Shore Lore: Transatlantic pit stop in Chatham

One hundred years ago, the very first transatlantic flight to Europe was completed. Starting in Rockaway, N.Y., Lieutenant Commander Albert Cushing Read of the U.S. Navy and his crew piloted the NC-4, which made several pit stops along the way before finally landing in Lisbon, Portugal, on May 27, 1919.

One of those pit stops was right here on Cape Cod.

“(Read) had to make a forced landing on the open sea, some 80 miles East of Cape Cod,” according to the National Aviation Hall of Fame. “Unable to secure help, he taxied through the waves for five hours and reached Chatham Naval Air Station on Cape Cod safely.”

Four NC planes left Rockaway on May 8. While the goal of reaching the other side of the Atlantic was achieved, the mission was not without peril.

“Ill luck began even before the planes left Rockaway Beach,” reported the May 28, 1919 edition of The Boston Post. “The originally assigned mechanician, E.H. Howard, lost his hand in the cranking of the propellors. Soon after the flight was started engine trouble affected Read’s plane. It multiplied until three of the four engines went bad and the crew was forced to land in the ocean off Chatham.”

Fortunately for Read and his crew, Chatham was home to an air station, and the engine was temporarily replaced with a 300-horsepower Liberty engine. On the morning of May 14, the NC-4 departed Chatham for Halifax, Nova Scotia. The following evening, NC-4 landed in Trepassey Bay, Newfoundland, where a 400-horsepower motor was installed. Next stop for the NC planes was the Azores — or so it was planned.

Unfortunately for the other three planes, weather and mechanical issues kept them from reaching their destination. Read and his plane were forced to land twice more before reaching Lisbon. On May 31, the NC-4 landed in Plymouth, England.

“They were given a royal welcome by the Mayor of Plymouth and were honored during a two week tour of both England and France,” according to the National Aviation Hall of Fame.

“The British presented him the Royal Air Force Cross for his historic flight. When they came back to America they were greeted in Washington by Navy officials, and he was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal and a special medal struck to commemorate the NC-4 flight. He and his crew then made an extensive goodwill tour of the country in the NC-4.”

A few weeks later, British aviators John Alcock and Arthur Brown made the first non-stop transatlantic flight. In 1927, Charles Lindbergh completed the first first solo, non-stop flight from the U.S. to Europe. By way of Chatham, Read was the first to cross the big pond successfully.

“Commander Read is small in stature, quiet and observing,” The Boston Post noted. “He was absolutely confident and determined that his seaplane would be in at the finish of the transatlantic flight. Nothing braggadocio in his bearing, just the calm, deliberate assertion of a man who is sure of his step.

“He is known throughout the naval air service as on of the best navigation officers to be found. Today he has further proven that reputation.”

Don Wilding, a writer and public speaker on Cape Cod lore, can be reached via email at donwilding@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter at @WildingsCapeCod and on Facebook at @donwildingscapecod. Shore Lore appears weekly.