1/06/1942: First Round-the-world Lands in New York

DALLAS — Today, in 1942, Pan American World Airways (PA) made history by becoming the first commercial airline to complete a flight around the world.

A Boeing 314 Clipper flying boat known as the California Clipper (NC-18602) undertook the trip. The epic journey began on December 2, 1941, when the Clipper departed from Pan Am's Treasure Island base in San Francisco for a transpacific crossing to Auckland, New Zealand.

However, five days later, while the flying boat was moored in Auckland, the Japanese attacked the US Naval fleet in Pearl Harbor, impacting all of Pan Am's outstations across the Pacific. As a result, the aircraft and its crew, led by Captain Robert Ford, were stranded.

Due to the need for the California Clipper in the war effort, Captain Ford received instructions from Pan Am headquarters to fly westbound and return the aircraft to the Marine Terminal at LaGuardia Field in New York. The crew had to navigate their way back to the United States, facing challenges such as securing gasoline and supplies and flying over land and water with limited resources.

On January 6, 1942, the Pacific Clipper landed at Pan American's LaGuardia Field seaplane base in New York City, completing the first commercial plane flight to circumnavigate the world. This achievement marked a significant milestone in aviation history.

Pacific Clipper's journey was influenced by the events of World War II, specifically the attack on Pearl Harbor. The crew's determination and resourcefulness in navigating their way back to the United States under challenging circumstances highlight the resilience and adaptability of aviation during wartime.

An Epic Journey

However, the crew of the California Clipper were left to their own devices, as they had to manage sourcing fuel and supplies for the entire 20,000-mile (32,000 km) journey. This required them to navigate across various countries and regions, including Australia, Indonesia, India, the Middle East, and Africa. Eventually, they crossed the Atlantic, making stops in Trinidad and Tobago before finally reaching their destination in New York on January 6.

Upon its arrival, Pan Am decided to rename the aircraft the Pacific Clipper for publicity purposes. It was subsequently handed over to the US Navy to be utilized for the remainder of the war effort. Unfortunately, the Clipper's journey came to an end when it was sold to Universal Airlines and later suffered damage in a storm. However, the aircraft was salvaged and used for spare parts.

Featured image: NC-18602 was the Boeing 314 'Clipper' Flying Boat that operated the world's first round-the-world flight, here at Treasure Island circa 1939.