Arthur Ridley and Honolulu Clipper

Ridley was educated at Eton College, where he represented the college cricket team from 1870 to 1872, and at Christ Church College, Oxford.

Ridley made his first-class debut for Oxford University in 1872 against the Marylebone Cricket Club. He represented the University in 18 first-class matches from 1872 to 1875, with his final match against Cambridge University at Lord's. In his 18 matches for the University Ridley scored 459 runs at a batting average of 18.36, with two half centuries and a highest score of 81 against the Gentlemen of England in 1874. With the ball Ridley took 63 wickets at a bowling average of 13.31, with three five wicket hauls and best figures of 6/80 against the Marylebone Cricket Club. In the field he took 23 catches for the University. Ridley captained the University in 1875. He was a cricket Blue in each of his four years in the University team.

In 1873 Ridley played his first match for the Gentlemen in the Gentlemen v Players match. Ridley would go onto play in 14 of the fixtures up to 1883. In his 14 matches he scored 491 runs at an average of 24.55, with three half-centuries and a single century, 103 in the 1876 fixture. With the ball Ridley took 19 wickets at an average of 27.63, with best figures of 4/41. Ridley took 14 catches for the Gentlemen in the field.

In 1875 Ridley made his debut for Hampshire against Sussex. Ridley played for Hampshire in 10 first-class matches, with his final first-class match against the Marylebone Cricket Club in 1878. In 10 appearances for Hampshire, Ridley scored 558 runs at an average of 29.36, with three half-centuries and a single century, 104 against Kent in 1876. With the ball he took 68 wickets at an average of 13.26, with ten five-wicket hauls, four ten-wicket hauls in a match and best figures of 7/46 against Derbyshire in 1877. In the field he took 4 catches for the county.

Ridley also made his debut for the Marylebone Cricket Club against Nottinghamshire at Lord's. Ridley played 14 first-class matches for MCC, with his final appearance in 1882 against Cambridge University. In his 14 MCC matches Ridley scored 329 runs at an average of 13.16, with a highest score of 47. With the ball he took 21 wickets at an average of 11.09, with three five-wicket hauls, a single ten-wicket haul in a match and best figures of 6/45 against Oxford University.

While playing for Hampshire, Ridley also represented Kent in a single first-class match against England in 1877.

In 1882 Ridley made his debut for Middlesex against Surrey. He played 16 first-class matches for the county from 1882 to 1885, with his final match against Yorkshire. In 16 matches for Middlesex, Ridley scored 527 runs at an average of 20.26, with two half centuries and a single century, 136 against Surrey in 1883. With the ball Ridley took 7 wickets at an average of 25.85, with best figures of 2-21.

As well as representing the above teams in first-class cricket, Ridley also represented the Gentlemen of England in 5 first-class matches, with a highest score of 105*. Ridley also played for AW Ridley's XI, England, Gentlemen of Marylebone Cricket Club, I Zingari, the Orleans Club, South of England and the Under 30s team in first-class matches.

In Ridley's overall first-class career he scored 3,150 runs at an average of 20.19, with 11 half-centuries, four centuries and a highest score of 136. With the ball he took 224 wickets at an impressive bowling average of 15.06, with 19 five-wicket hauls, four ten-wicket hauls in a match and best figures of 7/21. In the field Ridley took 79 catches and made 2 stumpings.

Ridley died suddenly at Westminster, London on 10 August 1916. Family

Ridley's brother Alfred Ridley and son-in-law Philip Pearson-Gregory both played first-class cricket.

Honolulu Clipper and Arthur Ridley

Like other long range Clipper aircraft in Pan-Am it aided US military during World War II. In service with the US Navy it made a forced landing 650 miles east of Oahu on 3 November 1945 and when the subsequent salvage attempt was abandoned, the Honolulu Clipper was deliberately sunk by gunfire.

Passengers flying aboard the aircraft over its service life of 18,000 flying hours included Clare Boothe Luce, Eddie Rickenbacker, Thomas Kinkaid, Chester Nimitz, and Peter Fraser.

Contents 1 Prototype 2 Service history 3 Loss 4 References

Prototype

Pan Am initiated trans-Pacific airmail service on 22 November 1935; and began carrying passengers in October 1936. Pan Am requested Boeing to design a longer range flying boat to improve service offered by the original Martin M-130s; and Boeing completed NX18601 with the canceled Boeing XB-15 wing design and a single vertical tail fin on 1 June 1938. A twin rudder tail was substituted after the initial test pilot reported adjusting engine power was the only way to turn the aircraft; and that was subsequently replaced with the triple tail used on production aircraft. Boeing also modified the hull-step and sponsons to provide satisfactory performance during takeoff and landings. Service history

Pan Am accepted the modified prototype to replace Hawaii Clipper. The plane's first trans-Pacific flight as NC18601 began on 16 March 1939. The plane set a record at the time by carrying 45 persons, including thirty paying passengers, on the final leg of the trip from Manila to Hong Kong.

Pan Am purchased five more production Boeing 314s and three improved Boeing 314As to extend transoceanic service to the Atlantic. Pan Am hired experienced nautical navigators for oceanic flights. These men continued to fly the aircraft after the United States Navy assumed control of the Clippers in 1942. Honolulu Clipper flew between California and Hawaii and to Australia via Canton Island, Fiji, Nouméa and New Zealand after Japan gained control of the pre-war Pan Am facilities at Wake Island, Guam and Manila Bay. Pan Am crews maintained a unique line-crossing ceremony flying to New Zealand and Australia. Passengers crossing the equator for the first time provided a banknote to be endorsed by those who had made the passage before. The endorsed banknote, known as a short snorter, was returned to the initiate as a credential for future crossings. Loss

Honolulu Clipper departed Hawaii on 3 November 1945 with an Operation Magic Carpet flight carrying 26 military personnel returning to the United States after service in the Pacific. The aircraft lost power in both starboard engines after five hours of flying, and successfully landed 650 miles east of Oahu shortly before midnight. The merchant tanker Englewood Hills maintained radio contact, found the aircraft and removed the passengers on the morning of 4 November. The escort carrier Manila Bay arrived and sent over aircraft mechanics who were unable to repair the engines at sea. Manila Bay then attempted to tow the aircraft; but the tow line parted as weather deteriorated. The seaplane tender San Pablo was assigned to tow the flying boat into port; but Honolulu Clipper was damaged in a collision with the tender on 7 November and intentionally sunk on 14 November by perforating the hull with 1200 20mm Oerlikon shells after salvage was deemed impractical.
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