H96.1.1966

24-Jul-25
6.5 in HIGH x 8.5 in WIDE
(16.51 cm HIGH x 21.59 cm WIDE)
The Oakland Tribune Collection, the Oakland Museum of California. Gift of ANG Newspapers
H96.1.1966


Typed paper glued to the back, "Watch your credit LA 7878 Pacific & Atlantic Los Angeles. First Pictures Of Completed Trans-Pacific Plane. Here is the first picture to be secured of one of the completed navy PN-9 planes in which the trans-Pacific flight to Honolulu will be made in September. The first of the two planes has just been completed at the naval air station at San Diego and the picture was taken when the members of the Naval Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives visited the air station to inspect the ship. This picture shows the plane at the air station, with the congressmen and their party looking it over. B WFM 7/24/25." On August 31, 1925, Commander John Rodgers took off in a navy seaplane called a PN-9 No. 1 bound for Hawaii. No seaplane had made a flight longer than 1200 miles, the flight to Hawaii was around 900 miles longer. On September 1 the plane sent out SOS messages about running out of fuel. There was no news about Rodgers and his crew for 7 days. Although a search was initiated, Rodgers and his crew were unable to indicate their position. The crew made a sail out of fabric from the wing and floated in the direction they were heading. They were finally rescued when the plane was within sight of land, eight days after take off.

Used: Oakland Tribune

Bookmark and Share