Boeing 314 Yankee Clipper NC18603

The Yankee Clipper flew across the Atlantic on a route from New York to Southampton. The inaugural trip occurred on June 24, 1939. The Yankee Clipper crashed February 22, 1943 in Lisbon, Portugal. During the war the Yankee was assigned to the navy and allowed to continue passenger service between the United States and Portugal (indirectly serving all Europeans able to reach Lisbon). On February 22, 1943, after completing its 241st transatlantic flight, the Yankee Clipper circled for a landing on the Tagus River in Lisbon, Portugal. Her port wing tip skimmed the water, dug in, and she slammed into the river, breaking into several pieces, and sank inside of 10 minutes. Twenty-four persons died; 15 survived. Among the survivors was singer Jane Froman who was heading a seven-member entertainment troupe for Camp Shows, Inc. Although seriously injured in the accident, Froman recovered enough to continue her singing career and later was the subject of a popular biographical movie, With a Song in My Heart, starring Susan Hayward as Froman. Among those who died were Tamara Drasin, the singer and Broadway actress who had introduced Jerome Kern’s song “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes.” The captain of the Yankee Clipper was blamed for the accident and dismissed by Pan American Airways. The Boeing 314 was a response to Pan American’s request for a flying boat with unprecedented range capability that could augment the airline’s trans-Pacific Martin M-130. Boeing’s bid was successful and Pan …
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