The Hunt for a Boeing B-314 Flying Boat

[Martin X. Moleski, SJ]

Nice story about the first Clipper.

[Monty Fowler]

They need to get that guy with the deep pockets ... Waite? ... interested in this one. Got to be at least a little easier to find one of these compared to a 10-E.

[Russ Matthews]

A new (Sept 25, 2011) Seattle Times article on the Boeing 314 project can be found here ...

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2016319373_clipper26m.html

[Don Dollinger]

Over a number of days, a troop transport ship and later a seaplane tender tried to tow the Clipper. But in high seas, the Clipper rammed into the tender. A starboard wing tip broke off, and an engine snapped off and tore through the Clipper's bow, Reed recalled.

Since a plane of its size drifting aimlessly on the ocean was considered a hazard to navigation, a decision was made to sink it. After having flown 18,000 hours and countless passengers, and opening new possibilities in the world of aviation, the Clipper submitted to 1,300 20-mm explosive shells and sank.

Now, UAS wants to bring it back.

Will there be anything left of it to bring back?

LTM,

Don

[Dan Swift]

And compared to finding the Electra, finding the B-314 means nothing!! 

[Monty Fowler]

It's all relative, Dan. Different aircraft evoke different emotions in different people. 99 percent of the American public today don't know, or care, about either one of these aircraft, and would say that any of the money devoted to them would be better spent on feeding starving children somewhere.

Personally, I think if the do manage to find the Clipper, they're going to discover that there's not going to be that much left to actually bring back. But it might give us some valuable insight into what's left of a certain Electra we all know and love ...

[Dan Swift]

There is no mystery behind the Clipper as there is with the Electra....lilke there was at one time with the Titanic.