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The Fokker C-2, Civil America was intended to be a contender for the $25,000 prize offered by New York hotel owner Raymond Orteig to the first aviator to fly an aircraft directly across the Atlantic between New York and Paris. The aircraft was sponsored by Rodman Wanamaker and the crew consisted of Richard Evelyn Byrd, Bertrand Blanchard "Bert" Acosta, George Otto Noville, and Bernt Balchen. This album contains photos and authenticating information relating to the christening of the aircraft.
The Fokker C-2, Civil America was intended to be a contender for the $25,000 prize offered by New York hotel owner Raymond Orteig to the first aviator to fly an aircraft directly across the Atlantic between New York and Paris. The aircraft was sponsored by Rodman Wanamaker and the crew consisted of Richard Evelyn Byrd, Bertrand Blanchard "Bert" Acosta, George Otto Noville, and Bernt Balchen. America was damaged during an unsuccessful test flight in April 1927 which delayed the flight attempt. America was christened at a public ceremony on May 21, 1927, the same day Charles Augustus Lindbergh completed the first solo nonstop transatlantic flight in history in his Ryan NYP Spirit of St. Louis, and thereby won the Orteig Prize. America was christened by Wanamaker's daughters with water taken from the Delaware River at the point of George Washington's crossing. Wanamaker also obtained pieces of cloth used by Betsy Ross and an American flag sewn by her descendant, Edna Randolph Worrell, to be carried onboard America. The transatlantic flight was finally attempted on June 29, 1927 but was unsuccessful, with America landing in the sea at Ver-sur-mer, France on July 1, 1927 in heavy fog.
NASM.XXXX.0076
1927
Rodman A. Heeren, Gift, 1969, NASM.XXXX.0076.
0.35 Cubic feet (1 flat box)
National Air and Space Museum Archives
This album contains photos and authenticating information relating to the christening of the Fokker C-2, Civil America. The photographs show the bottle of water from the Delaware River used to christen the aircraft; a portrait of Anne Balderson, descendent of Betsy Ross; pictures of pieces of cloth used by Betsy Ross; and the American flag sewn by another Ross descendant, Edna Randolph Worrell. Also reproduced in the album are a letter to Rodman Wanamaker concerning preparation for the christening ceremony and affidavits concerning the authenticity of the water and cloth. The album itself measures 15 by 11 inches and includes an embossed gold reproduction of Rodman Wanamaker's signature on the front cover. Note: Blank pages in the album have not been digitally reproduced in the slideshow. Any gaps in numbering are due to their omission. Images have been rotated to the orientation of the page content for easier viewing.
Collection is a single item.
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Fokker C-2, Civil America Christening Album, NASM.XXXX.0076, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.
Aeronautics
Airplanes
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Photograph albums