Claude Shea Early Aviation Photograph Collection

Collection — Folder: 1

Identifier: 1990-03-20-A

The Claude Shea Early Aviation Photograph Collection holds two vintage black-and-white photographs depicting early aviators from 1924 and 1930 respectively. One photograph shows the Douglas World Cruiser "Seattle (No. 1)" piloted by Major Martin during the flight around the world. It was likely taken in Seward, Alaska, circa April 1924. The caption on verso reads "This could be near Seward, Alaska. Major Martin. Around the world flight of 1924?" It is 3 x 4.5 inches and in poor condition, with a piece missing from the top of the print. The second photograph depicts pilot Joe Crosson's aircraft seen from a distance in Ruby, Alaska in 1930, per the caption on reverse. It is 2.5 x 7 inches. It is unclear who took the photographs.

Dates

1924-1930

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research and is accessible in the Dahlberg Research Center by appointment. For more information contact us.

Conditions Governing Use

The Museum of Flight (TMOF) Archives is the owner of the physical materials in the archives and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. Written permission must be obtained from TMOF archives before any publication use. TMOF does not necessarily hold copyright to all of the materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use may require seeking additional authorization from copyright owners. Consult repository for more details.

Extent

0.01 Cubic Feet (1 letter file folder)

Additional Description

Historical Note: 1924 Around-the-world flight

In 1924 a team of eight men from the United States Army Air Service completed the first around-the-world flight in four Douglas World Cruisers. The attempt began on April 6, 1924, when the Douglas World Cruisers took off from their official starting point of Sand Point in Seattle, Washington.

The aircraft and crew were:

Seattle (No.1), Major Frederick L. Martin (1882–1956), pilot and flight commander, and SSgt. Alva L. Harvey (1900–1992), flight mechanic
Chicago (No.2), Lieutenant Lowell H. Smith (1892–1945), pilot, subsequent flight commander, and 1st Lieutenant Leslie P. Arnold (1893–1961), co-pilot
Boston/Boston II (No.3), 1st Lieutenant Leigh P. Wade (1897–1991), pilot, and SSgt. Henry H. Ogden (1900–1986), flight mechanic
New Orleans (No.4) Lieutenant Erik H. Nelson (1888–1970), pilot, and Lieutenant John Harding Jr. (1896–1968), co-pilot

The fliers generally traveled westward, with multiple fueling and maintenance stops in more than 20 countries. After leaving Seattle, the teams headed northwest to Alaska, then across the Pacific Islands to Japan and South Asia, moving across to Europe before crossing the Atlantic Ocean to return to the United States.

The flight was not without difficulties. On April 30, 1924, the lead aircraft, Seattle (No.1), crashed in Alaska, although the crew survived. On August 3, 1924, the Boston (No.3) was forced down and eventually sank near the Faroe Islands. It was replaced by the prototype Douglas World Cruiser, rechristened as Boston II, and rejoined the flight from Pictou, Nova Scotia. The three remaining aircraft landed for the final time in Seattle on September 24, 1924, having successfully completed the first aerial circumnavigation of the world. In total, the flight covered 26,345 miles and took 363 flying hours and over 175 days.

Related Materials at The Museum of Flight

The Museum of Flight holds multiple collections related to the first aerial circumnavigation and the Douglas World Cruisers, including:

Donna Hansen Douglas World Cruisers Flight Photograph Collection (Accession 2002-07-18)
Florence Ragen Douglas World Cruisers Photograph Collection (Accession 2007-03-29C)
Joseph Baillargeon Douglas World Cruisers Photograph Collection (Accession 2011-00-00-13)