The Transatlantic Flight of the NC-4

Over a hundred years ago, in 1919, our main mode of long-distance transportation today was still a scary, new technology that the general public was wary to place trust in. It would not be until eight years later, when Charles Lindbergh completed is non-stop transatlantic in 1927, that commercial air travel would truly take-off. But in May of 1919, one of the crucial steps to the success of air travel was undertaken by the U.S. Navy: the first transatlantic flight of the NC-4.

The Curtiss NC seaplanes were originally created by the U.S. Navy to participate in World War I. By the time the four commissioned NC planes were completed in 1919, however, the war had been over for several months. Now with several brand-new planes in their possession, but no war to fly them in, the officers in charge of these planes decided to utilize the planes for a more empirical pursuit. That is, they wished to demonstrate that the NC-4 and its sister planes (the NC-1, NC-2, and NC-3) were capable of transatlantic air travel, a feat never before accomplished.

The NC-4 began its journey on 8 May 1919—accompanied by the NC-3 and NC-1 (the NC-2 had been cannibalized to repair parts of the NC-1 before the journey started)—at Naval Air Station Rockaway, New York, before flying on to Newfoundland, on 15 May. On 16 May, the three NCs continued on the longest leg of the journey, from Newfoundland to the Azores. It was during this portion of the expedition that the NC-1 and NC-3 were damaged, and the NC-4 was forced to carry out the remainder of its journey alone.

The crew of the NC-4 set out from the Azores on 20 May, but due to technical difficulties were only able to fly 150 miles to another island in the Azores chain. Luckily, the crew was able to conduct repairs and on 27 May set off once again across the Atlantic. Nine hours and forty-three minutes later, the NC-4 landed in Lisbon, Portugal, and became the first aircraft to cross an ocean. The NC-4 later flew on to England, arriving in Plymouth on 31 May 1919 to great fanfare.

Even without the NC-1 and NC-3, the crew of the NC-4 was not alone during their never-before attempted expedition. One of the most important reasons this demonstration succeeded was because the U.S. Navy took no chances and stationed ships every 50 miles to aid the seaplanes with navigation and to rescue the crewmen should it deem necessary (as it was for the crew of the NC-3 ,who were rescued by one such U.S. Navy ship). While the NC-4 needed no rescue, I imagine it was a comfort for the crew to know that their comrades kept an eye on their progress and were ready to aid them at a moment's notice. Moreover, the ships' presence allowed the NC-4 to continue flying at night, which otherwise would have been too dangerous to navigate during, thereby prolonging the journey.

Though the U.S. Navy's accomplishment could not be denied, it was quickly eclipsed at the time by the first nonstop transatlantic flight, which took place on 14-15 June 1919, less than one month after the NC-4 completed its journey. But history would not forget which aircraft was the first to add "transatlantic" to its achievements, which is why the NC-4 is still celebrated by those who know its story. The fact that these men were able to demonstrate the viability of long-distance air travel on their first try, with no casualties to mar their success is a terrific feat. But knowing as I do now how many precautions the Navy took to ensure their success, one lesson stands out to me as a takeaway from this mission: preparing for the worst can be the best way to ensure success.