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Today marks the 89th anniversary of the ground-breaking, inaugural, transpacific airmail flight of the Pan American Airways’ Martin M-130 flying boat, the “China Clipper.” A crowd of 125,000 people watched from around the Bay Area as the “China Clipper” lifted off from the waters of San Francisco Bay and strained into the sky threading its way under and over two partially built bridges. It soared through the Golden Gate and slowly disappeared from land as the ship’s crew of seven set course for Asia and opened the age of regular transpacific oceanic commercial air service. Here, the crowd gathers around the “China Clipper” before its historic take off in Alameda on November 22, 1935. Departure ceremony for inaugural Pan American Airways, Martin M-130 “China Clipper” service 1935 SFO Museum Collection Gift of Robert L. Williams 2000.084.028
This image was posted on November 22, 2024.