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EASTBOUND 1939
[[4 column format]]
| | | Hours elapsed
6/28 | Lv. Port Washington, L.I. (N.Y.)| 18:59 G.C.T. |
6/28 | Ar. Horta, Azores | 10:15 G.C.T. | 15:86
6/29 | Lv. Horta, Azores | 19:14 G.C.T. |
6/29 | Ar. Lisbon, Portugal | 19:14 G.C.T. | 6:81
6/30 | Lv. Lisbon, Portugal | 06:40 G.C.T. |
6/30 | Ar. Marseilles, France | 13:21 G.C.T. | 6:81
Flying hours...29:51
WESTBOUND
7/2 | Lv. Marseilles, France | 08:23 G.C.T. |
7/2 | Ar. Lisbon, Portugal | 15:37 G.C.T. | 7:14
7/3 | Lv. Lisbon, Portugal | 97:55 G.C.T. |
7/3 | Ar. Horta, Azores | 16:23 G.C.T. | 8:68
7/3 | Lv. Horta, Azores | 17:49 G.C.T. |
7/4 | Ar. Port Washington, L.I. (N.Y.) | 12:44 G.C.T. | 18:95
7/4 | Ar. Chicago | 1:00 C.S.T. |
[[tally line]]
| | | 34:77
| | | 35:17
The time of departure and arrival is shown on the basis of Greenwich time - and figured on 24 hours per day with a difference of about 5 ½ hours between our time and Greenwich time - thus leaving Port Washington 18:59 Greenwich time, means about 2 P.M. our eastern time. The average speed was 154.1 miles per hour - and the maximum speed reached was 190 miles per hour.
[[news clipping]]
Aboard the Dixie Clipper
As the "Dixie Clipper" slipped out of the bay at Port Washington, L.I. June 28 for its first commercial flight to Europe, two of the twenty-two passengers aboard were members of the Union League Club. They were James McVittie, who resides in the Clubhouse and has an enviable record of "first" flights; and H.L. Stuart, who joined Union League in 1905.
Both men went just for the ride. Both were aboard the plane on its return flight. though both are old hands at flying, they were much impressed with the speed of their trip. As Mr. McVittie expresses it: "Breakfast in Lisbon Monday Lunch in Chicago Tuesday."
"We left Port Washington, Long Island, about 2 o'clock June 28," said Mr. McVittie in describing the trip. "We arrived in Horta, in the Azores, 15 hours and 42 minutes later - a distance of 2,397 miles - over the ocean in so short a time! Here we were entertained by the city officials. The Chief Executive expressed himself as being proud to have the honor to welcome those on this first flight and that Horta will be a great stopping place for planes in each direction. He also complimented the Americans on being the first to inaugurate the passenger-trans-Atlantic air flights. We were then taken on a tour of the city.
"Later we proceeded to Lisbon, Portugal - a distance of 1,050 miles, where we stopped for the night.
"The following morning we left for Marseilles, France - a distance of 1,203 miles. We stopped at the Splendide Hotel, where they did everything possible to make it pleasant for us - and they succeeded. Some of the passengers continued on to Paris and some of us stayed in Marseilles, because we wanted to see this old, old city and seaport of France. It was very interesting and we would have liked to stay longer, but time would not permit.
"So we again boarded the Clipper for our return trip - again stopping at Lisbon over night at the Aviz Hotel. Here we were entertained by officials of the Pan American Airways, with a wonderful dinner. There were present the officials of the Pan American Airways, their wives, and the Portugal officials and the passengers - all in all about 50. The American Consul was present also. The huge table was beautifully decorated with flowers, and a large replica of the Clipper, made of flowers, was placed in the center. Speeches, commemorating the occasion, were made by President Tripp of the Pan American Airways, as well as by other officials of the company and the Portuguese officials. All turned in early in order to be ready for the next morning to board the Clipper enroute to Horta, Azores.
"There we made a short stop of about one hour - and again we were greeted most cordially - then away we went sailing off through the high heavens on our way back to Port Washington! We flew through one or two rain squalls, but those who went to bed early were not even aware of it, and arrived in Port Washington at 7:49 A.M., July 4. Mr. Tripp had made arrangements for a special plane to meet Mr. Cresap and me at Port Washington to take us to Newark to connect immediately at that point with a United Air Lines plane, which brought us into Chicago at 2 o'clock daylight saving time - July 4. The most wonderful thing is, that I had breakfast Monday morning in Lisbon and lunch in Chicago Tuesday noon.
Outstanding Trip
"All in all it was one of the outstanding trips. The passengers were congenial and everybody was happy both going and coming back. I might add that the sleeping quarters were very good - the food good, and during the day there was plenty of room to walk around from the bridal suite in the rear, to the front end of the Clipper. Some of the passengers played cards and some checkers. Before we knew it, we arrived at our destination. As a souvenir the passengers were given a silver cigaret case on which is engraved the ticket of this initial flight, and you can imagine how highly treasured this will be.
"for the successful operation and handling of the Clipper much credit is due the Pilot Commander R.O.D. Sullivan and his crew. They were all most
[[magazine article]]
[[post card]]
AIR MAIL
FIRST FLIGHT
Mr. J.T. Hawkinson
2329 West 11th Place
Chicago, Ill., U.S.A.
1st COMMERCIAL FLIGHT - WESTBOUND
[[Note: card filled with signatures]]
[[postmarks unreadable]]
[[article narrative]]
J.T. Hawkinson, clerk in the office of F.L. Thompson, vice-president and chief engineer, Chicago, received this moments of the Dixie Clipper's first commercial Trans-Atlantic flight, June 28, and return on July 2, signed by all the passengers and members of the giant airplane's crew. Among the signatures is that of W.J. Eck, vice-president of the Southern Railroad, who had the first reservation after Will Rogers, made in 1933. Another who signed was James McVittie, president of the McVittie Metal Plating Company, Chicago, who mailed the card to Mr. Hawkinson. Mr. Hawkinson also has a card carried by the German dirigible Hindenburg on its first flight to America. This card was also mailed by Mr. McVittie, who is a "first flight" fan.
[/article narrative]]
ILLINOIS CENTRAL MAGAZINE
