Miami bound for Leopoldville in the Belgian Congo making its first stop to refuel at Puerto Rico before flying on to Port of Spain. After making one missed approach on the second approach to land it came down too low and hit the water at a high speed and nose down a mile-and-a-quarter short of its intended landing area. The impact broke the hull in two which quickly flooded and sank. Twenty three passengers and crew were killed while there were seven survivors including Captain C.A. Goyette who was the Pilot in Command of the flight and Captain L.W. Cramer who was acting as First Officer and was flying the plane from the left seat when it crashed.^[6]

On April 24, 1946 the Civil Aeronautics Board released its accident investigation report making the following findings "upon the basis of all available evidence":

• 1. The carrier, aircraft and pilots were properly certificated.
• 2. Captain Cramer, having very limited flight time in the aircraft was at the controls with Captain Goyette acting in a supervisory capacity.
• 3. Conditions of weather and water surface within the vicinity of Port of Spain were satisfactory for a safe approach and landing.
• 4. The plane first contacted the water at more than normal landing speed-and in a nose-low attitude.
• 5. The crash occurred at a point one-and-a-quarter miles short of the intended landing area.
• 6. Forces created by the speeds of the plane on its contact with the water and the excessive nose-down-attitude caused failure of the hull bottom and its structure resulting in rapid submersion of the aircraft.
• 7. Landing of the aircraft in the attitude indicated under the then existing conditions. of water surface and weather, was due to Cramer's having misjudged his true altitude and his failure to correct his attitude for a normal landing.
• 8. At the time of the accident Captain Cramer was not wearing glasses as required by his pilot certificate.
• 10. Captain Goyette, in command of the aircraft and with full knowledge of Crarmer's limited experience in the Martin M-130, failed to exercise sufficient supervision of the landing.

• Probable Cause: On the basis of the above findings, the Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was: (1) First Officer Cramer's failure to realize his proximity to the water and to correct his attitude for a normal landing and, (2) the lack of adequate supervision by the Captain during the landing resulting in the inadvertent flight into the water in excess of normal landing speed and in a nose-down attitude.^[7]

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"^[8] by Pan American personnel.^[9] 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.^[10][11]
• 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)

• In the Monkees spoken word song, 'Zilch' (found on their album Headquarters), Davy Jones contributed to the cacophony by repeating the phrase 'China Clipper calling Alameda'.
• Footage of the China Clipper (or possibly other M-130's) loading and taking off from Alameda is included in the films Secret Service of the Air (where Ronald Reagan is one of its pilots, and the plane is called the "Orient Express") and Fly-Away Baby.

See also

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

References

Notes

Bibliography

• "Alameda". California Historical Landmarks. Office of Historical Preservation. 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