A Bove the Pacific

Lieutenant Colonel William J. Horvat A bove the Pacific Printed and Published in the United States by Aero Publishers, Inc., 1966 ABOVE THE PACIFIC By LT. COL. WILLIAM J. HORVAT This is the first complete story of the flights “Above the Pacific” from the first Hawaiian balloon ascent in 1880 and the first Curtiss flights in1910 up to the prevent time (1966). Modern day coverage includes a discussion of the airlines that serve the area, as well as information on the satellite tracking facilities located on the island. This fascinating page of history includes the story of Hawaii’s vital role in the development of World Aviation History. Hawaii can truthfully be called the “Springboard to Aerospace” in the Pacific. As a halfway spot across the ocean, it has been used by sea-faring navigators for thousands of years; and the island’s strategic position in the midst of 5,000 miles of ocean has focused attention on this Garden Spot as an aid to aviation development. This authentic book is truthfully a documentary of flights “Above the Pacific.” Included are stories of the military interest, in addition to the civilian interest, in Hawaiian aviation. The succession of events is given in chronological order, with military as well as commercial activities being covered. An illustrated story of Pearl Harbor and World War II is also included. Editor’s Note: Above the Pacific was published by Aero Publishers, Inc. in 1966. The book is no longer in print. The publisher is no longer in business. The author Lt. Col. William J. Horvat died in 1969. To preserve Lt. Col. William J. Horvat’s story of Hawaii’s role in the development of aviation so historians and the generations to come can appreciate the daring and courage of these remarkable men and women, we reprint the book in its entirety in the following pages. TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter Preface Introduction I How it Began……………………………………………… 1 II First Mokulele…………………………………………….. 9 III More Flights………………………………………………. 16 IV Post-War Pioneering……………………………………… 29 V The Navy’s Feat………………………………………….. 42 VI All the Way……………………………………….………. 59 VII Enter the Civilians………………………………..………. 70 VIII Springing the Board………………………………………. 90 IX Early 1930s………………………………………………… 103 X Trans-Pacific……………………………………………..… 128 XI Hard Expansion……………………………………………. 141 XII December 7, 1941…………………………………………. 155 XIII The Pacific Air War……………………………………..…. 168 XIV The Airlines in Hawaii…………………………………….. 173 XV Post-War Military Aviation Progress…………………..….. 190 XVI Military Aviation……………………………………………200 PREFACE For countless centuries, the oceans of the world separated its major land masses. When ships were developed they permitted man to venture far out to sea. Islands discovered en route served as places to stop, facilitating even further travel. Eventually, sailors were able to cross oceans, thereby linking together continents and, thereupon, hastening the spread of civilization. The largest ocean of them all, the Pacific, contains almost 69 million square miles. Its travelers, for many years, have found respite in the Hawaiian Islands situated somewhere in the middle. Arriving first by ship, travelers later moved by air. When airplanes were developed, the coral and volcanic lands became a goal for fliers. To reach them, man was obligated to improve his flight machines, navigational skills and instruments, and develop a supporting environment. Once the ability was perfected, fliers could go on from there to opposite continents. Hawaii, therefore, contributed to the development of flight, passively as well as actively. Through aerospace, Hawaii sustained its position of world importance, benefiting the state as well as mankind. Related in this book are the efforts to inaugurate, pioneer, develop, and then advance the newest mode of transportation, over the vast Pacific by means of a stopping-off place, and between the islands too. Some of the flights were spectacular and of world aviation significance, others ordinary; but by making them, fliers contributed much. To fly over a large body of water was once as incredible to onlookers as today’s astronauts appear, also using Hawaii to advantage, steadily nudging toward the skies’ outer limits. Such flights require man’s greatest efforts, a magnificent pioneering spirit. This book’s spectrum is from balloons to space vehicles, but with emphasis on aviation. Covered in detail are stories of the fascinating early days of flight, then the progressive development of aviation made possible by the mid-oceanic springboard. As in the Golden Age of Aviation in the 1920s and 1930s, Hawaii and the Pacific Ocean now make aerospace progress possible. The men and women in this story have contributed a great deal to the world, which is a world of flight. So has Hawaii, acting as a mid-ocean landing field. The book tells of these people and their deeds, involved in one of the greatest pioneering efforts on earth. Strong efforts were made by the author to produce an authentic work, its stories accurate, data correct, significant events covered as completely as needed. The complete story of Pacific flying by way of the Hawaiian Islands has never before been written. The task, therefore, was difficult and time consuming. By and large, these stories were available only in Hawaiian newspapers and periodicals. They were also in the minds of the men involved, and the records and scrapbooks they retained through the years. Fortunately, many of the pioneers were able to provide material; so were bystanders or witnesses. Organizations, too, have made important contributions. I rely a great deal on their accuracy, for validity of accounts beyond the written word. (Were all histories to be so validated!) As for completeness, I had to turn away numerous stories because they would not add appreciably to this history, and because the finished project would be prohibitive in size, costs and interest to the reader. Histories written for the first time draw comments, corrections, and additions, from people who have direct knowledge of events covered. These I welcome. Were I to have this information available at this time, it would be included for publication. Only by writing the available story, however, can it be drawn out. Lt. Col. William J. Horvat, USAF INTRODUCTION MID-PACIFIC SPRINGBOARD A short description of the Hawaiian Islands will give the reader a better understanding of the Springboard to Aerospace: THE ISLAND GROUP Before the history of mankind, a great rift opened in the floor of the Pacific Ocean ranging for almost 2,000 miles. Out of this crack throughout the ensuing millions of years poured basalt lava to build up a volcanic mountain chain to the greatest height of 32,000 feet— 14,000 feet above sea level, plus 18,000 feet down to the ocean floor. Around the edges of the islands countless tiny coral animals built up reefs extending into the ocean. During the ice age the islands were covered with great frozen sheets, and when the ice caps melted the mountains were again submerged by water. Parts of the island of Hawaii are still being formed, as periodic lava flows cascade down its slopes. Although there are many reefs and shoals included in the Hawaiian chain to make it the longest in the world—1,5000 miles from the island of Hawaii northwest to Kure (Ocean) Island—Hawaii is known to the world for eight main islands that cover a radius of 300 miles. These islands are, in order of size, Hawaii, Maui, Oahu, Kauai, Molokai, Lanai, Niihau and Kahoolawe. The group totals 23 islands in all, although some are nothing more than coral reefs, sand shoals or jagged rocks. Total area of the eight major islands is 6,435 square miles. Total coastline is 971 miles. MID –PACIFIC SPRINGBOARD ii Owing to the locale of the islands, the climate is equable, the mean monthly temperature at Honolulu varying from l70 degrees in February to 78 degrees in August. The northeast trade winds prevail throughout the year, but during the winder months they are apt to be interrupted by variable winds (kona), which occasionally occur between September and April and last from a few hours to two or three days and are attended by rain. Rainfall varies greatly in different localities and is influenced by location with respect to winds and mountains. The greatest rainfall is usually found on the windward sides of the islands. In general, winter is the rainy season, although there is no month without some rain. Fog does not occur around the islands. The mountains, however, are often obscured by clouds. HAWAII The largest island, Hawaii, is known to people from the Hawaiian Islands as the Big Island. It is also called Volcano Island, Orchid Island. Hawaii consists of 4,030 square miles and is situated at the southernmost end of the chain. Volcanic activity has never ceased in the Big Island. It is here that the Hawaii Island chief, Kamehameha, resided who went on to bring all the islands under his rule, a monarchy which lasted from 1795 to 1898 (when Hawaii became a territory of the United States). Captain James Cook discoverer of the island in 1778 (he called them Sandwich Islands), met a tragic death here. The first missionaries set foot on the Big Island, arriving by clipper sailing ship from New England in 1820. Of the five volcanoes on Hawaii, two are active. Mauna Loa (long mountain), the largest single mountain mass on earth, contains Mokuaweoweo, a crater about three miles by 1 ½ miles. Kilauea is also alive, its crater 2.95 miles long by 1.95 miles wide. Dormant is the volcanic Mauna Kea (white mountain), whose 13,784 peak is covered with snow during the winter months. Hilo, the principal city, lies 216 air miles from Honolulu, 2,060 from San Francisco. It is second in population with about 61,000 people.

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