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1930s Signed DOUGLAS DOLPHIN Flying Boat PILOT WALTER SEILER Wilmington Catalina
1930s Signed DOUGLAS DOLPHIN Flying Boat PILOT WALTER SEILER Wilmington Catalina

1930s Signed DOUGLAS DOLPHIN Flying Boat PILOT WALTER SEILER Wilmington Catalina

$ 176.52

Availability: 100 in stock
  • Condition: The Douglas Dolphin was an amphibious flying boat. While only 58 were built, they served a wide variety of roles: private 'air yacht', airliner, military transport, and search and rescue. Photo Measures 8 x 10". Very Good + Condition. Pasted to Album Paper Page. This rare 8x10 is signed by Chief Pilot Walter Seiler. **This photo belonged to an aviator or mechanic who was based at the US Naval Reserve Aviation Base in Long Beach California in the early 1930s. He went on to serve on the USS Saratoga. He had some amazing photos as well as memorabilia from the 1933 and 1936 Air Races.
  • Item must be returned within: 30 Days
  • All returns accepted: Returns Accepted
  • Restocking Fee: No
  • Return shipping will be paid by: Buyer
  • Refund will be given as: Money Back

    Description

    4598-XFile-4
    The first two Douglas Dolphin's were purchased by Wilmington-Catalina Airlines to fly passengers between Los Angeles and Santa Catalina Island, becoming the first successful Douglas airliners. This photo shows  Dolphin Model 1 as it is one of the initial two Dolphins built for the Wilmington-Catalina Airline Ltd. as six-seat airliners. NC14204 was the flagship of the early Wilmington-Catalina Airline fleet.
    NC14204 was Chief Pilot Walter Seiler's favorite and was the most photographed of the airline's Dolphins. Roughly 9 out of 10 publicity photographs of the airline you will see feature NC14204 as the subject. This beautiful 8x10 photograph was taken at Catalina Airport in the mid 1930s when aircraft and pilot were in their prime. The logo of the Wilmington-Catalina Airline can be seen on it's nose. Signed in pen by Walter Seiler at lower right. His co-pilot can be seen in the cockpit.
    With the advent of WWII, a number of Catalina Air Transport planes were appropriated by the U.S. Army. This was one of them. On September 1, 1942, Seiler ferried NC14204 to Lockheed Air Terminal in Burbank where she was officially handed over to the Army.