The Pacific Clipper (civil registration NC18602) was a Boeing 314 Clipper flying boat, famous for having completed a nearly around-the-world flight in December 1941 and January 1942. Aviation experts called the flight the first commercial circumnavigation of the globe because the aircraft made it back to its country of origin. History The Boeing 314 with civil registration NC18602 was delivered to Pan American; it made its shakedown flight from San Francisco to Hong Kong from February 23 to March 3, 1939 The aircraft was dubbed the California Clipper; Another 314, NC18609(A) was temporarily dubbed the California Clipper in 1941 Flight On December 2, 1941, the Clipper departed from the Pan American base on Treasure Island, San Francisco for its scheduled passenger service to Auckland, New Zealand. It landed at Pan American's LaGuardia Field seaplane base in New York City five weeks later, at 7:12 on the morning of January 6, 1942. Crew Captain Robert Ford First Officer John H. Mack Second Officer/Navigator Roderick N. Brown Third Officer James G. Henriksen Fourth Officer John D. Steers First Engineer Homans K. "Swede" Roth Second Engineer John B. "Jocko" Parish First Radio Officer John Poindexter* Second Radio Officer Oscar Hendrickson Radio Operator Edward Leach** Purser Barney Sawicki Asst Purser Verne C. Edwards Poindexter departed Treasure Island, California as an observer tasked with validating the performance of a new radio set; for that leg of the journey, Hendrickson was first radio officer and the second radio officer position was vacant. Upon arrival in San Pedro, California, Captain Ford learned that the man who was supposed in serve as second radio officer was hospitalized and Poindexter, who was senior to Hendrickson, agreed to continue on the trans-Pacific journey, becoming the first radio officer. Leach was a staff passenger, originally being transported from Nouméa, New Caledonia to Auckland, New Zealand. After boarding in Nouméa, Leach remained with the aircraft until its arrival in New York. Scheduled points San Pedro, California on December 2, 1941, where the designated second radio officer was scheduled to join the crew; Ford learned that the man had been hospitalized. When informed of the need, Poindexter agreed to continue the flight. Honolulu, Hawaii for crew rest. Canton Island for fuel. Suva, Fiji for fuel. Nouméa, New Caledonia for fuel. Auckland, New Zealand for termination and return to California. When the aircraft was between Nouméa and Auckland, Ford learned of the attack on