Programa produzido e editado por Vítor Moura Pinto para no Jornal das 8 da TVI de 2 de Junho de 2021.
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Um relato do Comandante Nash, veterano do Boeing 314
“When I joined Pan Am in 1942, one of the first phrases that I learned was “flying by the seat of your pants” – an old adage used to describe proper flying techniques. Before high-altitude jets flew commercially, we had to fly through wide storms rather than over them. To do so, we developed a seat of the pants technique – literally- whereby our bottoms were being bumped, rather than slipping or sliding.“Today, we have the sophistication and luxury of jetliners to fly over many of those boiling storm masses, cabin pressurization for oxygen supply, and radar to show us the dangerous storm cells, enabling us to fly around the violent depictions shown on the weather radar screen.
“When crossing an ocean in a Pan Am flying boat such as the Boeing-314, we navigated celestially using an octant. Every Pan Am pilot was required to learn two methods of star computations to lay a position on the chart. On a Boeing-314 we had a glass hatch atop the cabin through which we could “shoot stars”. When the sky was partly cloud-covered, we plotted whatever navigational stars we could see. If the sky was overcast we could not use our octants.
“In the daylight we could see wind streaks on the surface of the sea, shiny lines running 90 degrees to the waves. If we had cloud cover below as well as above, we would navigate by dead-reckoning, using the wind we thought we had. If clear below and we passed a ship we could see, we could compare our position with theirs.
“Approaching a coast, such as much of the Atlantic shoreline, which could be a mass jungle, while receiving poor or no radio signals, we aimed at the shore off-coast 30 degrees left or right – wherever we considered the destination most likely to be. When we arrived at the coast we then followed the shore to our destination. If we had flown straight at the destination and saw nothing, we would not have known which way to follow the coast.
“During a typical 11-12 hour flight, we usually took turns resting every 4 hours in our crew bunks. The props turned at 1,600 RPM’s and they vibrated violently. Consequently, it took some time to fall asleep.
“During World War II on trans-oceanic flights, Pan Am crews had to learn how to decipher coded messages. At departure we received an envelope which was not to be opened until we were aloft containing the keys to the codes which were valid for only a certain number of hours and then changed.
“The Boeing-314 crew consisted of a captain, first officer, second officer, third officer, fourth officer, first and second flight engineers and one Morse Code radio-operator plus varying number of flight personnel. Four or more male stewards were aboard, depending on the aircraft’s configuration. The work on board was considered too strenuous for stewardesses. Hefty, large-capacity life rafts had to be handled and there were ponderous bunks to be prepared for sleeping.
“The entire aircraft was First Class, and our flying boats often carried kings, queens, presidents and potentates. We were instructed to be pleasant with them if they addressed us, but not to seek out conversation. President Juan Trippe wanted us to be able to converse intelligently by keeping up with current events, and having a good knowledge of history and sensitive political issues.
“Passengers enjoyed delicious meals that were prepared onboard and served in a 14-place dining room with black walnut tables in a silver and blue décor. The food was elegantly served in courses by stewards in white jackets, on pale blue table cloths with matching monogrammed napkins and china. Wine was always served and dinner was topped off with fancy desserts, fruits and cheeses, and a cordial of crème de menthe. Sometimes there was a captain’s table. After dinner, the dining room was converted into a lounge where some passengers chose to relax while others went to their cabins to sleep.
“The Boeing-314’s were retired from Pan Am’s service in 1946, after World War II. Not one survived, and only a few parts exist in museums which to me, is very sad. Clare Booth Luce, a playwright, United States Congresswoman and Ambassador to Italy, returned to the US aboard a flight on the Boeing-314 and said “Years from now, we will look back upon Pan American’s flying boats as the most glamorous, romantic air travel in the world”.
“To me, experiencing this phase of early commercial aviation was one of the best times of my life. Having had the opportunity to be part of a Boeing 314 crew was an outstanding adventure for a young man, and I still recall it well at age 94, and thrill to the memories of that great aircraft and the exciting era of world history, all made possible by my years with Pan Am.”
As Fotografias dos Destroços do Yankee Clipper
Imagens inéditas dos destroços do Yankee Clipper fornecidas por António Bento, oficial da Armada e filho do Comandante Manuel Bento, responsável pela segurança do Porto de Lisboa à data do acidente. Ainda é possível identificar parte da matrícula do aparelho (NC18603) no que resta de uma das asas, o que confirma tratar-se de facto do Boeing 314 a que a Pan American chamou Yankee Clipper.
Estas imagens servem também para destruir qualquer esperança de existirem ainda alguns destroços significativos mergulhados no fundo do Tejo desde aquele fatídico dia de Fevereiro de 1943. Quase tudo foi recuperado e o que não foi seria arrastado para bem longe pelas fortes correntes do rio.
GAMMA, 22 de Junho
O nome que consta do convite não está totalmente correcto, mas o resto é verdade. Na manhã do dia 22 de Junho lá estarei no GAMMA, Grupo de Amigos do Museu de Marinha, para mais uma apresentação do Yankee Clipper. A entrada é livre.
Bertrand Chiado, 7 de Abril
Bertrand Chiado, domingo 7 de Abril. O reencontro com duas boas e longas amizades nascidas nos aviões.
Bertrand Chiado
Domingo, dia 7 de Abril, apresentação no Espaço do Autor da livraria Bertrand Chiado, uma das mais antigas e prestigiadas do país.
Fnac Cascais Shopping
Hoje era assim, junto da Fnac do Cascais Shopping. No domingo dia 24 terá lugar a apresentação de um Powerpoint sobre a viagem final do Yankee Clipper. Às 1730. Entrada livre.
Um Livro para Todas as Idades
Fotografia enviada por um pai que se orgulha de uma filha que gosta de ler. Há "vício" melhor?
Fnac, 24 de Março
Chegou à Fnac Cascais Shopping mais uma remessa de livros do Yankee Clipper, que fica disponível na secção "Literatura Lusófona". O primeiro lote esgotou no dia da apresentação no Espaço Memória dos Exílios, no Estoril.
No dia 24, às 1730, irei apresentar neste local o mesmo Powerpoint que serviu de suporte ao evento do Estoril. Não percam!
No dia 24, às 1730, irei apresentar neste local o mesmo Powerpoint que serviu de suporte ao evento do Estoril. Não percam!
Estoril, 23 de Fevereiro de 2013
Imagens das sessões realizadas a 22 e 23 de Fevereiro no Espaço Memória dos Exílios, no Estoril, na data em que passavam 70 anos sobre o acidente do Yankee Clipper. O auditório do Espaço teve lotação esgotada no sábado, o que diz bem do sucesso desta iniciativa da Câmara Municipal de Cascais.
O Cte Cyrne de Castro e o dr José António Barreiros (em baixo) foram dois dos principais protagonistas das sessões do Espaço Memória dos Exílios. O Professor António Tello, O Coronel Vieira Borges e o Cte José Vilhena completaram o leque de conferencistas.
O Professor Carvalho Rodrigues (em cima, à direita) honrou-nos com a sua presença e deixou algumas palavras de incentivo.
As Imagens de João Garcia
Série de extraordinárias imagens da autoria do fotógrafo açoreano João Garcia Júnior, detentor de um notável espólio fotográfico sobre as operações dos Clippers da Pan Am no porto da cidade da Horta.
Agradeço a José Medina Garcia, seu neto, esta notável colecção.
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Ecos de Vila do Conde
Imagens da apresentação na Biblioteca José Régio, em Vila do Conde, com José Novais e o autor no uso da palavra.
Aterrem em Portugal
No Espaço Memória dos Exílios, no Estoril, a Câmara Municipal de Cascais vai dar início a um ciclo de conferências e apresentações que coincide com o 70º aniversário do acidente do Yankee Clipper. Para começar teremos a apresentação do magnífico trabalho de Carlos Guerreiro "Aterrem em Portugal", que terá lugar na tarde de sábado dia 26 de janeiro. Absolutamente imperdível.
Mais informações na Agenda Cultural CM de Cascais
Mais informações na Agenda Cultural CM de Cascais
Agenda Cultural C. M. Cascais
Agenda Cultural janeiro/fevereiro 2013 da Câmara Municipal de Cascais.
23 de fevereiro às 1600 horas
23 de fevereiro às 1600 horas
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