Photo Catalog Record
Images
Metadata
Title |
Northbird, 1923 |
Image # |
84.1.85.181 |
Object Name |
Negative, Film |
Date |
1923 |
Photographer |
Unknown |
Description |
The Northbird on the beach at Ratz Harbor, Prince of Wales, Clarence Strait, May 12, 1923, on returning from a trop to Wrangell, Alaska Roy Jones and his mechanic Frank Wadman encountered a terrible storm. They saw the poles for the fish trap at Ratz Harbor and found a safe haven to wait out the storm. (Description paraphrased from image caption provided by Don Dawson on Page 13, Pilots of the Panhandle, By Jim Ruotsala) (Note - not understood how the description below relates to this specific image - descriptions do not match - appears to be separate events - needs research ERB 02/07/2020) RJ #10 84.1.85.1Sept. 1922 ( * most likely date DD) The Curtiss MF open cockpit biplane flying boat (spruce ribs, linen cover, laminated mahogany hull) "holed up" in a small cove behind narrow Point, on Clarence Strait. Pilot Jones and assistant George Beck were returning to Ketchikan from Wrangell, about Dec. 10th * when we encountered a heavy snowstorm near Lincoln Rock. An attempt to fly through it proved impossible, without blind flying instruments (at the time), so we carefully flew just above the high wave crests while changing course for a point of safety along Prince of Wales Island. Next morning the snow was nearly all gone and George I floated the craft and resumed our flight. The picture was taken when George was busy with the fire and making coffee. I've much regretted that did not ask him to leave his fire making and get into the picture. RJ #10, 84.1.85.1The incident related by Jones covering this photo states that he and Beck were returning to Ketchikan from Wrangell, when this photo was taken and recalls the approximate date as Dec. 10th. The trip made by Jones and George Beck was from Ketchikan to Wrangell, Petersburg and Juneau. They departed Ketchikan on the afternoon of Wednesday, Sept. 6, 1922. After a successful business stay in Wrangell, the two men left Wrangell the weekend of September 22 for Petersburg. On about September 26 (Tuesday), Jones and Beck left Petersburg for Juneau going by way of Cape Fanshaw and Taku Harbor. On Saturday, September, 30,, the Northbird arrived in Juneau under tow behind the mail boat Pheasant after the engine's crankshaft buckled enroute Juneau. The plane was further damaged while being lifted by boom from the water to the dock of the Atlas Machine Works when the cable broke causing the boom arm to drop the plane and then fall onto the upper wing and engine. Beck returned to Ketchikan aboard the vessel Alf and quit his job as a flying roustabout for Jones. The Northbird was repaired by the first week of November 1922 and Jones resumed flying charters out of Juneau until Jones returned to Ketchikan on December 3, leaving the Northbird stored in Juneau for the winter. Jones returned to Juneau the following March, 1923 and resumed his charter operations in that city, with a successful trip to Skagway in April, returning to Juneau via Haines on May 7, 1923. Jones and his mechanic, Frank Wadman left Juneau for Ketchikan on May 8, via Petersburg, Wrangell and Chomley and arrived in Ketchikan on Sunday May 12, 1923. Jones had to land at Ratz Harbor on Prince of Wales Island on evening May 11 after encountering a severe wind and rainstorm shortly after leaving Chomley that evening. He had to "hole up " until the storm abated, before flying on to Ketchikan. If Jones was indeed returning to Ketchikan from Wrangell, this was most likely the time this photo was taken (May 11th versus the date he recalled of 10th) and Wadman was his mechanic at the time rather than George Beck, as Jones recollects. If they were enroute Wrangell when the photo was taken, then Beck was the assistant and the time of the photo was approximately between September 6th - September 10th. George Beck insists that it was he who was present and along when this photo was taken, so perhaps the date was September 1922 and as Jones recollects him as being present, this is most likely the time of the photo. - Don Dawson Century - 20 |
Provenance |
Note: updated date from 1919-1975 per the description with the May 12, 1923 date. 02/07/2020 ERB |
Print size |
35 mm |
People |
Jones, Roy F. |
Search Terms |
Ketchikan, Alaska Aviation Northbird Transportation, Air Artifact of the Month article |
Relation |
Show Related Records... |
Multimedia link |
Link to Artifact of the Month Virtual Exhibit record |
Credit line |
Ketchikan Museums: Tongass Historical Society Collection, THS 84.1.85.181 |