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Douglas World Cruisers (1924)

1924 · Silent film · 17 min

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Synopsis

Around the World Newsreel” (c.1924) is a silent, black-and-white newsreel film chronicling the first circumnavigation of the globe by air, which was achieved in 1924 by a team of aviators from the U.S. Army Air Service. The trip began April 6th, 1924 in Seattle, Washington, lasted 175 days, covered approximately 27,000 miles, and included landings in 22 different countries. The United States Army Air Service commissioned the Douglas Aircraft Company to design and build its Douglas World Cruiser (DWC) for the first flight around the world. Because the flight would take place over land and water, the aircraft featured interchangeable floats and wheels. The Boeing Co. modified the aircraft for the attempt. Four aircraft, each named after a city in the U.S.—Seattle, Chicago, Boston and New Orleans, began the record attempt. Of the original four, only two completed the 27,553-mile journey back to the starting point. (The "Seattle" was destroyed in a crash, and "Boston" sank after being forced down in the sea by a mechanical failure.) Aerial view of three DWC aircrafts flying over land (0:12). Crowds gather on piers at marina and look upwards towards the sky (0:15). General Patrick hands final orders to Major Frederick L. Martin, who piloted “Seattle” (0:37). Army airplanes start first leg of 30,000 mile trip around the globe from Clover Field in Santa Monica, California - crowds gathered along Santa Monica Pier (0:44). Mrs. Martin christens Plane No.1 “Seattle” before take off by…

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Details

Running time
17 minutes
Collection
Ephemeral Films

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