1938 — July 28-29, Pan Am 229 out of Alameda CA, lost, Pacific ~530M E of Manila –all 15

Compiled by Wayne Blanchard; last edit 11-2-2024 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/

–15  Aviation Safety Network, Flight Safety Foundation. Database, 1938, p. 8.

–15  Haine.  Disaster in the Air.  2000, 268.

–15  Nicolaou.  Flying Boats & Seaplanes:  A History from 1905.  1998, p. 105.

–15  Noa, Madeleine. “The Hawaii Clipper Disappearance.” Historic Mysteries.  Jan 11, 2010.

Narrative Information

Aviation Safety Network. Pan American Air, Missing E off Manila, Philippines, July 28:

“Date:                                      Thursday 28 July 1938

“Type:                                     Martin M-130

“Owner/operator:                    Pan American Airways (Pan Am)

“Registration:                          NC 14714

“MSN:                                     556

“Year of Manufacture:            1934

“Total airframe hrs:                 4806

….

“Fatalities:                               15 / Occupants: 15

“Aircraft damage:                   Aircraft missing, written off

….

“Location:                               E off Manila, Philippines – Pacific Ocean

“Phase:                                    En route

“Nature:                                  Passenger – Scheduled

“Departure airport:                  Guam-Apra Harbor Seaplane Base

“Destination airport:               Manila Airport (MNL/RPLL)

“Narrative:

“Martin flying boat “Hawaii Clipper” departed Alameda on a flight across the Pacific Ocean to Manila. Intermediate stops were made in Hawaii and Guam.

“The airplane departed Guam at 11:39 (18:30 CST). The last radio contact was at 22:03 CST saying that it was 565 miles from the Philippine coast, flying through layers of clouds and moderately rough air.

“The aircraft failed to arrive at Manila and a search was initiated.

“On 30 July, the Unites States Army transport ship USAT Meigs discovered an oil slick approximately 28 nautical miles (52 kilometers) south-southeast of the flying boat’s last reported position. The slick was described as being approximately 1,500 feet (457 meters) in circumference. No physical evidence of the Martin M-130 has ever been found.

“Search for the plane was called off on August 5, 1938.”

Noa: “In July 1938, Hawaii Clipper Flight #229 carrying nine crewmembers and six passengers were flying from Alameda, California to Manila by way of Honolulu, Midway, Wake, and Guam. Its passenger list included distinguished men: Dr. Earl Baldwin McKinley, Dean of Medicine at George Washington University, and Dr. Fred C. Meier, plant pathologist of the Department of Agriculture, who were en route from Guam to Manila in search of the answer to the puzzle of the trans-oceanic spread of disease germs and plant pollen. The Hawaii Clipper disappeared over the Pacific.

“The disappearance launched one of the most intensive sea and air searches in Asiatic waters. At the break of dawn on July 29, 1938, the Army dispatched six Martin bombers, with a 1,000 mile range, to search toward the plane’s last reported position. Early in the search, the Army freight transport Meigs was directed to the area and searched for two days and nights. Using several searchlights on the water and periodically flaring rockets, the vessel zigzagged the ocean but found no evidence of the aircraft. On July 30, an oil slick 1500 feet in circumference was found by Meigs about 50 miles south of the spot the plane was last reported. Spill samples were taken for analysis and while the find was significant, it was not conclusive as no wreckage or debris was observed. The Army and Navy continued searching for the missing plane with waning hope. After three days of extensive searches in perfect observation conditions and calm seas, it became apparent that disaster had occurred. Air experts were baffled that the airliner could have sunk and vanished without a trace. One last effort was made on August 7 by the Japanese Navy steamer Canberra Maru, en route from Australia to Japan, to look for the missing clipper in the vicinity of Douglas Reef as it was believed it matched the path of currents in which the clipper came down. Later that day, the Canberra Maru reported it had reached Douglas Reef but found no trace of the Hawaii Clipper. On August 10, the search for the missing plane was called off. To this day, neither the plane nor any of its passengers have been found. Air experts have not been able to determine the cause of the crash.” (Noa, Madeleine. “The Hawaii Clipper Disappearance.” Historic Mysteries.  Jan 11, 2010.)

Sources

Aviation Safety Network, Flight Safety Foundation. Database, 1938. Pan American Airways, Missing E off Manila, Philippines, July 28, 1938. Accessed 11-2-2024 at: https://asn.flightsafety.org/wikibase/342236

Haine, Edgar A. Disaster in the Air. New York: Cornwall Books, 2000, 394 pages.

Nicolaou, Stephane. Flying Boats & Seaplanes: A History from 1905.  Bickford, UK:  Bay View Books Ltd., 1998.  Partially digitized by Google at:  http://books.google.com/books?id=Hs4Ni-w7RO0C&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false

Noa, Madeleine. “The Hawaii Clipper Disappearance.” Historic Mysteries.  Jan 11, 2010.  Accessed 4-12-2011 at:  http://historicmysteries.com/vanished-hawaii-clipper-flight-229