World cruiser makes a safe landing

The Douglas DWC World Cruiser was lowered this past December from its suspended position at the Santa Monica Museum of Flying for the first time in over ten years. Developed from the DT, Douglas won the contract for the aircraft when the company stated they could deliver the aircraft at $23,721 each within 45 days of receiving the contract!

The planes were built with an ability to mount either floats or land gear and the aircraft were powered by 420-hp Liberty engines. A prototype was built and extensively tested on gear and floats and on 19 November 1923, Douglas received a contract for four DWCs and spares. The last plane was delivered on 11 March 1924.

The world flight called for careful planning and supplies, spares, and extra engines were placed at planned locations around the world.

The aircraft left Santa Monica (the unofficial starting point) and headed to Seattle (the official start) on 17 March 1924. The epic mission established the Army Air Service in the minds of the American public and was an international triumph. In 175 days, the aircraft covered 28,945-mi in 371-hr 7-min flying time at an average speed of 78 mph. The Seattle crashed in Alaska, the Boston was forced down in the Atlantic and capsized and the prototype was rushed into the flight as the Boston II.

The Chicago went to the National Air and Space Museum, the wreckage of the Seattle was recovered in the 1960s and placed in an Alaskan museum, while the New Orleans went to the Los Angeles County Museum. In the early 1950s, the New Orleans had been dragged outside to be burned but this action was stopped by a USAF airman who happened to be driving by.

The aircraft was transferred to the USAF Museum (still under the ownership of the LA museum) where it was a proud display for many years. When the Museum of Flying opened, the New Orleans was transferred to Santa Monica and hung from the ceiling of the new museum. Over the years, the aircraft suffered from a lack of climate control - particularly noticeable on the fabric and it received some damage when it started swinging back and forth during the massive 1994 earthquake.

In December 2002, with the museum closing, the New Orleans was gently lowered to the ground and conservators from the LA County Museum went to work preserving the fabric on the plane. The inside of the aircraft is in beautiful condition compared to the fabric and the aircraft is truly an aeronautical time capsule.

Currently, the New Orleans is awaiting a new home. The County Museum does not have the room to exhibit the craft (although its wings do fold) and officials want to keep it in the southern California area but there is not an institution that can adequately exhibit and protect the aircraft. In the Editor's opinion, the New Orleans belongs in the USAF Museum. AC