Dole Air Race Oakland to Honolulu Hawaii 28984 (1939)

Synopsis

This extremely rare silent film shows the 1927 Dole Air Race from Oakland, California to Honolulu Hawaii. More on this below: The Dole Air Race, also known as the Dole Derby, was a tragic air race across the Pacific Ocean from northern California to the Territory of Hawaii in August 1927. Of the 15-18 airplanes entered, eleven were certified to compete but three crashed before the race, resulting in three deaths. Eight eventually participated in the race, with two crashing on takeoff and two going missing during the race. A third, forced to return for repairs, took off again to search for the missing and was itself never seen again. In all, before, during, and after the race, ten lives were lost and six airplanes were total losses. Two of the eight planes successfully landed in Hawaii. Inspired by Charles A. Lindbergh's successful trans-Atlantic flight, James D. Dole, the Hawaii pineapple magnate, put up a prize of US$25,000 for the first fixed-wing aircraft to fly the 3,870 kilometers (2,400 mi) from Oakland, California to Honolulu, Hawaii, and US$10,000 for second place. The race began on 16 August 1927. The fifteen competitors were seen off by a crowd estimated to include 75,000 to 100,000 persons. The starting line-up included: Pabco Flyer, a Breese-Wilde Monoplane, NX646, flown alone by Livingston Gilson Irving Woolaroc, One of two modified Travel Air 5000 aircraft, NX869, flown by Arthur C. Goebel and navigated by William V. Davis Jr. Oklahoma, a Travel Air 5000 sister…

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Details

Running time

3 minutes

Collection

Ephemeral Films

Subjects on the Internet Archive

• Stock Footage