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Wall of Honor Level:
Air and Space Friend

Honored by:

Clyde Pangborn along with Hugh Herndon attempted to beat Wiley Post's around the world record of eight days, 15 hours and 15 minutes when they took off from Roosevelt Field, New York on July 28,1931 in a Bellanca Skyrocket named "Miss Veedol". Weather and field conditions were not in their favor causing delays by the time they reached Japan.

The Asshi Shibun, one of Japan's largest newspapers offered a $25,000 award for the first trans-Pacific non-stop flight from Japan to the United States. Pangborn accepted the challenge and started making modifications to the Bellanca. These included a means of jettisoning the landing gear, adding a 50 gallon fuel tank and reinforcing the fuselage to survive the landing. On October 4,1931 the "Miss Veedol" took off from Sabishiro Beach, Japan requiring almost a mile and a half to become airborne. Supplies for the overloaded Bellanca included 915 gallons of fuel, 45 gallons of oil, sandwiches, tea, and chicken. The plane did not have a radio, life raft or emergency equipment. Jettisoning the landing gear decreased the load by 300 pounds and added 15 mph to the airspeed. After 41 hours 13 minutes they made a belly landing at Wenatchee, Washington successfully completing the flight.

Clyde Edward Pangborn died in 1955 at the age of 60 and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.