National Air and Space Museum Archives

Curtiss NC-3 (P2N-1) and NC-4 (P2N-1) Photographs

Summary

Collection ID:
NASM.XXXX.0903
Dates:
1919
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
0.05 Cubic feet
1 folder
Repository:
This collection consists of eight black and white photographs, mounted on album pages, documenting the flight of the Curtiss NC-1, the Curtiss NC-3, and the Curtiss NC-4 aircraft in their effort to make the first trans-Atlantic crossing by air.

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
This collection consists of eight black and white photographs, each approximately 2.25 x 3 inches, mounted on two 7 x 6 inch pages (four to each page) with caption information. The Curtiss NC-3 is shown anchored to a buoy, landing, and beached with damaged wings at Ponta Delgada, Azores Islands. The Curtiss NC-4 is shown landing, on the water, and taking off for Lisbon, Portugal. There is also an image taken from a ship of Naval personnel watching for an aircraft.

Arrangement

Arrangement
Collection is in original order.

Biographical / Historical

Biographical / Historical
In 1917, the United States Navy developed specifications for a flying boat of sufficient range to cross the Atlantic to England. The Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company, in conjunction with the Navy, developed a three-engine aircraft. The Navy intended that the flying boat would serve as an anti-submarine patrol aircraft. The first of the new aircraft, the NC-1, flew on October 4, 1918, followed by the NC-2 on April 12, 1919. Even though World War I had ended, the Navy decided to continue the program in an effort to make the first trans-Atlantic crossing by air. As the program progressed, the NC-2 was dismantled to provide parts for the other NC aircraft. On May 16, 1919, the NC-1, the NC-3, and the NC-4 assembled at Trepassey Bay, Newfoundland, to begin the 1200-mile flight to the Azores. The NC-1 was forced down short of the islands and sank, but the Greek vessel,
Ionia
, rescued the crew. The NC-3 landed two hundred miles short and taxied the remaining distance to the islands. The NC-4 completed the flight successfully, reaching Plymouth, England via Lisbon, Portugal on May 31, 1919. Following publicity tours of the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the United States, the NC-4 was given to the Smithsonian Institution and is a part of the National Air and Space Museum collection.

Administration

Author
Jessamyn Lloyd
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Frederick M. Thompson, Gift, Unknown, NASM.XXXX.0903
Processing Information
Arranged and described in 2009 by Jessamyn Lloyd, encoded in 2020 by Jessamyn Lloyd.

Using the Collection

Conditions Governing Use
Material is subject to Smithsonian Terms of Use. Should you wish to use NASM material in any medium, please submit an Application for Permission to Reproduce NASM Material, available at Permissions Requests
Conditions Governing Access
No restrictions on access.
Preferred Citation
Curtiss NC-3 and NC-4 Photographs, NASM.XXXX.0903, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.

Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Aeronautics Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Transatlantic flights Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Curtiss NC-3 (P2N-1) Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Curtiss NC-4 (P2N-1) Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Photographic prints Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
United States. Navy -- Aviation Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

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