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Post by jesse on Apr 3, 2010 10:40:27 GMT -5
I broke down and bought Ed Dover's book on the flight of Pacific Clipper from Auckland, NZ to LaGuardia MAT. It is a fine story and it makes you feel like you are on the flight deck along with the rest of the crew with Captain Bob Ford. They began the flight in NC18606 but changed planes at Pearl and finished the flight in NC18602. For those who want to recreat the flight I am including a reprint of their actual route. Jesse  |
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Post by dave mcqueen on Apr 3, 2010 19:08:19 GMT -5
Jesse, Do you have Flynn's book "Escape of the Pacific clipper?" There is a map of the "route" on page 391. Looks like someone made an error because the route line there goes all the way to Guam before backtracking to New Zealand.
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Post by jesse on Apr 3, 2010 19:52:37 GMT -5
Dave, I don't have Flynn's book, but the "Long Way Home" was based on taped interviews with Captain Ford and other crew members. No where in the book do they mention Guam and they did cover each of their stops on the itinerary in detail. I also have another book "Last of the Flying Clippers, The Boeing B-314 and they don't mention Guam either as associated with this flight. I have emailed you a copy of the logs showing the actual times in flight and the from/to data.
I am inclined to go along with the report as made by Ed Dover, who is a Pan Am Radio Officer.
BTW, I did not know it but Captain Ford Retired from Pan Am and went into ranching. It did not pay off for him so he joined a non-sked airline......Overseas National Airline and flew MATS contract flights between Oakland and Tokyo in the 50s. He may have been the pilot on the ONA that I deadheaded back on when we stopped at Wake.
Jesse
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Post by jesse on Apr 5, 2010 12:56:27 GMT -5
Yep, I see what you mean. He shows the ship flying direct from Auckland to Darwin, bypassing Noumea altogether. The flight went back to Noumea to evacuate the Pan Am employees and their families to Australia and then on to Darwin and points Northwest. If you would like to read Ed's account, I'll be happy to mail the book to you. I think I still have your address.
Jesse
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Post by dave mcqueen on Apr 5, 2010 14:21:32 GMT -5
Yep, I see what you mean. He shows the ship flying direct from Auckland to Darwin, bypassing Noumea altogether. The flight went back to Noumea to evacuate the Pan Am employees and their families to Australia and then on to Darwin and points Northwest. If you would like to read Ed's account, I'll be happy to mail the book to you. I think I still have your address. Jesse Thats OK Jesse, I have read the book. I just don't have it anymore - loaned it to a co-worker years ago and it was never returned. Thanks. |
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Post by dave mcqueen on Apr 17, 2010 22:10:09 GMT -5
Here is a picture of what is left of NC 18602 - California Clipper/Pacific Clipper  |
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