Upper left: Glenn Curtiss, Lower Left: Comm. Richardson, Upper right: Comm. Westervelt, Lower right: Comm. Hunsaker, Middle: Rear Admiral Taylor - The men who were responsible for the NC Flying Boats

 
The first flight of NC-1 was on Oct.4, 1918. The Navy plan was to attempt to fly the Atlantic May of 1919.

               

 
Crew of The NC-1   L-R   Lieut. Comm. P.N.L. Bellinger USN,  Lieut. Comm.  M.A.   Mitcher USN,  Lieut.L.T.Barin, USNRF, Lieut. (jg) H. Sadenwater USNRF,  Chief  Machinist Mate C.I. Kesler   USN.  Machinist R. Christenson USN

                

 
Crew of Flagship NC-3  L-R  Comm. John H. Towers USN, Commander of  NC-3 and Trans-Atlantic Expedition,  Comm. Holden C. Richardson USN, Pilot,  Lieut. David H. McCullough USNRF, Pilot,   Lieut. Comm. Robert A. Lavender USN  Radio Operator,  Machinest Lloyd R.Moore USN,  Engineer Lieut. Braxton Rhodes USN,  Reserve Pilot.

                   

   

 The four Liberty engine being installed on NC-4.

       

                       

NC-4  Crew, L-R; Lieut.  Comm. A.C. Reed  USN, Lieut. E.F. Stone USCG, Lieut. W. Hi  Hinton USN,  Ensign H.C. Rodd  USNRF, Chief Special Mechanic E.H. Howard USN,  Lieut. J.L. Breese USNRF

After departing the Rockaway Naval Air Station May 8 at 10 AM, NC-1 and NC-3 reached Halifax.  NC-4 was forced down at sea, but made it to Chatham May 9 at 7 AM for engine change.

NC- 1 reached Trapassey Bay May 10 at 3:41 PM

NC-3       “              “           “   May 10 at 7:31 PM

NC-4       “              “           “   May 15 at 5:45 PM

The three planes leave to start Atlantic crossing May 16 at 5:36 PM. This leg to Horta is 1200 nautical miles. After flying through heavy fog disaster struck. At 8:10 AM, May 17 NC-1 went down in the water 200 miles from Fayal and sank off of Corvo May 20. The crew was saved when they were taken onboard the Ionia.

NC-3 was off course in fog and went down in a twelve foot sea that damaged her hull, struts and control connections. One of the floats was ripped off one of the wing tips. One of the crew had to hit on the wing to balance the missing float. They fixed their position at about 25 miles southwest of Horta. They drifted with the wind, which they thought would bring them to San Miguel. Rescue was improbable; the NC-3 must save herself. After sailing 52 hours and a 205 mile journey over open seas they calculated that they could make Pnte Delgada in 2 hours.  Land appeared and the USS Harding appeared to help but was refused by Comm. John H. Towers. The US Navy will not give up the ship!

The NC-4 reached Horta May 17 at 9:25 AM and left May 27 at 6:18. They flew 800 nautical miles and reached Lisbon May 27 2:23 AM. There remained one more accomplishment - the flight to Plymouth. Here on May 31, a pilot of Massachusetts birth, set foot on the shore from which the Pilgrims took ship to the new world three hundred years before. After a flight of 3,936 nautical miles, the crew had demonstrated the efficiency of the NC boats and the ability of the American Naval Officers.

 
Secretary of the Navy Daniels, Asst. Secretary F.D. Roosevelt and NC flyers.

                           

                                                                        End

                                                                  David Horn

                                                                   May, 2009

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