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In 1928, Australian aviator Sir Charles Kingsford-Smith and his crew completed the first transpacific flight in the Fokker F.VIIB-3m "Southern Cross." William B. Voortmeyer was a master maritime navigator who had developed many early aerial navigation systems, including a numerical signal code by which ships at sea were able to advise pilots of their position by hoisting numerical flags to indicate the distance to a destination. This collection consists of the 50.25 by 34 inch route map used by the crew of the Fokker F.VIIB-3m "Southern Cross" in 1928 with the route marked by William B. Voortmeyer.
In 1928, Australian aviator Sir Charles Kingsford-Smith and his crew completed the first transpacific flight in the Fokker F.VIIB-3m "Southern Cross." William B. Voortmeyer was a master maritime navigator who had developed many early aerial navigation systems, including a numerical signal code by which ships at sea were able to advise pilots of their position by hoisting numerical flags to indicate the distance to a destination. For the "Southern Cross" flight, Voortmeyer prepared maps along major shipping lanes. The freighters and tankers provided hope of rescue should the Fokker be forced down and also provided important navigational updates.
NASM.XXXX.0908
Voortmeyer, William B.
1928
W. B. Voortmeyer, Gift, 1948, NASM.XXXX.0908
0.05 Cubic feet (1 folder)
National Air and Space Museum Archives
This collection consists of the 50.25 by 34 inch route map used by the crew of the Fokker F.VIIB-3m "Southern Cross" in 1928. The map is from the US Department of the Navy, Hydrographic Office, "North Pacific Ocean, Eastern Part," 121st ed., with the route marked by William B. Voortmeyer, and shows his instructions on magnetic declination and expected winds, as well as positions of commercial shipping. The map is signed by Captain W. B. Voortmeyer, May 31, 1928 and there is the following handwritten annotation on the lower right of the map, "Original Flight Map carried on the 'Southern Cross' prepared by me and donated to the Smithsonian Institute on May 31, 1948, c/o Paul E. Garber, Curator."
Collection is a single item.
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Fokker F.VIIB-3m "Southern Cross" (Kingsford-Smith) Route Map, Accession XXXX-0908, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.
American Red Cross
Aeronautics
Transpacific flights
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Maps