Their range and capacity made them valuable for trans-ocean military flights during World War II . Beginning in 1942 , the two remaining planes were pressed into transport roles for the United States Navy . The '' Philippine Clipper '' was on a civilian flight when it encountered – and survived – the surprise Japanese attack on Wake Island in December 1941 , following the attack on Pearl Harbor . It crashed in January 1943 , between Ukiah and Boonville , California on a flight from Honolulu . ComSubPac Admiral Robert H. English and 18 others were killed
crashed in January 1943
Pan Am Flight 1104
Martin M-130