China Clipper made the first mail flight across the Pacific from San Francisco Bay to Manila in late November 1935. Edwin Musick's crew set out from Pan Am's seaplane terminal at Alameda Airport, later absorbed by Alameda NAS / Nimitz Field. Photo from: SFO Museum

The Martin M-130 prototype, one month before its first flight. It was quite an achievement but to Pan Am, it was still not what it needed and only three examples of the M-130s were built. NC14714 Hawaii Clipper - carrying six passengers and nine crew - disappeared between Guam and Manila on 28 July 1938. Photo from: SFO Museum

Pan Am's one and only China Clipper at Alameda in 1936. I took this with a 620 Box Brownie camera at age 14.

Destroyed in a crash at Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago January 8, 1945. Pan Am photo. Photo from: Civil Aviation Historical Society, Melbourne, Australia

Only three examples of the large M-130 flying boat were built for Pan Am. After the outbreak of the Pacific War Philippine Clipper was impressed by the US Navy with her Pan Am crew. It crashed into a mountain near Boonville, California on 21 January 1943, and all 19 people on board were killed. On the tailfin is the Martin company logo. Location thought to be Alameda. Photo from: Utah State History