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BAC

Forty years ago on 12th December 1968 a Pan American Boeing 707 took off from New York bound for Maiquetia airport just outside Caracas, Venezuela.

It never got there.

The aircraft was a nine month old Boeing 707-300, the tail number was N494PA and the aircraft was named ‘Jet Clipper Malay’.

To my knowledge a transcript of the final moments either doesn’t exist or has never been published. This is fictional but I believe it might have gone something like this;

(All times are local)

21.56 PA217: ‘Maiquetia Tower good evening this is Clipper two-one-seven becoming established at fifteen miles for runway two-seven’.

21.56 Maiquetia Tower: ‘Good evening Clipper two-one-seven, continue approach, one to depart ahead of you’.

21.56 PA217: ‘Continue approach, Clipper two-one-seven’.

21.59 Maiquetia Tower: ‘Clipper two-one-seven cleared to land runway two-seven. Wind is two-eight-two at nine knots’.

21.59 PA217: ‘Cleared to land Clipper two-one-seven’.

22.02 Maiquetia Tower: ‘Clipper two-one-seven I can’t see you on the radar, confirm you are at eleven miles?’

22.02 Maiquetia Tower: ‘Clipper two-one-seven did you hear my last transmission?’

22.03 Maiquetia Tower: ‘Clipper two-one-seven can you hear me? Come in Clipper two-one seven.’

Clipper 217 did not respond.

To this day no-one really knows what happened to Pan Am Flight 217 but all 42 passengers and the crew of 9 perished. Some reports say that the aircraft undershot into the sea because of an illusion caused by the town lights on the upslope behind the airport –this has never been proved. The flight deck crew were all very experienced with many flying hours so it’s hard to believe it was ‘pilot error’. Recently I found out that rumours at the time said there was an altercation or argument in the cockpit just before the accident. Apparently the Cuban Purser on board had a few issues and could be a bit ‘moody’ from time to time, but again there is no proof of this. So no-one really knows. Another consideration is we’re talking of 1968 here, the US was heavily involved in an unpopular foreign war and there was a lot of ill feeling towards the Americans (some things don’t change!) so sabotage/terrorism also hasn’t been ruled out.

What is known is the aircraft suddenly disappeared off of the radar. I don’t know if aircraft blew up before impact with the sea or if the aircraft broke up when it hit the sea. The front section of ‘Clipper Malay’ broke away from the rest of the fuselage and fell into a ravine under the ocean. The bodies it contained were never recovered. I believe 34 bodies were recovered from the crash scene and it is thought some might have survived the initial impact only to drown shortly after.

So why am I telling you this little story?

My father was the First Officer on that ill fated flight.

He had a lot of flying experience. He learnt to fly at the beginning of the war because he knew sooner or later he would be called up and he’d rather have a choice if he volunteered. He chose flying as it fascinated him and coming from a poor background he would never be able to afford it. In 1943 he was posted to England and was a part of the 368th BS, 306th BG operating out of Thurleigh as a captain on B17’s. Just after the war while still in the Air Force he was involved with ‘Project Casey Jones’. This was really one of the first acts of what was to become the ‘Cold War’. The operation was to have the first accurate photo map of the whole of Western Europe. The flying would have been boring, up and down, up and down and if the pictures didn’t turn out right you’d have to do it all over again. He did a lot of flying around Gibralter and Southern Spain. After leaving the Air Force he got flying with Pan Am. Although he was a B17 Captain he did have to go ‘backwards’ and fly as a Flight Engineer for a while and I do know he flew on Boeing Stratocruisers. In the 1960’s he got rated on the 707 and a little while later became First Officer. Then shortly before the accident he was about to be promoted to Captain. He’d done all the hours and taken the tests. His new uniform with the four stripes was in the wardrobe and all he was waiting for was a letter telling him to sit in the left seat next time he came to work. But of course it wasn’t to be.

I remember some years ago my mum telling me that shortly after the crash the FBI coming round asking questions like ‘What make of watch did he have?’ and ‘What brand was his shirts? Describe his shoes’. All sorts of questions to make identification easier if any more bodies were recovered. There wasn’t.
I don’t remember him as I was just 8 months old at the time. So a couple of years later mum sold the house and moved back to England with me and my brother, back ‘home’ where her parents lived.

So, Forty years later I have finally built the model I always wanted to, ‘Clipper Malay’.
I saw the1.72 scale Heller 707-300 kit in a model shop in Bedford about 8 years ago it was only about £12.99. Not knowing then about forums and people making decals I just stored it in the loft until I fathomed out how I would turn it into ‘Clipper Malay’. Around three years ago I was browsing Ray Charles’ ‘Two-Six’ decals website when I spotted a sheet of 1.72 Pan Am 707 decals. I emailed Ray to confirm they were designed for the Heller kit. I then asked him if it was possible to change the decal sheet’s tail number to N494PA and include ‘Jet Clipper Malay’ and briefly told him why. Ray said it was no problem and the decals arrived a few days later. That was three years ago. Since then I kept meaning to get this kit built but never got around to it until recently. Being the 40th anniversary now seemed a good time to get it done.

Here's to the memory of 'Clipper Malay'.

Keep smiling!

Cheers for looking.
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Obi-Jiff Kenobi · Posted: Fri 12 Dec 2008 15:57 pm Post subject:

Wow - a beautiful model, and a moving story behind it. Great work, BAC
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walrus · Posted: Fri 12 Dec 2008 16:05 pm Post subject:

what Obi said, BAC

A really wonderful tribute on the anniversary, for a father you never got the chance to know.

peebeep · Guest

Another fab build Brian and an intriguing personal story to go with it, thanks for sharing both.

peebeep

gerry · Posted: Fri 12 Dec 2008 16:15 pm Post subject:

Superb job as always and a touching memoriam - it must be a most impressive sight in 1/72.

daniel7891 · Posted: Fri 12 Dec 2008 17:40 pm Post subject:

Another great build and a perfect tribute to your father
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Ratch · Posted: Fri 12 Dec 2008 19:19 pm Post subject:

Superb build as usual Brian

and a moving personal story behind the build, thanks for sharing

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avro683 · Posted: Fri 12 Dec 2008 22:48 pm Post subject:

A wonderful model and very moving story.
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Sgt.Squarehead · Posted: Sat 13 Dec 2008 03:03 am Post subject:

Wow!

An absolutely gorgeous model and an enormously touching tribute to the dad you never knew.....I'm really quite moved!

All the best
Sgt.S
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Richard M · Posted: Sun 14 Dec 2008 11:39 am Post subject:

Beautiful build and a very poignant story.
Best
Rich
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dancho · Posted: Sun 14 Dec 2008 15:19 pm Post subject:

A work of art.
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Brews · Posted: Sun 14 Dec 2008 18:58 pm Post subject:

It looks like it would have been a labour of love. I know that I would have wanted to make it as best I could, too, if I had been in your position.
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Steven Pietrobon · Posted: Mon 15 Dec 2008 07:13 am Post subject:

Great to see this finally built BAC. I remember you telling this story previously. Your story would be a good one for Air Crash Investigation.
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BAC · Posted: Mon 15 Dec 2008 11:05 am Post subject:

Thanks for all of your kind comments on this one. I'm pleased I finally got it done and I'm very grateful to Ray Charles at 'Two-Six Decals' for changing the name and tail number -he's a top bloke!

The kit itself goes together without any major problems except where the lower wing centre section joins the fuselage at the rear. There is a bit of a step but once complete isn't all that noticeable.

Here's some sprue shots (sorry for the poor quality).

I didn't use the passenger window pieces, instead I used Microscale Krystal Klear I did a test before the fuselage went together to make sure the window holes could take it, which they could.

Cockpit is basic but you can't really see it anyway.

The model didn't need a massive amount of noseweight so I just wrapped up some lead shot in tinfoil and taped down an extra bit above the nosegear just in case.

The instructions said to glue the upper mainwing to the lower ones and centre section, then glue to fuselage. Having test fitted I was sure there would be a huge gap between the upper wing/fuselage join.
So instead I double glued (using normal poly cement and a bead of superglue gel to fill any gaps) and having pre drilled three holes per wing I used small brass screws to secure. Filler wasn't needed on the wing join by doing this. I'd reccommend doing this if anyone makes this kit or the military versions of it.

Grey primer was used on the lower fuselage and wings, white primer with 'Appliance White' gloss to finish the fuselage top half.

The BMF was brushed twice with Humbrol Meatlcote 'Polished Aluminium' with a coat of Klear inbetween and four coats to seal afterwards. Various mettalic silvers and greys were used to detail the engines and Xtracolor 'Corroguard' was painted on the wing centre sections.

And that was pretty much it.

This is a big kit!

Here's a comparrison with a 'Marquette' Stratocruiser done earlier this year.

and a Constellation done in the summer -which in itself is a big kit!

Cheers!
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tanker221 · Posted: Mon 15 Dec 2008 14:53 pm Post subject:

Looks very big and very, very nice .
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299_paul · Posted: Mon 15 Dec 2008 16:46 pm Post subject:

An excellent build Brian made all that bit more special by the back story to it.
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feanor · Posted: Mon 15 Dec 2008 17:03 pm Post subject:

Ayup Bri...

Yes, a lovely build and a poignant story...

A fitting tribute...
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Loll · Posted: Fri 16 Jan 2009 15:44 pm Post subject:

As expected a superlative build Brian.

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Paula & Dan · Gold Star Joined: 16 Feb 2007 Posts: 3223 Location: LFBO

Only just seen this one (sorry Brian!) as we were driving up to the UK when it was originally posted.

It's a magnificent build and all the more special because of the background. A really nice tribute.

A quick question - presumably the Airfix E-3D kit is from the same base as this one? So presumably your brass screw method will be needed for it?

Dan
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Murdo · Black Star Joined: 17 Nov 2008 Posts: 48

A sad story.

A stunning, worthy build.

Well done mate!