Douglas World Cruiser (DWC) Crew Autographs

In 1924, the US Army Air Service sent four specially-built aircraft, the Douglas World Cruisers (DWC) Seattle, Chicago, Boston, and New Orleans on an around the world flight. This collection consists of autographs of some of the DWC crew members.

In July 1923, US Army Air Service disclosed that it intended to attempt a global flight the following year. Four specially built aircraft were commissioned from the Douglas Aircraft Company. The World Cruisers, as they were called, were christened the Seattle, the Chicago, the Boston, and the New Orleans. The four aircraft departed from Seattle, Washington, in April 1924 to begin their flight. Only the New Orleans and the Chicago completed the arduous 27,553 mile (44,085 km) flight. It took 175 days, with a flying time of 371 hours and 11 minutes. The Seattle crashed into a mountainside and was destroyed early in the journey and later the Boston capsized at sea off the Faroe Islands and was also destroyed. Throughout the journey the crews prevailed against an endless series of forced landings, repairs, bad weather, and other mishaps that continually threatened the success of the flight. A monumental logistical accomplishment, it was an important step toward world-wide air transport.