Name/Title
Edwin C Musick Signed Pan American Clipper CachetDescription
Edwin Charles Musick (August 13, 1894 – January 11, 1938) was chief pilot for Pan American World Airways and pioneered many of Pan Am's transoceanic routes including the famous route across the Pacific Ocean, ultimately reaching the Philippine Islands, on the China Clipper.
Musick was one of the best known pilots of the 1930s, making the cover of Time magazine on December 2, 1935.[27] He received the Harmon Trophy in 1936 to recognize the first commercial flight of China Clipper.[2][5] At one point during the 1930s, Musick held more flying records than any other pilot. At the time of his death, Captain Musick had reportedly flown about two million transocean miles in airline service.
Musick and his crew of six died in the crash of the Sikorsky S-42 Samoan Clipper (ex-Pan American Clipper II) near Pago Pago, American Samoa, on a cargo and survey flight returning from Auckland, New Zealand.[23][28] Approximately 38 minutes after take-off on January 11, 1938, the aircraft reported an engine oil leak[29] and Musick turned back toward Pago Pago after securing that engine.
Once the aircraft had missed its planned return time, a search was launched for the aircraft; floating debris surrounded by an oil slick was found approximately 12 hours later,[23] approximately 14 miles (23 km) northwest of Pago Pago by the U.S. naval seaplane tender USS Avocet.[30] Debris was limited to charred pieces of the aircraft and its equipment; a Pan American Airways officer's jacket, later identified as belonging to the radio officer, was also recovered.[6] However, the bodies of the seven crewmen, Capt. Edwin C. Musick, First Officer Cecil Sellers, flight officer Paul S. Brunk, navigation officer Frederick J. MacLean, radio officer Thomas D. Finley, flight engineer John W. Stickrod, and mechanic John A. Brooks were never recovered. All that remained at the scene of the crash were scorched fragments of wood and metal and some papers from the log book floating about the surface.[31]
Wikipedia Reference nos.Created By
hawaiiancovers@gmail.comCreate Date
July 12, 2025Update Date
July 14, 2025
