L-9 Orion Visitors - The Lockheed File

The above graphic attempts to reproduce the quirky manner in which the name was painted on the aeroplane. Note that the f in of is inverted and The appears outside the inverted commas.

27NOV31

Application to the Department of Commerce Aeronautics Branch for an experimental license was made by Carl B. Squier on behalf of Peter R. Beasley & Title Insurance & Trust Co., Receivers for Lockheed Aircraft Company. Specifies "Manufacturer's Serial Number 187" with seating for six excluding the pilot and five gas tanks with a total capacity of 122 gallons. Aircraft is a "modification of the present Orion ATC 421. Application for an approved type certificate has been mailed to Mr. LaSha." (Source: 4)

11DEC31

A Department of Commerce, Aeronautics Branch, Operation Inspection Report of this date states that License Number X-12229 is approved. The aircraft is classed as a "Modified Orion Mfg. No. 187". Under the heading "Remarks" it states:
3 degrees dihedral wing
Fuselage 6 inches longer than standard Orion
Retractable tail wheel *.
(Source: 5)
* Despite this official observation that the aircraft was fitted with a retractable tail wheel, all photographic evidence suggests that the tail wheel was non-retractable.
The aircraft was painted white with red trim. (Source: 3)

22DEC31

Applicant advised that License X-12229 had been issued. "The letter 'N' must precede the license symbol and numerals on licensed aircraft engaged in foreign air commerce and, at the option of the owner, may precede it on other licensed aircraft, provided that aircraft licensed for experimental purposes shall not display the letter 'N'." (Source: 4)

22DEC31

Form AB-16 raised by the receivers of Lockheed Aircraft Company to advise the Dept of Commerce of the sale of Orion 187 to Hal E. Roach Studios Inc., Culver City. California. Aircraft may be inspected at Clover Field, Santa Monica, California. The document was signed by Hal Roach on 16JAN32. (Source: 4)

16JAN32

A DOC inspection report defining the aircraft as a "9A Special NC12229" stated that the aircraft was fitted with a Pratt & Whitney Wasp C10-1 Engine No. 1927 of 450 h.p. and a Hamilton Standard steel propeller Number 17956. The document is endorsed: "Approved on Group 2. 1 ship only. OK for export. Empty Weight 3416. Gross 5238. Throttle stop limiting revs to 2100 at 6000 ft must be installed." (Source: 5)

16JAN32

In response to a telephone request, the receivers of Lockheed Aircraft Company (per Carl B. Squier) submitted to the Dept of Commerce an application for a commercial license for Orion s/n 187. (Source: 4)

16JAN32

The receivers of Lockheed Aircraft Company (per Carl B. Squier) submitted to the Dept of Commerce in Los Angeles form AB-16 covering Lockheed Orion #187 "which we have just sold to Hal E. Roach Studios Inc., Culver City, California." (Source: 4)

18JAN32

Memo from Department of Commerce to the Secretary of State advising that DOC has no objection to the proposed South American air tour of Mr. James B. Dickson who holds transport pilot's license No. 1241. Aircraft is NC-12229. (Source: 4)

The aircraft operated a business trip to Buenos Aires and return with Hal Roach, Arthur Loew and James Dickson as pilot. The flight was operated to such a tight schedule that customs formalities were sometimes overlooked and had to be attended to retrospectively. (Source: 3)

11FEB32

The Department of Commerce cancelled license X-12229 on sale of the aircraft. (Source: 4)

11FEB32

The Director of Air Regulation, Dept of Commerce wrote to Hal Roach Studios authorising the operation of the aircraft under license NC-12229. The license (issued 01FEB32) stipulated that the baggage compartment be placarded to limit the weight of its contents to 150 pounds. Max gross weight 5238 pounds. Max passengers 4 plus pilot. (Source: 4)

03MAY32

Memo from Department of Commerce to the Secretary of State advising that DOC has no objection to the proposed tour of foreign countries by NC-12229. Pilot will be Mr. James B. Dickson who holds Transport pilot's license No. 1241. Co-pilot will be Mr. Arthur M. Loew who holds Private pilot's license No. 20383. (Source: 4)

16JUN32

The Washington Evening Star of this date reported Dickson's departure from Newark, NJ in an attempt to break the East-West record of 14 hours 30* minutes held by Frank Hawks. The Washington Post of 17JUN32 reported his arrival at Santa Monica in 14 hours 49 minutes actual flying time. Passengers on the Orion were; Arthur Loew, theater magnate, Henry Ginsberg, general manager of the Roach Studios and William Melniker, South American manager for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios. (Source: 6)
Source 3 claims that this was a record but Source 6 has them falling 19 minutes short.
Source 7 shows that Frank Hawks set an East-West transcontinental record of 19 hours 10 minutes on 27JUN29 in a Lockheed Air Express but does not record any subsequent record by Hawks.
Source 7 does not record any transcontinental record held by James Dickson.
* The caption to an ACME news photo (see below) dated 19JUN32 states that Hawk's record was 14 hours 50 minutes in which case Dickson was claiming to have beaten the record by one minute!
It is probable that the record claimed by Dickson is for an aircraft carrying passengers but the compiler has been unable to validate this claim.

21JUN32

On this date, the Washington Post announced that Dickson's attempt to break Jimmy Doolittle's West-East transcontinental record of 11 hours 15 minutes was foiled by thunderstorms that forced his landing at Kylertown, PA. (Source: 6)
Doolittle's record of 11 hours 16 minutes 10 seconds was set on 04SEP31 in a Laird Super Solution. (Source: 7)

01JUL32

DOC wrote to Hal Roach Studios asking that the aircraft be made available for semi-annual inspection which is due on 01AUG32. (Source: 5)

23JUL32

DOC Semi-annual inspection approved on this date. (Source: 5)

12SEP32

A DOC Operation Inspection Report (at Burbank) "after alterations" was approved.
Auxiliary gas tank installed - weight - 18 lbs capacity 28 gallons.
Aircraft placarded Gross Weight 5400 lbs, Empty Weight 3445 lbs.
Aircraft now fitted with a Pratt & Whitney SC1 of 450h.p. Engine No. 4834.
Aircraft now fitted with a Hamilton Standard dural propeller Number 18397.
Fitted with 6 gas tanks max capacity 150 gallons.
Total Flying Time: 3751 hours.
Time since last overhaul: 801 hours (? faint on form)
(Source: 5)

12SEP32

The DOC issued Form AB-183 "Placard to Accompany Aircraft License No. NC-12229" to Hal Roach Studios. Max Gross Weight is now 5400 pounds. Equipped Empty Weight is 3445 pounds. Max Fuel is 160* gallons with payload restricted to 735 pounds or 144 gallons with the aircraft loaded to maximum allowable capacity. Persons carried (including pilot) not to exceed five (5). The following items are included in the Equipped Empty Weight:
Cowl (50 lbs) ("NACA" prior to "Cowl" is struck out.)
Landing lights (35 lbs)
Battery (35 lbs)
Flare holders (50 lbs)
Starter Electric (35 lbs)
Generator (12 lbs)
Heater (10 lbs)
Inductor Compass (11 lbs)
Extra 28 gallon gas tank (18 lbs)
The aircraft is fitted with 11x12 AP wheels and low pressure tires. (Source: 4)

* This superceded a previous placard of the same date stating 150 gallons. The change from 150 to 160 gallons cites "Engineering Memorandum 2-397".

22SEP32

The San Pedro News Pilot (San Pedro, California) of this date reported:

Huge Monoplane Lands in Wilmington Street for Transfer to Ship

Flyer Drops Down on City Thoroughfare on Way to Ocean Liner

Capt. James B. Dickson set down the big Lockheed monoplane Orion on D Street, Wilmington, at 6a.m. today and taxied her nearly a mile through the Wilmington streets to the Matson-Lassco steamship terminal.

SAIL TOMORROW
Simple as taking a taxi to the terminal was this first instance on record of a prospective passenger's flight to a steamer terminal. Accompanied by Arthur M. Loew, first vice president of Loew's Inc., Captain Dickson will sail tomorrow on the Matson liner Monterey for Australia, the plane stowed on deck ready to take off on the pair's projected flight over the Orient, Africa and Europe on arrival. Hal Roach, for whom Captain Dickson is pilot, owns the plane. Wilmingtonians were still abed or getting breakfast as the plane, with wing spread of 42 feet, circled above the city and made a perfect threepoint landing on the new section of D Street between Broad and McFarland Avenues. Lieut. Gregory Curry, commanding the Wilmington Police, and a two-patrolman escort were on hand to keep traffic away.

GUIDED TO WHARF
Along D Street, Broad Avenue, Avalon Boulevard, Water Street, Fries Avenue and Pier A Street, the monoplane moved silently except for the subdued hum of her motors (sic). Longshoremen helped guide her to the position on the open wharf near the Matson-Lassco terminal, whence she will be hoisted tomorrow to the decks of the Monterey.

Source: 3 states in error that the aircraft was shipped from the USA to China to commence the round-world flight whereas the aircraft was actually shipped to Sydney, Australia.

13OCT32

The British magazine Flight, in its column Airisms from the Four Winds, published a proposed schedule of the round-world flight by the Spirit of Fun. Read the Schedule

13OCT32

Lockheed L-9A Orion Special NC-12229 The Spirit of Fun arrived in Sydney on the Matson liner S.S. Monterey. The aircraft was undertaking a round-world tour by Arthur M. Loew of MGM Studios and Joseph Rosthal. The pilot was Captain J.P. (sic) Dickson. (Source: 1)

14OCT32

The Sydney Morning Herald of this date reported the arrival of the aircraft the previous day, stating that Mr Loew planned to be in Johannesburg on 5 November to open a new theatre. (Source: 2)

14OCT32

The Orion was taken across the harbour by barge to Anderson Park at Neutral Bay from where it was flown to Mascot. The available take-off distance was 250 yards but the aircraft was airborne in 200 yards. In so doing, the Orion became the first American registered aircraft to fly in Australia. (Source: 1)
This process was repeated on 17JUL34 when the Lockheed Altair belonging to Sir Charles Kingsford Smith was unloaded from the Matson liner S.S. Mariposa (sister ship to the Monterey).

14OCT32

The Daily Telegraph (Sydney) of 15OCT32 published a photograph of "Three Marvels of the Machine Era". The photograph was taken at Circular Quay, Sydney on Friday 14OCT32 and depicted the "three marvels" as "the new liner Monterey, the biggest crane ever built in Australia and the new Lockheed Orion monoplane."
(Source: 2)
(The Monterey was completed in APR32 and the crane can only be the floating crane Titan.)

15OCT32

The Daily Telegraph (Sydney) of this date reported that Captain Dickson would "consult Sir Charles Kingsford Smith and Flying Officer Allsopp regarding flying conditions in Australia." The Orion was described as the first aircraft to arrive in Australia with a "car-type self-starter". It also featured "two powerful electric searchlights under the wing, to facilitate night landings." The aircraft was fitted with two circular chutes at the rear of the fuselage to dispense 5,000 candlepower parachute flares to assist with forced landings at night. A photograph in the same publication shows that when the Orion took-off from Anderson Park, the engine cowling was not fitted.
(Source: 2)

15OCT32

The Daily Telegraph (Sydney) of Monday 17OCT32 reported that the aircraft made a local flight from Mascot before departing for Melbourne and that Sir Charles Kingsford Smith "took the controls". (Source: 2)
Flight time from Sydney to Melbourne was 2 hours 55 minutes. (Source: 1)

16OCT32

The Sydney Morning Herald of Monday 17OCT32 reported that the "Lockheed Ryan monoplane" (sic) arrived at Parafield, Adelaide on Sunday afternoon 16 October from Melbourne in the record time of 2 hours 17 minutes having departed Essendon at 2:25 pm. The previous record of 2 hours 40 minutes was set two years previously by Wing Commander W.C. Smart. (Source: 2)

17OCT32

The Sydney Morning Herald of Monday 17OCT32 reported that the aircraft would depart Parafield for Wyndham, WA at 5:30 am on Monday 17OCT. Mr Loew stated that "I have to catch the Empress of China at Shanghai today week for Japan, so we are not wasting much time." (Source: 2)
Photograhic evidence (see below) indicates that the aircraft refuelled at Alice Springs.

17OCT32

Departed Wyndham for Bali. (Source: 1)

22OCT32

Noted in Hong Kong. (Source: 1) Read the Schedule

23OCT32

Noted in Shanghai. (Source: 1) Read the Schedule

05NOV32

Noted in Calcutta. (Source: 1) Read the Schedule

11NOV32

Noted in Johannesburg. (Source: 1) Read the Schedule

It will be noted that the aircraft reached Johannesburg on schedule in accordance with the itinerary which was published one month previously. This is no small achievement in itself but it does raise the possibility that scheduling pressure may have contributed to the accident.

17NOV32

With the intention of viewing the famous Victoria Falls in Rhodesia, the aircraft was landed on the nearby airfield but on departure, the aircraft struggled to become airborne in the sandy soil and clipped several trees, losing a wing and the engine and crashing inverted in the brush. Capt Dickson was killed instantly but Loew and Rosthal suffered only minor burns from cans of tetraethyl lead that were being carried as a fuel additive. James Dickson was buried in Livingstone Cemetery with the propeller of the Orion marking his grave. The relatively undamaged rear fuselage was acquired by Terence Spencer, a local aviator and garage operator, with a view to using it as the superstructure of a launch to be used by a native chieftain in Barotseland. The conversion was never completed and it is presumed that the remains of the Orion were eventually destroyed. (Source: 3)

18NOV32

The New York Times of this date reported the crash and the death of Captain Dickson who had 2,700 hours flying experience. Captain Dickson of Los Angeles graduated from Northwestern University after which he was a midshipman in the U.S. Navy before joing the Army and attaining the rank of Captain.

01DEC32

DOC wrote to Hal Roach Studios to advise that the aircraft's license will expire on 01FEB33. (Source: 5)

13JAN33

Hal Roach Studios, Culver City, California wrote to the Aeronautics Branch, Dept of Commerce:
"I am enclosing report on Lockheed Orion Aircraft, License #NC 12229. We are unable to fill out this report in detail, due to the fact that on November 17, 1932, while on a round-the-world flight, the above aircraft crashed in taking off at Victoria Falls, South Africa, killing the pilot, Captain James B. Dickson. So far we have received neither log book nor license card and understand that the plane was a total loss." (Source: 4)

19JAN33

The DOC advised Hal Roach Studios that the license for NC-12229 had been cancelled. An internal DOC checklist stated that the reason for the cancellation was that the aircraft had been "washed out". (Source: 4)

SOURCES
1	Parnell, Neville and Boughton, Trevor, 1988, Flypast - A Record of Aviation in Australia, AGPS, Canberra.
2	TROVE newspaper archives.
3	Allen, Richard Sanders, 1967, Revolution in the Sky, The Stephen Greene Press, Brattleboro, Vermont
4	Department of Commerce Aeronautics Branch, Aircraft Registration File accessed by Tim Kalina.
5	Department of Commerce Aeronautics Branch, Aircraft Airworthiness File accessed by Tim Kalina.
6	https://dmairfield.org/people/dickson_jb/index.html
7	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transcontinental_flight

Issue	Date	Remarks
3	30DEC23	Added a flown cover carried on the aircraft.
2	29DEC23	Added a schedule of the round-world flight.
1	27DEC23	Original issue.

L-9A Orion Special NC-12229 (msn 187)

Special thanks to Tim Kalina and Mick Raftery for their assistance with researching this page.