H96.1.1860

Photograph shows a monoplane taking off with people lining the runway on the far side. A stamp on the back claims the photo is from "Pacific & Atlantic Photos, Inc." A typed piece of paper, only a part, is attach to the back "Photo shows the Golden Eagle shortly after leaving the ground." A Tribune clipping glued to the back is from an article by Steve LaVoie, April 21, 1996 "The Golden Eagle, flown by Jack Frost and Gordon Scott, takes off from Bay Farm Island at the start of the Dole Air Derby of 1927. It crashed just west of San Francisco, killing its crew." This is one of the competitors in the Dole Race or Dole Derby which was an air race from Oakland to Hawaii from August 16-18, 1927. There were fifteen original entries but due to various accidents and mechanical problems only eight planes actuall took off and only two ever reached Hawaii. The race was sponsered by James Dole of Dole Hawaiian Pineapple. The "Golden Eagle" was piloted by John G. Frost of San Francisco and navigated by Gordon Scott from Santa Monica. The plane was a Lockheed Vega. Frost was 29, a former army pilot was worked as a stockbroker. Scott was 26 and an engineer for Douglas Aircraft and an experienced navigator. The plane was all plywood designed by John Northrop. It was purchased for the race by George Hearst, publisher of the SF Examiner. The "Golden Eagle" was the fourth plane to take off in the race. The plane was not seen again, although there was evidence that the plane reached Hawaii but crashed into Mauna Loa which was often shrouded by fog. Scott's younger brother conducted searches of the slops of the mountain for months after the race, since several people had reported seeing flares from the side of the mountain on August 17th. But due to the terrian the search was eventually given up. Frost was considered a good but not outstanding pilot while Scott was considered a very good navigator and their plane had been one of the leading contenders in the race. The plane had a 41 foot full-cantilever wingspan and round fuselage which was different from every other plane in the race. It was equipped with four flotation bags which could be inflated quickly with a compressed air cylinder. The landing gear could be released by punching out the pins which held them in place. The plane also had a two-way radio, an inflatable liferaft, flare pistol, food and water. It had a total gas capacity of 350 gallons. (Information provided by "The Dole Race" in the journal "American Aviation Historical Society" by Lesley Doran, Fall and Winter 1975.)

Used: Oakland Tribune