China Clipper
The name “China Clipper” became synonymous with Pan American’s Martin M-130 clipper, and even, to many people, shorthand for Pan Am flying boats in general. But the China Clipper was an individual aircraft, Construction number 558, Registration Number NC14716, known as “Sweet Sixteen” to Pan Am employees.
China Clipper at Pearl Harbor
The China Clipper was actually the third M-130 laid down by the Glenn L. Martin Aircraft Company (construction number 558), but it was the first M-130 delivered to Pan American. Although never formally “christened,” the ship was named “China Clipper” by Pan American chief Juan Trippe on October 9, 1935, with Charles Lindbergh at his side.
U.S. Air Mail stamp issued for China Clipper's first flight across the Pacific
China Clipper made its most famous flight just six weeks after its delivery to Pan American, when it inaugurated the first scheduled air mail service across the Pacific.
On November 22, 1935, before a crowd of 25,000 people, the China Clipper lifted off the waters of San Francisco Bay to begin its flight to Manila. The aircraft carried 58 mailbags, weighing 1,837 lbs, containing 110,865 specially stamped letters.
After unexpectedly passing underneath the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge, which was thwn still under construction — the plane was too heavy to fly over the bridge as planned — the China Clipper headed west to Honolulu on its five leg trip across the Pacific:
- San Francisco – Honolulu (Depart 3:46 PM, November 22 – Arrive 10:19 AM, November 23)
- Honolulu – Mdway (Depart 6:35 AM, November 24 – Arrive 2:0o PM, November 24)
- Midway – Wake (Depart 6:12 AM, November 25 – Arrive 1:38 PM, November 26)
- Wake – Guam (Depart 6:01 AM, November 27 – Arrive 3:05 PM, November 27)
- Guam – Manila (Depart 6:12 AM, November 29 – Arrive 3:32 PM, , November 29)
The Clipper crossed the International Date Line between Midway and Wake.
Pan Am pilot Edwin Musick was command of the flight and its seven man crew:
- Captain: Edwin Music
- First Officer: R.O.D. Sullivan
- Second Officer: George King
- Navigator: Fred Noonan
- First Engineer: C.D. Wright
- Second Engineer: Victor Wright
- Radio Officer: William Jarboe
The China Clipper continued to fly the Pacific for the next eight years, until she was transferred to Florida in June, 1943 to begin service on the less glamorous route between Miami and Leopoldville in the Belgian Congo.
On the evening of January 8, 1945, the China Clipper stuck an object in the water and sank at Port of Spain in Trinidad; the crash killed 14 of the 18 passengers, and 9 of the 12 members of the crew.
Over its career, the China Clipper flew more than 2.4 million miles and spent more than 15,000 hours in the air, carrying approximately 3,500 passengers and 750,000 lbs of mail and freight.
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
Ive been to Manila, and the old Manila Airport building sits at the corner of Ayala Ave and Makati Ave in the tall business district of Manila. Is this the airport that these planes flew into ? I have been told that the runway to this historic airport is where Ayala Ave currently is located. You can visit the old small airport terminal building, ( now in a yellow and green paint scheme) it is now preserved through the local historical society there in Manila. Ive always been a true admireer of these big planes. Thanks for this site, much more info should be displayed at BWI airport which is close to Martins State Airport.
Thanks,
Gary Ballard
Severn, Maryland
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Here is my web site…minus the Pam Am ship. Enjoy your visit to my hometown.
Keep’em flying.
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I have aa original photograph taken in Cuba of NC14716. If interested in obtaining this write to my email. This a a b/w photo and it is beautiful…..\\
Don Barker; 304 3rd St SE, Conover NC 28613
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Hello, for about 20 years or so I’ve owned a book called the ‘Inauguration of Trans-Pacific Air Mail Service. Its 12 1/2″ high by 9 3/4″wide. It has a map that shows the route and a blue stamp like the one you have on this page. It appears to have been put together in sections, with each section having typed pages of the events that took place in route, along with pictures of the plane, crew and dignitaries It has autographs of the following, Wallace Alexander; J.R. Knowland; Manuel L. Quezon (the President of the Philippines); all seven members of the crew; Frank L Merriam (the Governor of California); and Joseh P. Poindexter (Governor of the Territory of Hawaii. It also has an impressed seals of both the Territory of Hawaii and State of California. It is possible this could have been put together section by section during the Inaugural flight? The pictures and pages are somewhat browned from age.
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Would it not have flown under the Golden Gate Bridge? Or was the take off not done from Treasure Island for that flight. I spent a year at Treasure Island in the early 60’s and it is between the bay bridge and the GG bridge. Take off into the wind should have been heading right for the Golden Gate. There was also part of a runway on Treasure island still there at the time pointed straight out the Golden Gate.
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