Round the World Flights

After World War II A-26 Invaders made two separate around-the-world flights, one by the US Military, and another by the wealthy billionaire pen-manufacturer, Milton Reynolds.

Colonel Holzapple's Flight

Colonel Joseph Randall "Randy" Holzapple, Commander of the 319th Bombardment Group was, by all accounts, a good commander. He made a career out of the Air Force and retired as a full General. He got his start with the Air Force during WWII and commanded his bomb group from one end of the Earth to the other, literally. But after the war was over he wanted to mark his place in history before the dissolution of the wartime Army Air Forces. He wanted to be remembered as something more than a good commander. He obtained Pentagon permission to demonstrate the capabilities of the Douglas A-26 Invader on a flight round-the-world. He selected Lt Col Charles R Meyers as his co-pilot and Lt Otto H Schumacher as navigator. Corporal Howard J Walden joined the crew as radio operator.

On November 25, 1945 they departed Savannah GA heading westward on their flight round-the-world. Four days later they returned to Washington DC having successfully circumnavigated the earth. They demonstrated to the world that US light bombers could be dispatched to any point in the world on quick notice. They circumnavigated the globe in 4 days.

Details

Miles Flown: 24,859 miles
Duration Time: 96H 50M
Average speed: 256.7194
Plane Type: Douglas A-26B Invader

Pilot: Colonel Joseph Randall Holzapple
Co-pilot: Lt. Col. Charles R. Meyers
Navigator: Lt. Otto H. Schumacher
Radio: Cpl. Howard J. Walden

Itinerary

• Savannah, GA - Departure on 11/25/45
• Sacramento, CA
• Honolulu, HI
• Johnston Island
• Majuro Atoll
• Eniwetok Atoll
• Saipan Island
• Okinawa
• Manila, Philippines
• Calcutta, India
• Agra, India
• Karachi, Pakistan
• Abadan, Iran
• Baghdad, Iraq
• Cairo, Egypt
• Tunis, Tunisia
• Casablanca, Morocco
• Santa Maria, Azores
• Bermuda
• Washington, DC - Arrival on 11/29/45

Reynold's Bombshell

Milton Reynolds was impressed with the reliability and speed of the Douglas A-26 Invader. As a millionaire pen manufacturer, he purchased a surplus A-26 (44-34759) from the government to be used as a company plane. He envisioned that if he beat Howard Hughes' around-the-world flight record, it would give his company world-wide publicity in what amounted to a very expensive publicity stunt.

Milton named the plane "Reynolds Bombshell" and set off on his mission. He started by having the plane stripped of all non-essential military gear and installed extra fuel tanks. He hired William Odom to be his pilot and T. Carroll Sallee as navigator. Reynolds wanted publicity for his company and setting a new around-the-world speed record would provide this exposure, especially since he tagged along as part of the crew.

The trio departed from LaGuardia Airport in New York City on April 12, 1947 headed for Gander, Newfoundland to refuel for their Atlantic crossing. Minor mechanical difficulties were overcome on route. Because of the lack of accurate weather information, some legs of their flight were extremely hazardous. They were on oxygen most of the flight as they flew at altitudes from 19,000 to 23,000 feet. Odom landed at LaGuardia on April 16, 1947 having traveled 20,020 miles in 3D 6H 55M 56S. Because they did not apply to the Federal Aeronautique Internationale (FAI) before their flight, their arount-the-world mark was declared unofficial.

What I find interesting about this trip is that despite Reynolds' modifications to lighten the plane, his plane flew roughly 3 miles per hour slower, on average, that Holzapple's flight. Where the modifications came in handy was in course planning. The extra fuel tanks allowed Reynolds' to stay airborne longer and fly further, thus allowing him to complete the journey in only 10 stops (as compared to Holzapple's 19), and that difference saved him more than 4,000 miles and almost 20 hours of flight time.

Details

Miles Flown: 20,000 miles
Flying Time: 78H 55M 56S
Average Speed: 253.382
Plane Type: Douglas A-26B Invader

Pilot: William "Bill" Odom
Co-Pilot/Navigator: T. "Tex" Carroll Sallee
Radio: Milton Reynolds

Itinerary

• New York City - Departed on 04/12/47
• Gander, Newfoundland
• Paris, France
• Cairo, Egypt
• Karachi, Pakistan
• Calcutta, India
• Shanghai, China
• Tokyo, Japan
• Adak Island, Aleutians
• Edmonton, Canada
• New York City - Arrived on 4/16/47