Pan American Airways and its pioneer pilot across the oceans. Captain Edwin C. Musick. 1894-1938 #SamoanClipper #CaptainMusick

On the loss of Captain Musick and his crew. - Needless to say, everyone connected with Pan American Airways is deeply grieved at the untimely fate of Captain Musick and his splendid crew. It is an irreparable blow to our company, and will be a distinct loss to American aviation.

I feel that Captain Musick and his flight crew are entirely blameless. Radio reports from the Samoan Clipper prove that on this flight, as on all his previous flights, he carefully followed the most conservative technique possible.

The loss of Captain Edwin Musick and his crew off Samoa was a severe blow to all of us at Pan American. But in the true spirit of pioneers and of Musick himself we will forge ahead.

The Sikorsky S-42 Samoan Clipper. Pago Pago Harbor, Samoa.

Gone but not forgotten. Captain Musick and his crew aboard the Samoan Clipper. God speed Captain.

The surprise visit of the Samoan Clipper and Captain Musick in December 1937. musickpointradio.org/captain-edwin-…

Pan American Sikorsky S-42 Samoan Clipper. Pago Pago Harbor, Samoa. Next leg departs tomorrow for Auckland, New Zealand.

Departed Pago Pago Harbor at 5:37 AM bound for Auckland. Total fuel on board 41,936 lb.

The tragic event of that day 85 years ago. Toady the Samoan Clipper still has not been located and Captain Edwin C. Musick along with his crew of 6 remain missing.

We departed Honolulu and are now navigating the Samoan Clipper towards Kingman Reef - a mere speck on the vast Pacific Ocean that is 1,067 miles south of Honolulu.

We have landed the Samoan Clipper at Kingman Reef, our mid-ocean base at 6°23′N 162°25′W. Ocean conditions are calm.

The Samoan Clipper has been secured and our crew boards the four masted schooner Trade Wind. We will overnight aboard her and depart in the morning for Pago Pago, Samoa. Nine months earlier we landed at Kingman for the first time and boarded the North Haven in the rain.

The Sikorsky S-42 laid the groundwork for Pan American’s eventual Trans-Pacific Air Mail and passenger flights across the the vast Pacific Ocean. As far east as the Philippines and as far south as Samoa and New Zealand.

We have just departed Kingman Reef. Our Samoan Clipper is now flying direct Pago Pago, Samoa.

Above the Pacific as we fly the Samoan Clipper towards Samoa. All systems aboard our Sikorsky S-42 are functioning well for an on time arrival at Pago Pago.

We have just landed Pan American’s Samoan Clipper here in the harbor at Pago Pago, Samoa.

Our Pan American Sikorsky S-42B Samoan Clipper NC-16734 as she appeared on her last visit here at Pago Pago on December 24, 1937. We continue on with her once again to Auckland.

At this moment, 86 years ago, the Pan American Airways Samoan Clipper with Captain Edwin C. Musick and his crew of 6 perished. Happy flying Ed. Wherever you are.

In Memoriam Captain Edwin C. Musick Captain Cecil Sellers Second Officer Paul Brunk Flight Engineer John Stickrod Flight Mechanic Jack Brooks Radio Officer Tom Findley Navigator Fred MacLean Samoan Clipper January 11, 1938