H96.1.1967

Typed paper glued to the back, "Watch your credit SF 3805 'P & A Photos'. HAWAIIAN FLIGHT PLANE HOLDS STISFACTORY TEST AT S.F. The first of the 3 giant navy seaplanes that will make a non-stop flight to Honolulu on the 31 of this month held a satisfactory test over San Francisco and vicinity this morning, Aug. 28. The plane to make the first test since the planes arrived at S.F. was the PB9-3. Photo shows the PB9-3 just after completing satisfactory test over S.F. Bay. B WFM 8/28/25." Photo shows plane in water with several navy men in the water around the plane and on the wings. A Navy ship is in the background. 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