Flying Boats Historical Society

Transatlantic Hub

On June 24, 1939, Pan-Am Airlines started the first commercial trans-Atlantic flights from New York City to London using the Boeing B314 flying boats. Because the first stop flying eastward was Shediac Bay, Shediac became prominent worldwide in the evolution of aviation transportation.

“Columbus of the Air”

However, that was not Shediac’s first experience with flying boats. In July of 1933, the first air squadron left Italy to cross the Atlantic Ocean. Under the command of the Minister of Aviation for Italy, General Italo Balbo, 25 Isotta-Marchetti-powered flying boats took flight on their way to North America. Unfortunately one crashed and only 24 arrived safely. This mass landing on the calm waters of Shediac Bay demonstrated the feasibility of using it as a location for flying boat landings.

By Emanuele Mastrangelo at Italian Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, Link

Path of the Italian Armada

More History

THE ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF SEAPLANES AND FLYING BOATS by Louis S. Casey; John Batchelor Published by Exeter Books. 1st USA. 1980 ISBN: 0896730417

THE PAN AM CLIPPER: THE HISTORY OF PAN AMERICAN'S FLYING-BOATS 1931-1946 by Roy Allen, Published by David & Charles. 2000 ISBN: 0715311026