That John Rodgers story would make a great movie. Sailing a 1920's era sea plan in 1925 over 300 miles on the open ocean with little food or water has got to be one of the greatest survival feats of all time. Who else has ever sailed a sea plane that distance?
I agree, but they didn't explain how the plane was able to 'sail' the 300 miles! Did they have sails onboard or did the plane just drift with the tides to Hawaii?
@@rongendron8705 Well, once it's in the water t's a boat. Jury-rig anything on board to get it moving. Since most planes at that time were fabric covered and carried tools it wouldn't be too hard to rig a mast and sail.
Ditto on the John Rogers story in the previous comments. That is a story that I have been totally unaware of since beginning my perusal of Pan Am's flying boat operations. I have definitely learned something from this video. Thank you very much!
Before Pan Am flew in the Pacific. It set up business in my neighborhood in Coconut Grove Florida. When they figured out how to build concrete runways and install wheels, the City of Miami built Miami International Airport and the Coast Guard took over the hangars and seaplane ramps.
Great video, thank you for making it. I visited the plaque not so long ago, it needs some repair and maintenance. I also wonder if there were any Pan AM buildings near the landing dock, they must have been removed when the Navy housing was built.
The Japanese military were happy to have Guam and Wake island which they over ran during their conquest to rule the Pacific.Thankfully Midway was not taken.
1:49 - The Honolulu Advertiser's top headline is about the John Rodgers flight, but immediately underneath it is this: "Fears U.S.-Japan War Over Philippines". "Congressman J. M. Evans of Montana...expressed fear that the possession of the Philippines eventually will lead to war with Japan and he advocated relinquishment by America of its hold on the islands." Now admittedly this man from Montana can hardly have been an expert on the Pacific, and he ended up not being factually correct. But war did come between the two countries 16 years later, and a whole lot of people conjectured about it beforehand, just as Evans did.
Humphrey Bogart's first starring role with Warner Bros. was as the pilot of the first "China Clipper" in 1936. See ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-KKq1WUmjSBw.html and ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-ILa3z3wdcoo.html. The aerial shots in the film were of several different aircraft, however.
Can you Imagine what it must have been like being part of the crew that set up the islands for tourist lay overs? How much did a ticket cost on these flights?
That's Musick. Lol. I guess we too were related. My Father was named after him and became a career man in the Air Force 50s 60s 70s. I heard many stories.
Plaque was laid B4 Flight 103. If they had waited until then, heh heh heh, PAN AM WOULDN'T HAVE HAD THE NERVE TO LAY IT!! "THE GREAT PAN AM!!".....................YEAH, RIGHT!!
Nice history and photos. But why not use a professional announcer. This clown obviously doesn't understand we hear faster than this thick tongue chap. He has to stop mid-sentence to catch his breath. I can't take anymore!
