MANILA — On November 22, 1935, history took flight as a crowd of approximately 125,000 gathered along the shores of San Francisco Bay to witness the monumental moment when the Pan American World Airways’ renowned flying boat, the China Clipper, embarked on the first-ever trans-Pacific commercial flight.
Commanded by Captain Edwin C. Musick, the China Clipper, a Martin M-130, soared over the iconic Golden Gate, marking the commencement of the pioneering commercial transpacific air service from San Francisco to Manila.
After an awe-inspiring 59 hours and 48 minutes of flying time, the China Clipper gracefully landed on the waters of Manila Bay, establishing the inaugural air link between the Philippines and the United States.
This historic arrival marked a transformative event for the Philippines, eliminating the time-consuming surface travel that had been the sole connection to the Western world.
Before the introduction of flying Clippers, the journey to the United States via ship took weeks, but now, it was reduced to a matter of days.
For six years, Pan American continued to serve the Philippines until the outbreak of World War II, during which the Japanese occupation disrupted air travel for four years. Following the war, the flying Clippers quickly resumed their vital role, contributing to making Manila one of the world’s great aerial crossroads.
As we celebrate the 88th anniversary of this groundbreaking moment, we reflect on the profound impact of the China Clipper’s inaugural flight and its role in shaping the aviation history of the Philippines and the United States.
Source: The American Chamber of Commerce in the Philippine Journal, Volume XXIII, Number 7, November 1947
(JR AMIGO/AI/MNM)