Basil Smith: China Clipper Seaplane

Artist: Basil Smith
1925 -
Nationality: British
Artwork Year: 1983
Image Size: 7 by 6 inches
Overall Size: 10 by 9 inches
Medium: Mixed Media on Hot Press Illustration Board

On the afternoon of November 22, 1935, thousands in San Francisco ventured outside to witness the first flight of the China Clipper. The voice on the radio -- scrambled with static -- suddenly came in strong saying "Pan American Airways ocean air base No. 1, Honolulu, Hawaii, standing by for orders," "Midway standing by..." and so on from Wake Island, to Guam and finally Manila. Then, the pilot -- Edwin Musick, a seasoned flyer -- climbed into the plane ... and with the Star-Spangled Banner trailing off behind him, lifted off the water, turning toward Hawaii as he flew over the then incomplete Golden Gate Bridge. And so, the famous first load of airmail to the Far East was in the air, speeding toward Hawaii at over one hundred and fifty miles per hour. The man who had handed Musick his flight orders had been J. Terry Trippe -- former Navy bomber pilot -- who had started Pan American Airlines with initiative and imagination. In spite of his brilliant business sense, his new company was beginning to fail and needed a boost. That new thrust came when Congress passed the Kelly Act authorizing airmail payments to private contractors. So Pan American carried the mail to Manila from San Francisco, opening the first airmail service to the Far East ever.

This painting was originally published on the Fleetwood® Trains & Boats & Planes & More Collection Description Card for the China Clipper Seaplane.

Artwork Copyright © 1983 Unicover Corporation. All Rights Reserved under United States and international copyright laws. You may not reproduce, distribute, transmit, or otherwise exploit the Artwork in any way. Images of the Artwork may be watermarked and/or digitally watermarked. Any sale of the physical original does not include or convey the Copyright or any right comprised in the copyright.

Our Stock Number (SKU): XB08349

US$ Price: $950.00

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