Pan Am Clipper Preflight Preparation

In the late 1930s, few forms of travel were as luxurious or exclusive as intercontinental trips aboard Boeing 314 Clipper flying boats operated by Pan American World Airways. These unique airliners were defined by lavish cabins, plush sleeping accommodations, and elegant lounges. Although they were roughly the same size as the 70-80-passenger Douglas DC-6 that would enter production the following decade, the comfort-focused Clippers carried less than half that number of passengers on long, overnight journeys.

Here, two photographs provide a rare glimpse into some of the preflight preparations involved in a Pan Am Clipper departure. The first shows a cleaning crew hard at work, scrubbing the corrosive saltwater off of the airframe’s bare aluminum. Overhead, mechanics crawl into and around the engine nacelles, ensuring each engine is adequately prepared for the forthcoming flight.