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Posted: 5/14/2018 2:20:07 PM EDT
[#1]
Thanks for the story. I sent it to my Dad while he is recovering. He loves these stories.
I do have a question though. After reading, I believe they dropped off all their passengers in Darwin. Correct? Or did the passengers accompany them the whole trip? Thanks. I am going to buy the books. |
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Posted: 5/14/2018 2:24:03 PM EDT
[#2]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
They had two engines though, what could go wrong? https://images.fineartamerica.com/images/artworkimages/mediumlarge/1/consolidated-pby-catalina-larry-mcmanus.jpg |
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Posted: 5/14/2018 2:48:02 PM EDT
[#3]
Very cool story. My great uncle started at Pan Am as a radio operator on Clippers. Retired as a 707 captain in the 60's.
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Posted: 5/14/2018 2:50:12 PM EDT
[#4]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Very cool story. My great uncle started at Pan Am as a radio operator on Clippers. Retired as a 707 captain in the 60's. |
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Posted: 5/14/2018 2:53:05 PM EDT
[#5]
I did a thread about the Clippers a while back, not sure while I titled it clipper ships! I always liked the time period from maybe the mid 1930's until the outbreak of World War 2. I would have loved to have seen Manila, HK, etc. in an earlier time.
Pan Am Clipper Pan Am Clipper arives in Manila |
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Posted: 5/14/2018 4:55:34 PM EDT
[#6]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
@Ameshawki - He flew out of Treasure Island? |
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Posted: 5/14/2018 5:04:16 PM EDT
[#7]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Thanks for the story. I sent it to my Dad while he is recovering. He loves these stories. I do have a question though. After reading, I believe they dropped off all their passengers in Darwin. Correct? Or did the passengers accompany them the whole trip? Thanks. I am going to buy the books. |
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Posted: 5/15/2018 9:31:05 PM EDT
[#8]
The June 2018 issue of Naval History has an article on the Sikorsky flying boats and another on the PBY museum in Oak Harbor, Washington.
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Posted: 5/20/2018 11:43:05 AM EDT
[#9]
Just spoke with my uncle who worked at as an airplane mechanic for Pan Am at Treasure Island (SF Bay Area). He does not recall the clipper's skipper or crew. Oh well, he's in his nineties.
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Posted: 5/20/2018 1:02:20 PM EDT
[#10]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Just spoke with my uncle who worked at as an airplane mechanic for Pan Am at Treasure Island (SF Bay Area). He does not recall the clipper's skipper or crew. Oh well, he's in his nineties. Those guys were just crazy. He said the USAAC guys just showed up with 150 hours Bamboo Bomber time and claimed to be aircraft commanders, and everyone just laughed and said, "sit over there, junior, and don't touch nothing." |
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Posted: 6/1/2018 11:27:34 AM EDT
[#11]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
When I was kid, I got to meet an old guy who took a TWA 307 pretty much all over the planet. Those guys were just crazy. He said the USAAC guys just showed up with 150 hours Bamboo Bomber time and claimed to be aircraft commanders, and everyone just laughed and said, "sit over there, junior, and don't touch nothing." Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
Just spoke with my uncle who worked at as an airplane mechanic for Pan Am at Treasure Island (SF Bay Area). He does not recall the clipper's skipper or crew. Oh well, he's in his nineties. Those guys were just crazy. He said the USAAC guys just showed up with 150 hours Bamboo Bomber time and claimed to be aircraft commanders, and everyone just laughed and said, "sit over there, junior, and don't touch nothing." |
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Posted: 6/1/2018 11:49:24 AM EDT
[#12]
Quote HistoryQuoted: I don't recall. I only met the guy three or four times in my life. Uncle Si. I know he started as a radio operator on Great Lakes ore boats. Started with Pan Am in the 30's sometime, as a radio guy. I know he worked Clippers. Worked his way through the ranks. Retired in the late 60's. Last home port was Miami, I think. Started out life as an Iowa farm kid. He got out of PA before they folded. I think both his sons went into aviation as well. |
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Posted: 6/1/2018 12:06:32 PM EDT
[#13]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
WOW.... That action and article series is definitely Movie Script Material if they could come up with a reasonable stand in for a Boeing 314, and not ef it up with too much hokey CGI. |
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Posted: 6/1/2018 12:34:24 PM EDT
[#14]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
That would make an awesome movie. Why can't Hollywood do that one instead of fucking around with classics like Ghostbusters?  
I forwarded this to my friend who flew for PanAm. He then joined us at TWA...two of the pioneers. I’m pretty good at what I do but I’m not fit to be in the same room with the guys who did that type of flying. True heroes. I did learn from a couple guys who flew the Connie’s at TWA. So, I got that going for me.
TC |
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Posted: 6/1/2018 12:43:02 PM EDT
[#15]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
It’s really impossible to understate the impact of Pan Am and TWA on making modern travel and modern all weather long range air operations possible. The military and federal government had far less to do with it than a bunch of guys wondering if it was possible and trying it. TWA version...  Attached FileTWA version after the military commandeered it...  Attached FileTWA parlayed those aircraft flying Trans-Atlantic routes into their “round the world” route network after WWII. TC |
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Posted: 6/1/2018 12:47:49 PM EDT
[#16]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
New Zealand to New York? Is this really circumnavigation? 
TC |
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Posted: 6/1/2018 12:58:30 PM EDT
[#17]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Close enough in a radial-engined airplane. What are you, a lawyer?
TC Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
New Zealand to New York? Is this really circumnavigation?
TC |
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Posted: 6/1/2018 1:42:23 PM EDT
[#18]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
New Zealand to New York? Is this really circumnavigation? Jeesh.. There always one in the crowd... I look forward to your story... |
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Posted: 6/1/2018 1:56:46 PM EDT
[#19]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
They had two engines though, what could go wrong? https://images.fineartamerica.com/images/artworkimages/mediumlarge/1/consolidated-pby-catalina-larry-mcmanus.jpg Seems there was a topic on it here years ago. |
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Posted: 6/1/2018 2:02:48 PM EDT
[#20]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Wasn't there a guy that owned a Catalina that lived in it as a permanent residence? He turned the inside into living quarters. Seems there was a topic on it here years ago. Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
They had two engines though, what could go wrong? https://images.fineartamerica.com/images/artworkimages/mediumlarge/1/consolidated-pby-catalina-larry-mcmanus.jpg Seems there was a topic on it here years ago. |
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Posted: 6/1/2018 2:04:52 PM EDT
[#21]
Today, the OP delivered.
Absolutely awesome read. |
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Posted: 6/1/2018 2:20:57 PM EDT
[#22]
Awesome read OP. Thanks for sharing it.
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Posted: 6/1/2018 3:31:29 PM EDT
[#23]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
New Zealand to New York? Is this really circumnavigation? 
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Posted: 6/1/2018 3:41:55 PM EDT
[#24]
Very very cool story.
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Posted: 6/1/2018 4:08:58 PM EDT
[#25]
Thanks for posting this, OP! Great read!
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Posted: 6/1/2018 4:46:50 PM EDT
[#26]
The greatest generation!
- Clint |
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Posted: 6/1/2018 5:35:42 PM EDT
[#27]
Incredible story. Should be a movie.
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Posted: 6/7/2018 10:52:12 AM EDT
[#28]
Great story, just finished the book on kindle it’s a rather short book, so about half of gd will have the reading comprehension to finish it.
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Posted: 6/18/2018 10:56:51 PM EDT
[#29]
I bought the paperback. It’s a pretty good read.
If you promise to keep passing it on, I’ll drop it in the mail to the first person to pm me. Maybe we can keep it going for awhile. Update: the paperback is on its way to Texas. |
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Posted: 6/18/2018 11:49:14 PM EDT
[#30]
Was everyone else able to click on part 2? I have so much protection on my web browser I might as well unplug the computer.
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Posted: 6/19/2018 1:50:10 AM EDT
[#31]
I seem to recall reading something on this a few years ago. Still a fascinating story. Amazing what they did.
Do not believe that the entitled generation of now could even complete one leg of this journey. |
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Posted: 6/19/2018 1:55:00 AM EDT
[#32]
tag
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Posted: 6/19/2018 2:09:24 AM EDT
[#33]
Great story, I’m stealing it to send to my (Boeing) co-workers.
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Posted: 6/19/2018 4:37:36 PM EDT
[#34]
glad people are still discovering and enjoying this story
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Posted: 6/19/2018 5:44:40 PM EDT
[#35]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
That was badass. I feel like I just watched the first 3 Indiana Jones movies at once in the time it took to read that.  Failed To Load Title |
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Posted: 6/20/2018 9:44:06 AM EDT
[#36]
thats amazing and spotting a random jap sub. Imagine that big ass place flying toward you bet they were crapping their pants just as much lol.
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Posted: 6/28/2018 9:31:36 PM EDT
[#37]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
thats amazing and spotting a random jap sub. Imagine that big ass place flying toward you bet they were crapping their pants just as much lol. |
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Posted: 6/29/2018 12:51:28 AM EDT
[#38]
Great read! Thank you OP!
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Posted: 6/29/2018 1:31:40 AM EDT
[#39]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Was everyone else able to click on part 2? I have so much protection on my web browser I might as well unplug the computer. https://medium.com/lapsed-historian/the-long-way-round-part-3-70a315c26788 |
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Posted: 7/2/2018 12:08:23 PM EDT
[#40]
Quote HistoryQuoted: I bought the paperback. It’s a pretty good read. If you promise to keep passing it on, I’ll drop it in the mail to the first person to pm me. Maybe we can keep it going for awhile. Update: the paperback is on its way to Texas. Good read, and extensive bibliography. |
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Posted: 7/2/2018 2:20:38 PM EDT
[#41]
What a great story.!!
I remember as a kid,my parents taking me up Mt Victoria, overlooking Evans Bay in Wellington Harbor, to watch the Sundeland's take off, going to Sydney, and who-knows-where else. Even then I was amazed that something that big could fly. This was before the .gov pushed a hill into the bay to make the runway longer at Rongotai Airport, getting ready for land-based long-distance flights. So that must have been late '50's, early '60's. Later, I had my first airplane ride there, in a DC-3, to Nelson. Shit, just typing this is bringing back memories of that parking lot. (at night, - good times were had there). 
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Posted: 7/16/2018 11:07:53 PM EDT
[#42]
It's amazing to think about the balls required to make a flight like that without even having the maps, and knowing a mistake means capture or starvation on the sea
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Posted: 7/17/2018 12:19:48 AM EDT
[#43]
Last call before I mail it back to steelworker.
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Posted: 7/17/2018 12:42:35 AM EDT
[#44]
@backbencher
I will take it next. Going into an exercise at the end of next week and need a good story to keep me entertained when I can't have my phone. |
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Posted: 7/17/2018 12:45:07 AM EDT
[#45]
Quote HistoryQuoted: @backbencher I will take it next. Going into an exercise at the end of next week and need a good story to keep me entertained when I can't have my phone. |
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Posted: 7/17/2018 1:24:08 AM EDT
[#46]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
That was great. A plane so overloaded with fuel that the fucking wings bent enough to jam the mechanisms controlling the flaps, and then subsequently having to surf the damn plane through a canyon with rapids below, all in an effort to finally take off. Jesus. I'd be interested to read about what these planes did during WW2. So many stories are just lost, forgotten, or hidden from our own histories. |
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Posted: 7/17/2018 10:52:47 AM EDT
[#47]
Lots of Trans-Atlantic crossings of VIPs to Britain as well. Shorter range cargo flights refueled in Greenland or Iceland.
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Posted: 7/17/2018 11:50:51 AM EDT
[#48]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
This Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
WOW.... That action and article series is definitely Movie Script Material if they could come up with a reasonable stand in for a Boeing 314, and not ef it up with too much hokey CGI. |
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Posted: 7/17/2018 3:02:39 PM EDT
[#49]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Shoot me an IM w/ your address. Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted: @backbencher I will take it next. Going into an exercise at the end of next week and need a good story to keep me entertained when I can't have my phone. |
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Posted: 7/17/2018 4:40:55 PM EDT
[#50]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
@backbencher I will take it next. Going into an exercise at the end of next week and need a good story to keep me entertained when I can't have my phone. |
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