This 1939 photograph shows the Boeing 314 Clipper, an American long-range flying boat produced by Boeing from 1938 to 1941. One of the largest aircraft of its time, it had the range to cross the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. For its wing, Boeing re-used the design from their earlier XB-15 bomber prototype. Twelve Clippers were built, nine of which served with Pan Am.
Pan Am’s Boeing B314, the Yankee Clipper, was the first B314 allocated to the Atlantic division. It was christened by Eleanor Roosevelt on 3 March 1939. Its first visit to Foynes was on the 11 April 1939 under the command of Captain Harold Gray.
The level of service on the Boeing 314 was of a very high standard. There was a 14-seat dining room with linen tablecloths, crystal glasses, and full waiter service. About 300 pounds of food would be loaded up for a transatlantic flight, with all the food prepared by two stewards.
The high level of comfort was important, as some of the westbound flights from Foynes to Botwood lasted as long as 17 hours. Passengers would find their shoes cleaned and polished overnight, and each passenger had a bed to sleep in during the flight.
The Boeing 314 Clipper’s flight deck design was groundbreaking, taking new steps to address the serious problem of crew fatigue on nonstop ocean flights. Every B314 flight had at least 11 crew members, but more often than not, they also had crew training on board.
