Flying boats sail into Astoria

Seventy-five years ago the last week in January, according to The

Daily Astorian’s “Water Under the Bridge” column, in 1939 PAN AMERICAN

flew its “74-passenger BOEING FLYING BOAT, (the) largest passenger

airplane ever built” into Astoria from Seattle, making “a perfect

landing in the river off Tongue Point.”

According to Boeing (//tinyurl.com/clipastoria), only 12 clippers were

made between 1938 and 1941, each having a 152foot wing span, with a

cruising speed of 184 mph and powered by four 1,600-horsepower Wright

Twin Cyclone engines. By the end of 1939, the clippers were providing

luxury flights across the Pacific with catered gourmet meals from

top-drawer hotels, and were the aircraft “stars” of the day.

Naturally, the arrival of the clipper was big news. “Thousands of

citizens of Astoria and surrounding communities lined the shores of

Tongue Point,” the story said, “and thronged nearby areas, eager to

get a look at the huge flying boat.”

Then, during the week of Feb. 12, 1939, a second clipper landed at

Tongue Point from Seattle, and “despite cold and snow, a considerable

crowd of spectators gathered to see the landing, which was an

excellent one.”

The photo shown was taken by 18-year-old DONALD HEMINGWAY when he

visited the World’s Fair in San Francisco in 1939. His son, ROGER

HEMINGWAY, who sent in the photo, believes they are the same two

clippers that landed in Astoria, as their next stop was San Francisco.

Roger wonders: Does anyone have photos of the flying boats’ visit to

Astoria? If so, please contact the Ear at 503-325-3211, ext. 257 or

ewilson@dailyastorian.com“Thousands turned out to see them,” he noted.

“The noise must have been fantastic, and the landing amazing to watch.

Someone must have taken photos.”

3.7.14