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{{Short description|1927 fatal air race}}{{Infobox event
|image       = DoleAirR1927.gif
|caption     = Dole Air Race movie reel (Prelinger Archives)
|type        = [[Air racing]]
|date        = August 1927
|outcome     = Two aircraft completed the race
|casualties1 = 10 deaths
|location    = United States
|website     = 
}}
[[File:Dole Air Race - starting positions.jpg|thumb|right|Aircraft poised to start the Dole Air Race from Oakland on August 16, 1927]]
[[File:Arthur C. Goebel 2.png|thumb|Arthur C. Goebel, from ''Aero Digest'', 1927]]
The '''Dole Air Race''', also known as the '''Dole Derby''', was an [[air race]] across the [[Pacific Ocean]] from [[Oakland, California]], to [[Honolulu]] in the [[Territory of Hawaii]] held in August 1927 that resulted in several deaths. 

There were eighteen official and unofficial entrants; of them fifteen officially drew for starting positions, and of those fifteen, two were disqualified, two withdrew, and three aircraft crashed resulting in three deaths before the race. Eight aircraft eventually started the race on August 16. Only two successfully arrived in Hawaii; ''Woolaroc'', a [[Travel Air 5000]] piloted by Arthur C. Goebel and [[William V. Davis]], arrived after a 26 hour, 15 minute flight, leading runner-up ''Aloha'' by two hours.

Of the other six aircraft, two had crashed on takeoff, two were forced to return for repairs, and two went missing during the race (''Golden Eagle'' and ''Miss Doran''). One of the aircraft that was repaired took off again to search for the missing aircraft several days later but also vanished over the sea (''Dallas Spirit''). In all, before, during, and after the race, ten people died and six airplanes were lost or damaged beyond repair.

==The Dole prize==

Inspired by [[Charles A. Lindbergh]]'s successful trans-Atlantic flight, [[James D. Dole]], the [[Hawaii]] [[pineapple]] magnate, announced on May 25, 1927, a prize of $25,000 ({{Inflation|US-GDP|25000|1927|r=-3|fmt=eq}}{{Inflation/fn|US-GDP}}) for the first fixed-wing aircraft to fly the {{convert|3870|km|mi|0|sp=us}} from Oakland, California, to Honolulu, Hawaii, and $10,000 ({{Inflation|US-GDP|10000|1927|r=-3|fmt=eq}}{{Inflation/fn|US-GDP}}) for second place.<ref>{{cite web|title=Dole Derby|url=http://hawaii.gov/hawaiiaviation/aviation-photos/1920-1929/dole-derby/ha_photo_album_view?b_start:int=0&-C=|access-date=23 August 2011}}</ref><ref name=SB-Derby1/> The flights would have to be completed before August 15, 1928. Dole stated he hoped that Lindbergh would compete.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=CC19270525.2.17 |title=Offers $25,000 to First to Cross the Pacific |agency=Associated Press |date=May 25, 1927 |newspaper=Calexico Chronicle |access-date=29 February 2020}}</ref> The prospect of breaking more long-distance flight records enticed other wealthy businessmen to offer similar Pacific-conquering prizes: [[Sid Grauman]] offered $30,000 ({{Inflation|US-GDP|30000|1927|r=-3|fmt=eq}}{{Inflation/fn|US-GDP}}) to the first to fly from Los Angeles to Tokyo,<ref>{{cite news |date=May 26, 1927 |title=Los Angeles to Tokio Air Trip Prize $30,000 |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=HT19270526.2.14 |access-date=4 March 2020 |newspaper=Healdsburg Tribune |page=1 |issue=171 |agency=United Press}}</ref> and William Easterwood offered a similar $25,000 prize for the first to fly from Dallas to [[Hong Kong]] in three stops (Honolulu, Guam or Manila, and San Francisco), taking no more than "144 consecutive hours" and before 28 September.<ref>{{cite news |date=June 14, 1927 |title=$25,000 Will Go to Flyer for Success |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=MT19270614.2.15 |access-date=4 March 2020 |newspaper=Madera Tribune |page=1 |volume=XL |issue=36 |agency=United Press}}</ref> All the wealthy patrons hoped to draw Lindbergh.<ref name=Dmag-85/>

The Honolulu chapter of the [[National Aeronautic Association]] drew up rules for the Dole race.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SPNP19270528.2.22 |title=Complete Rules for Flight to Honolulu |date=May 28, 1927 |newspaper=San Pedro News-Pilot |access-date=3 March 2020}}</ref>

===The transpacific record===
The publicity for the first successful transpacific flights from Oakland to Hawaii was stolen by two flights in June and July 1927, ahead of the scheduled August start for the Dole Derby. On 28 June, about a month after Dole posted the prizes, [[United States Army Air Corps|US Army Air Corps]] Lieutenants [[Lester J. Maitland]] and [[Albert F. Hegenberger]] flew [[Bird of Paradise (aircraft)|''Bird of Paradise'']] (a three-engine [[Atlantic-Fokker]] C-2 military aircraft) from Bay Farm Airport in Oakland to [[Wheeler Army Airfield]] on [[Oahu]] in 25 hours and 50 minutes.<ref name=Conant>{{cite news | first = Jane Eshleman | last = Conant | title = Death Dogged the Dolebirds: Pioneer Pacific Fliers Wrote Tragic Chapter in Air History | url = http://www.sfmuseum.org/hist10/27dolerace.html | work = San Francisco Call-Bulletin | date = October 10, 1955 | access-date = September 12, 2010  }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SPDN19270629.2.4 |title=Army Fliers Land in Hawaii; Nation Honors New Heroes |agency=AP |date=June 29, 1927 |newspaper=San Pedro Daily News |access-date=25 February 2020}}</ref> An earlier attempt in 1925 had ended in failure for two Navy [[Naval Aircraft Factory PN|PN-9 seaplanes]]; one of the aircraft, commanded by Commander [[John Rodgers (naval officer, World War I)|John Rodgers]], ran out of fuel several hundred miles short of Hawaii and sailed to Kauai over the next nine days.<ref name=SBS-1925>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SBS19250912.1.1 |title=Rodgers Reviews History of Flight |author=Rodgers, Cmdr. John |author-link=John Rodgers (naval officer, World War I) |date=September 12, 1925 |newspaper=San Bernardino Sun |access-date=25 February 2020}}</ref>

[[File:Travel Air 5000 City of Oakland after running out of fuel over Hawaii.jpg|thumb|right|''City of Oakland'' after crash landing on [[Molokai]]]]
Ernie Smith and Captain C.H. Carter had arrived in Oakland earlier to attempt to parallel the Maitland/Hegenberger flight in the ''City of Oakland'', a small [[Travel Air 5000]] civilian monoplane, but due to mechanical difficulties, took off two hours after Maitland, and returned with a broken windshield. Unlike Lindbergh's purpose-built ''[[Spirit of St. Louis]]'', ''City of Oakland'' had been serving as a mail carrier for [[Pacific Air Transport]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.historynet.com/emory-bronte-and-ernie-smith-flew-from-california-to-hawaii-in-1927.htm |title=Emory Bronte and Ernie Smith: Flew from California to Hawaii in 1927 |author=Grover, David H. |website=HistoryNet |date=14 June 2012 |access-date=29 February 2020}}</ref> According to Smith, Carter threatened to dump the gas after the windshield was lost, forcing the plane's return shortly after takeoff.<ref name=Smith-31>{{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BSZwdyVs8lYC&pg=PA22 |title=Ocean Flights Are the Bunk! |author=Smith, Ernie |date=January 1931 |magazine=Popular Aviation |pages=22–24;58 |volume=8 |number=1 |publisher=Aeronautical Publications |access-date=29 February 2020}}</ref> Carter quit after the record was lost, but Smith hired Emory Bronte as a navigator, and took off again on July 14.<ref>{{cite journal|journal=Plane and Pilot|date=July 1967}}</ref> Upon running out of fuel 26 hours and 36 minutes later, they crash-landed in a thorn tree on [[Molokai]].<ref name=Conant/><ref name=Smith-31/><ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NR6fckxHa4UC&pg=PA42 |title=Ernie Smith Says 'I Was a Hero' |last1=Smith |first1= Ernie |last2=Conant |first2= Paul |date=October 1939 |magazine=Popular Aviation |pages=42–43;65;88–89 |volume=XXV |number=4 |publisher=Ziff-Davis |access-date=29 February 2020}}</ref>

Dole disqualified the successful June and July flights from his prizes because they had not followed his rules.<ref name=GAS-58>{{cite book |title=Great Adventure Stories |editor=Brent, Rafer |publisher=Bartholomew House |location=New York |url=https://archive.org/details/greatadventurest012839mbp |chapter=$35,000 Race to Death |author=Conant, Jane |pages=[https://archive.org/details/greatadventurest012839mbp/page/n178 175]–190 |date=1958}}</ref>{{rp|181}} The Air Corps flight had been planned months prior to the prize announcement and had no intent to land other than at Wheeler airfield.

By July 22, the starting and ending points had not been set. San Francisco began developing its new municipal airport, Mills Field, in anticipation that it could entice pilots into choosing it as the origin; the initial planned destination was [[Daniel K. Inouye International Airport|John Rodgers Airport]] near Honolulu.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SPDN19270722.2.24 |title=San Francisco's New Airport Is Prepared for Dole Race for Honolulu, Is Report |agency=AP |date=July 22, 1927 |newspaper=San Pedro Daily News |access-date=3 March 2020}}</ref>

=== Contestants draw positions ===
The first official entrant, announced on June 28, was {{Interlanguage link|Arthur Cornelius Goebel|WD=Q60159912}}.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SPNP19270628.2.93 |title=First Entry is Listed in $25,000 Air Race |agency=United Press |date=June 28, 1927 |newspaper=San Pedro News-Pilot |access-date=3 March 2020}}</ref> Another early entrant was [[Dick Grace]], who shipped his plane to San Francisco shortly after he crashed his Cruzair,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SPDN19270707.2.16 |title=Expects Another Plane |agency=AP |date=July 7, 1927 |newspaper=San Pedro Daily News |access-date=4 March 2020}}</ref> forcing him to abandon a [[Kauai]] to San Francisco attempt in June.<ref>
{{cite news
 | newspaper= The New York Times
 | title= Grace to Fly in Dole Race. Hawaii-California Flier Who Crashed to Enter Competition
 | date= 7 July 1927
 | page= 4
}}
</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SPNP19270707.2.9 |title='Broken Neck' Flyer Abandons Pacific Hop |date=July 7, 1927 |newspaper=San Pedro News-Pilot |access-date=4 March 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SPNP19270722.2.17 |title=Grace Plans Non-Stop Hop to Jap City |date=July 22, 1927 |newspaper=San Pedro News-Pilot |access-date=4 March 2020}}</ref> At the time, both Grace and Goebel were better known as founding members of the ''Thirteen Flying Black Cats'', nicknamed the "Suicide Squadron", a Hollywood stunt pilot association started in 1922;<ref>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=OT19330604.1.15 |title=Air Stunts Thin Ranks of Film Suicide Club |date=June 4, 1933 |newspaper=Oakland Tribune |access-date=4 March 2020}}</ref> that group's exploits were dramatized in the 1932 film ''[[The Lost Squadron]]''.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=CJ19320420.2.58 |title=Fox Theatre |date=April 20, 1932 |newspaper=Coronado Eagle and Journal |access-date=4 March 2020}}</ref> The two stuntmen were quickly joined by other contestants as the August 2 entry deadline approached.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SPDN19270801.2.34 |title=2 Navy Airmen Entering Dole Hawaii Flight |date=August 1, 1927 |newspaper=San Pedro Daily News |access-date=4 March 2020}}</ref>

Fourteen official and four unofficial entrants were announced on August 3; Grace was not part of the group.<ref name=SCEN-19270803>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SCEN19270803.1.3 |title=Dole Flight Entries, Official and Unofficial, Are Given |agency=AP |date=August 3, 1927 |newspaper=Santa Cruz Evening News |access-date=29 February 2020}}</ref> The draw for starting position in the Dole race was held on 8 August in the office of C. W. Saunders, California director of the [[National Aeronautics Association]], at the [[Matson Building]] in [[San Francisco]]. Of the eighteen entries, fifteen made the official draw;<ref name=SCEN-19270809/> contestants could choose to take off from [[San Francisco International Airport|Mills Field]] near San Francisco or [[Oakland Municipal Airport]],<ref>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SCEN19270802.1.3 |title=Ten Entries for Trans-Pacific Derby; Mills Air Field Is Ready |agency=AP |date=August 2, 1927 |newspaper=Santa Cruz Evening News |access-date=2 March 2020}}</ref> but the contestants later decided the air currents at Mills were too dangerous and all aircraft would take off from Oakland instead.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=HT19270810.2.7 |title=All Planes in Honolulu Flight to Leave Oakland |agency=United Press |date=August 10, 1927 |newspaper=Healdsburg Tribune |access-date=2 March 2020}}</ref> Bennett Griffin received the first draw.<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 10, 1927 |title=Draws No. 1 |url=https://www.coloradohistoricnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=RMD19270810-01.2.41&srpos=1&e=-------en-20--1--img-txIN%7CtxCO%7CtxTA-%22Dole+Air+Derby%22-------0------ |access-date=2024-11-26 |website=www.coloradohistoricnewspapers.org |publisher=The Rocky Mountain News (Daily) |via=Colorado Historic Newspapers Collection}}</ref>

{|class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
|+Entrants<ref name=SCEN-19270803/> and starting draw<ref name=SCEN-19270809/><ref name=GAS-58/>{{rp|183–184}}
|-
! colspan="5" |Entrant!! colspan=2 | Starting Position
|-
!Aircraft name!! Pilot !! Navigator !! From 
! Notes(Aircraft type) !! Drawn !! [[San Francisco International Airport|Mills]] / [[Oakland International Airport|Oakland]]
|-
|''Woolaroc''
| colspan=2 data-sort-value="Goebel" | Arthur C. Goebel
| Santa Monica, CA
|[[Travel Air 5000]] ''NX869''
! 9
| M&nbsp;(1)
|-
|''Pabco Flyer''
| colspan=2 data-sort-value="Irving" | Maj. Livingston Irving
| Berkeley, CA
| [[Breese-Wilde Model 5]]
! 7
| O&nbsp;(7)
|-
|''Miss Doran'' 
| data-sort-value="Pedlar" | John Augie Pedlar<br/>(w/ Miss [[Mildred Doran]])
| data-sort-value="Lawing" | Manley R. Lawing
| Flint, MI
| [[Buhl Airsedan]] ''NX2915''
! 4
| O&nbsp;(4)
|-
|''Wanda''
| colspan=2 data-sort-value="Giles" | Frederick A. Giles
| Detroit, MI
| [[Hess Blue Bird]] ''NX1445''
! 6
| O&nbsp;(6)
|-
|''City of Peoria'' 
| colspan=2 data-sort-value="Parkhurst" | Charles W. Parkhurst
| Lomax, IL
| Air King Biplane ''NX3070''
! 3
| O&nbsp;(3)
|-
|''El Encanto''
| data-sort-value="Goddard" | Lt. N. A. Goddard
| data-sort-value="Hawkins" | Lt. K. C. Hawkins
| San Diego, CA
| Goddard Special, ''NX5074''
! 2
| O&nbsp;(2)
|-
|''Angel of Los Angeles''
| data-sort-value="Rogers" | Arthur Vickers Rogers
| data-sort-value="Bryant" | Leland A. Bryant
| Los Angeles, CA
|Bryant Monoplane ''X705''
! 14
| O&nbsp;(11)
|-
|''Golden Eagle''
| data-sort-value="Frost" | John W. Frost
| data-sort-value="Hawkins" | Gordon Scott
| San Francisco, CA
| [[Lockheed Vega]] ''NX913''
! 15
| M&nbsp;(2)
|-
|''Oklahoma''
| data-sort-value="Griffin" | [[Bennett Griffin]]
| data-sort-value="Hawkins" | Al Henley
| Bartlesville, OK
| [[Travel Air 5000]] ''NX811''
! 1
| O&nbsp;(1)
|-
|unnamed
| colspan=2 data-sort-value="Fowler" | Robert C. Fowler
| San Francisco, CA
|
! 10
| —
|-
|''Pride of Los Angeles''
| data-sort-value="Giffin" | Capt. J. L. Giffin
| data-sort-value="Lundgren" | Theodore Lundgren
| Long Beach, CA
| [[Catron & Fisk CF-10|International CF-10 Triplane]],
! 8
| O&nbsp;(8)
|-
|''Dallas Spirit'' 
| colspan=2 data-sort-value="Erwin" | Capt. William P. & Mrs. Constance O. Erwin<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 9, 1927 |title=One of Dole Race Plane Mechanics Is Ex-Denver Girl |url=https://www.coloradohistoricnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=RMD19270809-01.2.68&srpos=7&e=-------en-20--1--img-txIN%7CtxCO%7CtxTA-%22Dole+Air+Derby%22-------0------ |access-date=2024-11-26 |website=www.coloradohistoricnewspapers.org |publisher=The Rocky Mountain News (Daily) |via=Colorado Historic Newspapers Collection}}</ref>
| Dallas, TX
|
! 5
| O&nbsp;(5)
|-
|''Miss Hollydale''
| colspan=2 data-sort-value="Clarke" | [[Frank Clarke (pilot)|Frank L. Clarke]]
| Hollywood, CA
| [[International F-18 Air-Coach]] ''912'' or ''NX912''
! 12
| M&nbsp;(10)
|-
|''Spirit of John Rodgers'' 
| colspan=2 data-sort-value="Covell" | George D. Covell
| San Diego, CA
|Pacific Aircraft Company J-30
(Tremaine Humming Bird)
! 13
| —
|-
|''Aloha''
| colspan=2 data-sort-value="Jensen" | Martin Jensen
| Honolulu, HI
|[[Breese-Wilde Model 5]]
! 11
| —
|-
|Unknown
| colspan=2 data-sort-value="Horseley" | Robert Horseley
| Sarasota, FL
|unofficial
! —
| —
|-
|Unknown
| colspan=2 data-sort-value="Usborne" | Maj. C. Usborne
| Vancouver, BC
|unofficial
! —
| —
|-
|Unknown
| colspan=2 data-sort-value="Vance" | Claire Vance
| San Francisco, CA
|unofficial
! —
| —
|}

Contestants were to present the aircraft and pilots by Monday, August 8 in San Francisco, so the Bay Area chapter of the National Aeronautic Association could check their certificates and licenses as a final qualification. Once their papers were checked, the contestants would again draw for starting positions.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SRPD19270805.1.1 |title=Oklahoma Flyers Speeding Towards S.F. Forced Down |agency=AP |date=August 5, 1927 |newspaper=Press Democrat |access-date=5 March 2020}}</ref>

==Race preparations==
===Trouble and confidence before the race===
Before the race started, many of the aircraft had mechanical issues during test flights and while traveling to San Francisco to meet the final qualification deadline. ''Pabco Flyer'' (Irving) broke a fuel line while conducting a test flight on August 5 from San Francisco to San Diego,<ref name=CC-19270805/> and was forced down in a cow pasture near Point Sur, approximately {{convert|40|mi}} south of [[Monterey, California|Monterey]].<ref name=GAS-58/>{{rp|181}}&nbsp;<ref name=HT-19270805/> ''Golden Eagle'' (Frost/Scott) hit a gopher hole on the runway while taking off from San Diego and wrecked the landing gear and propeller.<ref name=GAS-58/>{{rp|182}} ''City of Peoria'' (Parkhurst/Lowes) was delayed by sandflies, and ''Bluebird'' (Giles) was stuck at Detroit with engine issues.<ref name=GAS-58/>{{rp|182}}&nbsp;<ref name=CC-19270812/>

''Oklahoma'' (Griffin/Henley) took off on August 4 for an intended nonstop flight from [[Bartlesville, Oklahoma|Bartlesville]] to San Francisco,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=HT19270804.2.14 |title=Long Trip Starts |agency=AP |date=August 4, 1927 |newspaper=Healdsburg Tribune |access-date=3 March 2020}}</ref> but was forced down near [[Amboy, California|Amboy]] by a broken exhaust pipe;<ref name=GAS-58/>{{rp|181}} after effecting repairs, ''Oklahoma'' took off again at approximately 7&nbsp;am on August 5, but the aircraft came down again {{convert|7|mi}} outside of Los Angeles due to heavy fog.<ref name=HT-19270805>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=HT19270805.2.2 |title=Misfortune Rides with Three Dole Flight Entrants |agency=United Press |date=August 5, 1927 |newspaper=Healdsburg Tribune |access-date=3 March 2020}}</ref> 

''Spirit of John Rodgers'' (Covell/Waggener) was also forced down twice during a flight from [[Brea, California|Brea]] to [[San Diego]]: first near [[Santa Ana, California|Santa Ana]] by fog during a test flight on August 5;<ref name=GAS-58/>{{rp|181–182}}&nbsp;<ref name=HT-19270805/> then again after an oil feed line broke on August 6, forcing the plane down at [[Escondido, California|Escondido]]. The Tremaine Humming Bird [[monoplane]], which was designed and built by Fred Thaheld<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=August 11, 1927 |title=NAVY FLIERS IN DOLE AIR DERBY FALL TO DEATH |url=https://www.coloradohistoricnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=RMD19270811-01.2.2&srpos=11&e=-------en-20--1--img-txIN%7CtxCO%7CtxTA-%22Dole+Air+Derby%22-------0------ |access-date=2024-11-26 |website=www.coloradohistoricnewspapers.org |publisher=The Rocky Mountain News (Daily) |via=Colorado Historic Newspapers Collection}}</ref> and William D. Tremaine, had a wingspan of {{convert|47|ft|6|in}} and a low wing configuration, unusual for the time.<ref name=SCEN-19270810>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SCEN19270810.1.1 |title=Two Dole Race Entrants Killed: Plane Crashes into Point Loma When on the Way North |agency=AP |date=August 10, 1927 |newspaper=Santa Cruz Evening News |access-date=3 March 2020}}</ref> 

[[File:Dole Air Race Buhl CA-5 Air Sedan NX2915 Miss Doran.jpg|thumb|right|upright|[[Mildred Doran]] and the ''Miss Doran'']]
Meanwhile, [[Mildred Doran]], Auggy Pedlar, and navigator Manley Lawing were flying into Oakland on August 6 when their aircraft developed engine trouble due to fouled spark plugs. They successfully landed near [[Mendota, California|Mendota]] in a wheat field in the [[San Joaquin Valley]], but damaged the landing gear in the process and had trouble making repairs because they no longer had any tools. Doran went to [[Modesto, California]] to secure tools and a mechanic;<ref name=HT-19270806>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=HT19270806.2.3 |title=Honolulu Fliers Have Hard Time Staying in Air |agency=United Press |date=August 6, 1927 |newspaper=Healdsburg Tribune |access-date=3 March 2020}}</ref> she quipped "We threw [the tools] off at Long Beach because they were in the way and cluttering things up."<ref name=Conant/><ref name=GAS-58/>{{rp|182}} Lawing, chief aerographer and meteorologist at [[Naval Air Station North Island]],<ref name=CC-19270805/> was later replaced by Vilas R. Knope when Lawing could not satisfy the race committee of his navigational skills.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=HT19270812.2.11 |title=Miss Doran Has New Navigator |date=August 12, 1927 |newspaper=Healdsburg Tribune |access-date=29 February 2020}}</ref> He reportedly got lost over Oakland.

James L. Giffin announced he needed US$15,000 to complete a giant triplane under construction in July 1927; at the time, he was planning to fly it from Los Angeles to Tokyo via Hawaii.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SPNP19270714.2.38 |title=Lack of Funds May Postpone Hawaii Flight |agency=United Press |date=July 14, 1927 |newspaper=San Pedro News-Pilot |access-date=3 March 2020}}</ref> The motors of the triplane, by then named ''Pride of Los Angeles'', were installed in early August.<ref name=CC-19270805/> After a short test flight on August 10, Giffin confidently predicted they would rest upon arrival in Honolulu, then continue to Australia nonstop, a distance of {{convert|4100|mi}}. Giffin's intended final destination was Paris, a flight of 30 days in total via Borneo, India, Constantinople, and Rome.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SCEN19270810.1.1 |title=Giant Plane Performs in Good Shape |agency=AP |date=August 10, 1927 |newspaper=Santa Cruz Evening News |access-date=3 March 2020}}</ref>

Frank Clarke's biplane ''Miss Hollydale'' completed a roundtrip test flight from Los Angeles to San Diego without incident on August 4.<ref name=CC-19270805/> Captain and Mrs. Erwin announced they would be departing Dallas in the ''Dallas Spirit'' for Oakland on August 6 or 7, planning to continue around the world via Tokyo after the race to Hawaii.<ref name=CC-19270805/>

Goddard had already built and tested ''El Encanto'' and anticipated it would reach speeds of {{convert|120|mph|abbr=on}} at takeoff, speeding up to {{convert|140|mph|abbr=on}} when nearing Honolulu as fuel was consumed, lightening the aircraft. ''El Encanto'' means "The Enchanted" and was designed by Goddard after the streamlining of a salmon.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=CC19270812.2.35 |title=Plane Resembles Salmon: Navy Flyers Design Unique Airshop to Race for Dole Prize |agency=Central Press Dispatch |date=August 12, 1927 |newspaper=Calexico Chronicle |access-date=3 March 2020}}</ref>

''Woolaroc'', piloted by Goebel, was originally intended to fly solo,<ref name=CC-19270805/> but later decided to have Lieutenant W. J. Slattery navigate;<ref name=CC-19270812/> for the flight to Hawaii, Lt. William V. Davis navigated for ''Woolaroc''. Goebel departed from Bartlesville on a nonstop flight to San Francisco on August 6.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SPDN19270806.2.5 |title=Stunt Flier Hops off to Compete for Prize |agency=AP |date=August 6, 1927 |newspaper=San Pedro Daily News |access-date=3 March 2020}}</ref> In test flights before the race, Goebel's ''Woolaroc'' encountered gear issues that required Goebel to hang outside the plane to fix.

Martin Jensen and Robert Fowler competed over the purchase rights for the same [[Breese-Wilde Model 5]]; Jensen won that race after his wife Margaret raised US$15,000 from local backers in Honolulu, and Jensen took delivery of ''Aloha'' on August 8.<ref name=GAS-58/>{{rp|178}} Fowler, left without an airplane for the contest, was forced to withdraw.<ref name=GAS-58/>{{rp|183;185}} Because ''Aloha'' was only completed when the race was nearly about to begin, the preparations for the contest were rushed; the fuel tanks on ''Aloha'' only held {{convert|130|USgal|L}} and the original plan was to add sufficient spare fuel capacity via forty-nine portable {{convert|5|USgal|L|adj=on|abbr=on}} containers,<ref name=CC-19270812/><ref name=PD-19270809>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SRPD19270809.1.1 |title=Oklahoma Flyer to be First in Hop for Honolulu: 15 Airmen Ready for Air Derby |agency=AP |date=August 9, 1927 |newspaper=Press Democrat |access-date=3 March 2020}}</ref> requiring the navigator to fill the central tank, then transfer fuel to the {{convert|50|USgal|L|adj=on|abbr=on}} tank in use via a hand pump; the plane was later retrofitted with a {{convert|405|USgal|L|adj=on|abbr=on}} tank, obviating the need for the complicated refueling plan, which would have required the passing of written messages between the two men.<ref name=Horvat-66/>{{rp|84}}

===Three days: three crashes, three dead===
{{multiple image |direction=horizontal |align=right |total_width=500
 |image1=Dole Air Race Tremaine Humming Bird - Waggener & Covell (2).jpg
 |caption1=Covell & Waggener, ''Spirit of John Rodgers'' [crashed Aug 10, both killed]

|image2=Dole Air Race - Pride of Los Angeles.jpg
 |caption2=''Pride of Los Angeles'' in [[San Francisco Bay]] [crashed Aug 11; three survived]

|image3=Dole Air Race - Rogers & Bryant, Angel of Los Angeles.jpg
 |caption3=Rogers & Bryant, ''Angel of LA'' [Aug 12, Rogers]

|header=Three crashes in the three days (Aug 10–12, 1927) leading up to the start of the race}}
Two days after they drew the thirteenth position, on August 10 [[United States Navy]] Lieutenants George W. D. Covell and R. S. Waggener took off from [[San Diego, California]] in their Tremaine Humming Bird named ''Spirit of John Rodgers'' to fly to Oakland; after flying into a fog bank, the aircraft crashed into an ocean cliff at [[Point Loma]], killing both men.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SPNP19270810.2.49 |title=Hawaii Flight Plane No. 13 Crashes, Three Navy Men Killed |agency=United Press |date=August 10, 1927 |newspaper=San Pedro News-Pilot |access-date=29 February 2020}}</ref><ref name="aerofiles Ti">
{{cite web
 | title= American airplanes: ti – ty
 | publisher= Aerofiles.com
 | date= 2009-05-02
 | url= http://aerofiles.com/_ti.html
 | access-date= 2011-04-28
}}
</ref> The night before, mechanics were working on the plane's fuel system and counselled the aviators to delay their start to test the plane's systems thoroughly.<ref name=":0" /> Lt. Leo Pawlikowski was the navigator originally announced;<ref name=CC-19270805/> Pawlikowski had developed an abscess on his back which required surgery, and the doctors would not allow him to participate, so he was replaced with Waggener.<ref name=GAS-58/>{{rp|179–180}} William Davis, a Navy lieutenant who would serve as the navigator for Art Goebel on ''Woolaroc'', was granted leave to participate in the race; he had planned to catch a ride with Covell and Waggener to San Francisco, but the leave was not granted in time, and he took a train from San Diego instead.<ref name=Horvat-66/>{{rp|83}}

Then, on 11 August, as J. L. Giffin and Theodore S. Lundgren approached Oakland, their aircraft, a converted [[Catron & Fisk CF-10]] triplane airline named the ''Pride of Los Angeles'' sponsored by the film actor [[Hoot Gibson]] and five businessmen, crashed into [[San Francisco Bay]], but the two men and their passenger, Laurence Willes, were able to escape and swim to shore.<ref name=SPNP-19270811>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SPNP19270811.2.20 |title=Three Escape Death as Big Ship Crashes: 'Pride of L.A.' Total Wreck on Eve of Honolulu Hop |agency=United Press |date=August 11, 1927 |newspaper=San Pedro News-Pilot |access-date=1 March 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SCEN19270811.1.1 |title=Long Beach Plane Falls into the Bay |agency=AP |date=August 11, 1927 |newspaper=Santa Cruz Evening News |access-date=1 March 2020}}</ref>

The next day, British ace Arthur V. Rogers took off for a test flight on August 12 in the twin-engine ''Angel of Los Angeles'' at [[Western Air Express Field]] at [[Montebello, California]], the aircraft reached an altitude of {{convert|200|ft}} and began acting "queer";<ref>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SPNP19270812.2.18 |title=Victim's Wife Is Witness of Tragic Crash |agency=United Press |date=August 12, 1927 |newspaper=San Pedro News-Pilot |access-date=29 February 2020}}</ref> Rogers jumped out of the plane as it suddenly dived towards the ground, but died as either his foot or parachute snagged on the aircraft as it crashed.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SPDN19270812.2.22 |title=Second Dole 'Plane Crashes; Pilot Dies |agency=AP |date=August 12, 1927 |newspaper=San Pedro Daily News |access-date=29 February 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=HT19270813.2.51 |title=Freak Construction Fatal to Rodgers |agency=United Press |date=August 13, 1927 |newspaper=Healdsburg Tribune |access-date=29 February 2020}}</ref><ref>
{{cite news
 | newspaper= The New York Times
 | date= 12 August 1927
 | title= Third Dole flier Killed in crash at Los Angeles
 | quote=<!--  Accident to Capt. A. V. Rogers Makes Three Planes Wrecked Among Entrants. HIS WIFE SEES THE TRAGEDY Parachute Leap Apparently Failed After Plane Nose Dived at 150 Feet. NINE REMAIN IN THE RACE They Seem Thankful for Their Decision to Put Start Off Until Tuesday. -->
}}
</ref> Leland A. Bryant, the designer of the aircraft, was to have served as Rogers's navigator, but was not on board during the test flight.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=CC19270822.2.28 |title=Race Entry Killed on Plane's First Flight |date=August 22, 1927 |newspaper=Calexico Chronicle |access-date=29 February 2020}}</ref>

===Withdrawals and disqualifications===
Maj. Livingston Irving was the first pilot to qualify for the contest.<ref name=HT-19270806/> During the pre-race inspections, Major Clarence Young declared that up to ten of the fifteen entries may be disqualified for inadequate fuel capacity; the rule stated that a single-engine aircraft was required to carry {{convert|460|USgal|L}} of fuel, a nominal capacity of {{convert|400|USgal|L}} plus a 15% reserve.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=MT19270808.2.17 |title=May Disqualify Ten Dole Pilots |agency=United Press |date=August 8, 1927 |newspaper=Madera Tribune |access-date=3 March 2020}}</ref> Another rule was interpreted to require pilots to hold a license from the Department of Commerce, which five pilots (not named) did not have.<ref name=PD-19270809/>

{{quotebox |text=Arose a horde of pompous men to boss the job, as you may ken; made sets of rules to puzzle, fool, as though the racers saw no school; they plotted charts, allotted starts, ruled on gas tanks, criticized parts, befuzzled everything worse 'n tarts till they wracked people's nerves, upset hearts — pray tell me why. |author=&nbsp;—&nbsp;[[Frank Phillips (oil industrialist)|Frank L. Phillips]], race team sponsor |source="Pray Tell Me Why?", ''Healdsburg Tribune'' (August 12, 1927)<ref>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=HT19270813.2.31 |title=Pray Tell Me Why? |author=Phillips, Frank L. |author-link=Frank Phillips (oil industrialist) |date=August 12, 1927 |newspaper=Healdsburg Tribune |access-date=3 March 2020}}</ref> |width=20em}}
The race, originally scheduled to start on August 12, was postponed on August 11, in light of the numerous mechanical issues, failed qualification tests, and poor weather.<ref name=GAS-58/>{{rp|184}} The Aeronautics Division of the [[United States Department of Commerce|Commerce Department]] (the forerunner to today's [[Federal Aviation Administration]]) felt the planned race was unsafe and supported a two-week delay; other changes urged by the Aeronautics Division included switching the route to fly an equivalent distance over land (for instance, a nonstop flight across the continental United States) or changing the direction to fly from Hawaii to California, as the consequences of a navigation error would be less dire.<ref name=USAS-1927>{{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NY8jAQAAMAAJ&pg=RA8-PA26 |title=The Winners and Losers in the Race to Hawaii |date=September 1927 |magazine=U. S. Air Services |pages=26–27 |publisher=Air Service Publishing Co., Inc. |location=Washington DC |volume=XII |number=9 |access-date=5 March 2020}}</ref> Several contestants protested the delay, and the Honolulu chapter of the National Aeronautic Association refused to endorse the recommendation of the Oakland chapter to postpone, meaning the race would proceed.<ref name=SCEN-19270811>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SCEN19270811.1.1 |title=Island Committee Refuses to Postpone Tomorrow's Flight |agency=AP |date=August 11, 1927 |newspaper=Santa Cruz Evening News |access-date=1 March 2020}}</ref> However, nine of the contestants agreed to postpone the contest late in the evening of August 11, which would give the teams time to rest and pass the stringent qualification tests; the deadline to qualify was extended to 10&nbsp;AM on August 15.<ref name=CC-19270812/> The National Aeronautic Association disqualified Constance O. Erwin, wife of Captain William P. Erwin of the ''Dallas Spirit'' from participating due to her age. Erwin's disqualification left 22-year-old Mildred Doran as the only female participant to take part in the race.<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 12, 1927 |title='WE'LL MAKE IT, EVEN IF WE HAVE TO PUSH,' SAYS WOMAN AVIATOR |url=https://www.coloradohistoricnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=RMD19270812-01.2.18&srpos=26&e=-------en-20--21--img-txIN%7CtxCO%7CtxTA-%22Dole+Air%22-------0------ |access-date=2024-11-26 |website=www.coloradohistoricnewspapers.org |publisher=The Rocky Mountain News (Daily) |via=Colorado Historic Newspapers Collection}}</ref>

A three-part qualification test was administered to the navigators by Naval Lieutenant Ben H. Wyatt, consisting of a written, oral, and flying examination. For the flight exam, the pilot and navigator were sent over a predetermined course and upon their return, quizzed to determine which points they had passed. By August 11, none of the crews had passed the test. Pedlar's ''Miss Doran'' was found to have inaccurate compasses.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=CC19270811.2.2 |title=Hawaiian Race Postponed Two Weeks: Lieut. Wyatt Says Pilots Not Ready |agency=Associated Press |date=August 11, 1927 |newspaper=Calexico Chronicle |access-date=3 March 2020}}</ref> Later, it was noted that only two teams had qualified (''El Encanto'' and ''Golden Eagle''), with one more likely to qualify (''Oklahoma'') by the original date of Friday, August 12.<ref name=CC-19270812>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=CC19270812.2.23 |title=Pacific Race Will Start Tuesday |date=August 12, 1927 |newspaper=Calexico Chronicle |access-date=3 March 2020}}</ref> On August 12, four crews had passed: ''Oklahoma'' (Griffin/Henley), ''El Encanto'' (Goddard/Hawkins), ''Pabco Pacific Flyer'' (Irving), and ''Golden Eagle'' (Frost/Scott).<ref>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SPNP19270812.2.6 |title=Late News Bulletins: Airmen Qualify |agency=United Press |date=August 12, 1927 |newspaper=San Pedro News-Pilot |access-date=3 March 2020}}</ref> ''Miss Doran'' (Pedlar/Knope) passed with a new navigator on August 13.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=HT19270813.2.50 |title=Plane Miss Doran Qualifies Today |agency=United Press |date=August 13, 1927 |newspaper=Healdsburg Tribune |access-date=3 March 2020}}</ref> By the qualification deadline of August 15, nine crews had passed the tests;<ref name=HT-19270815/> ''Dallas Spirit'' was the final qualifier.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SPDN19270815.2.9 |title=Planes Ready for Dash to Ohau [sic] Island |agency=AP |date=August 15, 1927 |newspaper=San Pedro Daily News |access-date=3 March 2020}}</ref>

On August 10, Hollywood pilot and actor Frank Clarke either withdrew or was disqualified from participating in the race with his navigator, Jeff Warren, in ''Miss Hollydale'', an [[International Sportsman|International F-17 biplane]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=HT19270810.2.3 |title=Withdraws from Race |date=August 10, 1927 |newspaper=Healdsburg Tribune |access-date=2 March 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=CC19271112.2.17 |title='Movie' Party Arrives Here for Location |date=November 12, 1927 |newspaper=Calexico Chronicle |access-date=2 March 2020}}</ref> Clarke announced he would attempt the world endurance record instead and took off abruptly on August 13 with his sponsor, Charley H. Babb, leaving the other contestants fuming.<ref name=SPNP-19270813/> One day later, Clarke sent a telegram to the race sponsors from Los Angeles, apologizing for the furor and officially withdrawing from the race.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://collections.museumca.org/?q=collection-item/h9611932 |title=Inc. Pacific & Atlantic Photos |date=August 13, 1927 |website=Oakland Museum of California |access-date=2 March 2020}}</ref>

On August 15, Frederick Giles was disqualified as he had not arrived in time to meet the navigation qualification test deadline.<ref name=HT-19270815/> Giles would go on to attempt a solo flight from San Francisco to Honolulu in November as the first leg of a planned flight to Australia.<ref name=SPNP-19271122/> A missing component on a spare compass for ''Miss Doran'' sparked fears of vandalism the night before the flight,<ref>
{{cite news
 | newspaper= The Washington Post
 | title= DOLE PRIZE FLIERS GUARD THEIR AEROS AS TAKE-OFF NEARS
 | quote= Missing Compass Causes Talk of Vandalism in Tense Camp. KING OF AIR UNABLE TO PASS FULL TESTS Eight Machines Qualify to Fly Over the Pacific at Noon Today. DOLE PRIZE AIRMEN GUARD THEIR PLANES
 | date= 16 August 1927
}}
</ref> and competitors vowed to protect their aircraft with shotguns overnight. Pedlar later stated the missing magnet was probably an oversight by the maintenance crew.<ref name=SBS-19270816>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SBS19270816.1.1 |title=Nine Planes at Oakland Ready for Take-off Today on First Air Race: Winner Will Land $25,000 Prize Award |agency=Associated Press |date=August 16, 1927 |newspaper=San Bernardino Sun |access-date=9 March 2020}}</ref>

The ''Air King'' (formerly ''City of Peoria''), flown by Charles Parkhurst and Ralph C. Lowes Jr., was disqualified at 11:15&nbsp;AM on the 16th, less than an hour before the first plane would start, because its {{convert|370|USgal|adj=on}} tanks were estimated to give the plane a range {{convert|300|mi}} short by inspectors.<ref name=SPDN-19270816>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SPDN19270816.2.20 |title=5 Mechanical Birds Winging Toward Honolulu and Big $35,000 Prize; Much Trouble |agency=AP |date=August 16, 1927 |newspaper=San Pedro Daily News |access-date=3 March 2020}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=August 17, 1927 |title=ROW BETWEEN OFFICIALS AND FLIERS PRECEDES RACE START |url=https://www.coloradohistoricnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=RMD19270817-01.2.29&srpos=13&e=-------en-20--1--img-txIN%7CtxCO%7CtxTA-%22Dole+Air+Derby%22-------0------ |access-date=2024-11-26 |website=www.coloradohistoricnewspapers.org |publisher=The Rocky Mountain News (Daily) |via=Colorado Historic Newspapers Collection}}</ref> A test was held at sundown on August 15 to quantify fuel consumption; it was determined the aircraft would consume {{convert|13|USgal/hour|L/min}} when cruising at {{convert|90|mph|km/hour|abbr=on}}.<ref name=SBS-19270816/>

==The Dole Derby==
===Final participants===
[[File:Dole Air Race - 8091692321.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.5|Entrants lined up to take off from Oakland on August 16, 1927. ''Oklahoma'' is at the start of the runway. From left to right the others are: ''Aloha'', ''Dallas Spirit'', ''Miss Doran'', ''Woolaroc'', ''El Encanto'', ''Golden Eagle'', ''City of Peoria'', and ''Pabco Pacific Flyer'']]
The race began on 16 August, by which time the starting line-up had dwindled to nine aircraft, with one of the nine disqualified just before the start of the race. In order of start, they were:<ref name=HT-19270815/><ref name=DoleProgram/>
# ''Oklahoma'', one of two modified [[Travel Air 5000]] aircraft, ''NX911'', piloted by [[Bennett Griffin]] and navigated by Al Henley<ref name="Ed Phillips"/>
# ''El Encanto'', a Goddard Special metal monoplane, ''NX5074'', flown by Norman A. Goddard and Kenneth C. Hawkins, which was heavily favored in the pre-race odds
# ''Pabco Pacific Flyer'', a [[Breese-Wilde Model 5|Breese-Wilde Monoplane]], ''NX646'', flown alone by Livingston Gilson Irving
# ''Golden Eagle'', the prototype [[Lockheed Vega|Lockheed Vega 1]] [[monoplane]], ''NX913'', flown by Jack Frost and navigated by Gordon Scott
# ''Miss Doran'', a [[Buhl Airsedan|Buhl CA-5 Air Sedan]], ''NX2915'', flown by Auggy Pedlar, navigated by Vilas R. Knope, and carrying [[Mildred Doran]]
# '''DQ''' ''City of Peoria'', an Air King biplane, ''NX3070'', flown by Charles Parkhurst and navigated by Ralph Lowes, disqualified the day of the hop-off for inadequate fuel capacity<ref name=SBS-19270816/>
# ''Aloha'', a yellow [[Breese-Wilde Model 5|Breese-Wilde 5 Monoplane]], ''NX914'', flown by Martin Jensen and navigated by Paul Schluter
# ''Woolaroc'', a [[Travel Air 5000]] sister ship of ''Oklahoma'', ''NX869'', flown by Arthur C. Goebel and navigated by [[William V. Davis]]<ref name="Ed Phillips">{{cite journal |journal=AAHS Journal |date=Spring 1985 |title=Woolaroc! |author=Phillips, Ed |url=https://www.aahs-online.org/tocb.php?year=1985 |volume=30 |pages=24–35 |publisher=American Aviation Historical Society}}</ref>
# ''[[Dallas Spirit]]'', a [[Swallow Monoplane]], ''NX941'', flown by [[William Portwood Erwin]] and navigated by Alvin Hanford Eichwaldt<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 12, 1927 |title=Dole Air Derby is Delayed When Pilots Fail to Pass Official Navigation Tests |url=https://www.coloradohistoricnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=RMD19270812-01.1.2&e=-------en-20--1--img-txIN%7CtxCO%7CtxTA--------0------ |access-date=2024-11-26 |website=www.coloradohistoricnewspapers.org |publisher=The Rocky Mountain News (Daily) |via=Colorado Historic Newspapers Collection}}</ref>

===Oakland start===
[[File:Dole Air Race NX5074 "El Encanto" Goddard Special (3).jpg|thumb|right|''El Encanto'' (NX5074) after takeoff and crash]]
The fifteen competitors were seen off by a crowd estimated to include 75,000 to 100,000 persons on August 16, 1927. Weather was predicted to have a high fog on takeoff (extending from approximately {{convert|50|to|100|mi}} offshore) and intermittent, localized showers along the route.<ref name=SBS-19270816-1/> A fog bank started at the Golden Gate and the entire route was overcast.<ref name=HT-19270818>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=HT19270818.2.8 |title=Two Dole Planes Are Still Missing: Erwin and Parkhurst Prepare Planes to Join Search over the Pacific |agency=United Press |date=August 18, 1927 |newspaper=Healdsburg Tribune |access-date=1 March 2020}}</ref> At Oakland Municipal Airport, clearance to depart was not granted until just before noon; the fog that had lain over the airport did not lift until 10:40&nbsp;AM.<ref name=GAS-58/>{{rp|187}}

The initial takeoffs were plagued with trouble, as several of the heavily-laden aircraft struggled to take off. ''Oklahoma'' took off first, just after 12&nbsp;PM.<ref name=GAS-58/>{{rp|187}}&nbsp;<ref name=HT-19270816>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=HT19270816.2.2 |title=Three Planes 150 Miles out at 2&nbsp;P.M. |date=August 16, 1927 |newspaper=Healdsburg Tribune |access-date=3 March 2020}}</ref> The crew would eventually abort the flight over San Francisco with an overheating engine.<ref name="Ed Phillips"/> She was followed by ''El Encanto'' at 12:02&nbsp;PM,<ref name=HT-19270816/> which failed to clear the runway before she swerved and crashed, smashing the port wing {{convert|4800|ft}} from the starting line.<ref name=GAS-58/>{{rp|187}} ''Pabco Flyer'', starting at 12:09&nbsp;PM,<ref name=HT-19270816/> lifted momentarily into the air, then crashed some {{convert|7000|ft}} from the start.<ref name=GAS-58/>{{rp|187}} Their crews were not hurt. 

The last five planes successfully departed. ''Golden Eagle'' took off smoothly at 12:30&nbsp;PM and flew out of sight.<ref name=HT-19270816/><ref name=":1" /> ''Miss Doran'' succeeded in taking off at 12:31&nbsp;PM.<ref name=HT-19270816/> The final three, ''Aloha'' (at 12:33&nbsp;PM), ''Woolaroc'' (12:34&nbsp;PM), and ''Dallas Spirit'' (12:36&nbsp;PM) all left uneventfully.<ref name=HT-19270816/>

''Oklahoma'' passed through the Golden Gate at 12:20&nbsp;PM, followed by ''Aloha'' at 12:48.<ref name=SPDN-19270816/> Aircraft then began to return: ''Miss Doran'' circled back and landed approximately ten minutes after departing (12:43&nbsp;PM),<ref name=HT-19270816/><ref name=AD-1927>{{cite magazine |url=https://archive.org/details/aerodigest1119unse/page/250/mode/2up/ |title=The Dole Pacific Race |date=September 1927 |magazine=Aero Digest |pages=250–255;366 |publisher=The Aeronautical Digest Publishing Corp. |volume=11 |number=3}}</ref>{{rp|252}} its engine "sputtering like a Tin Lizzie."<ref name=GAS-58/>{{rp|187}}&nbsp;<ref name=smith>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.airspacemag.com/history-of-flight/above-and-beyond-aunt-mildred-79371463/ |title=Above & Beyond: Aunt Mildred |first=Richard A. |last=Durose |magazine=[[Air & Space/Smithsonian]] |date=March 2011}}</ref> ''Oklahoma'' returned to Oakland and ''Dallas Spirit'' also turned back, both returning at approximately 1:08&nbsp;PM;<ref name=SPDN-19270816/> ''Oklahoma'' had ripped the fabric covering the fuselage, and ''Dallas Spirit'' was having issues with its tail gear.<ref name=GAS-58/>{{rp|188}}&nbsp;<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Washington Post|title=THWARTED DOLE RACER PLANS FLIGHT TO TOKYO: Pilot of Dallas Spirit, Disabled by Wind, Repairs Plane for New Start West. WEATHER DICTATES MOVE|date=18 August 1927|page=3}}</ref> 

{|class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible collapsed floatright" style="font-size:90%;text-align:center;width:20em;"
|+ Ships stationed along the route<ref name=Horvat-66/>{{rp|78}}
|-
! Ship !! Distance !! From
|-
! {{ship|SS|Wilhelmina}}
| {{convert|1400|mi|abbr=on|disp=br}} || Honolulu
|-
! {{ship|SS|City of Los Angeles|1922|6}}
| {{convert|800|mi|abbr=on|disp=br}} || Los Angeles
|-
! {{ship|SS|Manukai}}
| {{convert|950|mi|abbr=on|disp=br}} || San Francisco
|-
! {{ship|SS|President Harrison}}
| {{convert|800|mi|abbr=on|disp=br}} || San Francisco
|-
! {{ship|SS|Manulani}}
| {{convert|1160|mi|abbr=on|disp=br}} || Maui
|-
! {{ship|SS|Inora}}
| {{convert|800|mi|abbr=on|disp=br}} || Honolulu
|-
! {{ship|SS|Manoa}}
| {{convert|1820|mi|abbr=on|disp=br}} || San Francisco
|}
''Miss Doran'' and ''Pabco Flyer'' would make second starting attempts; ''Pabco Flyer'' crashed a second time at 1&nbsp;PM,<ref name=HT-19270816/> putting her out of the race for good, but ''Miss Doran'' succeeded and took off again at 2:03&nbsp;PM.<ref name=GAS-58/>{{rp|188}}&nbsp;<ref name=HT-19270816/><ref name=AD-1927/>{{rp|252}} Of the fifteen teams that participated in the draw, just four were on the course: ''Golden Eagle'', ''Aloha'', ''Woolaroc'', and ''Miss Doran''.

A series of ships were strung out along the route from San Francisco to Honolulu to transmit radio signals (allowing radio-equipped airplanes to take bearings), mark distances, and provide emergency aid if needed.<ref name=SBS-19270816-1>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SBS19270816.1.3 |title=Favorable Weather Conditions Announced on Eve of Air Race to Hawaii: Fox Expected to Become No Great Barrier |agency=Associated Press |date=August 16, 1927 |newspaper=San Bernardino Sun |access-date=9 March 2020}}</ref> In addition, the Navy's sole aircraft carrier, {{ship|USS|Langley|CV-1|6}}, was put on standby in San Diego.<ref name=Horvat-66/>{{rp|78}}

===''Woolaroc'' and ''Aloha'' finish===
''Woolaroc'' flew a [[great-circle distance|great-circle route]], flying at an altitude of {{convert|4000|to|6000|ft}}, above the cloud cover. The navigator, Davis, used sextants and smoke bombs to calculate course and wind drift; although the radio beams from the picket ships stationed along the route helped guide the aircraft, Davis used it only to check the course plotted via traditional instruments. Of the four aircraft headed to Hawaii, only ''Woolaroc'' had a two-way radio capable of sending and receiving messages. In fact, Davis had packed a spare radio and repair parts based on Bronte's prior experience in July.<ref name=Horvat-66>{{cite book |url=http://aviation.hawaii.gov/publications/above-the-pacific/ |title=Above the Pacific |date=1966 |author=Horvat, William J. |publisher=Aero Publishers, Inc. |pages=59–89 |chapter=VI: All the Way & VII: Enter the Civilians}}</ref>{{rp|81}} The crew radioed Wahiawa Radio Station, next to Wheeler Field, when they were approximately {{convert|200|mi}} out with an estimated remaining time of 2{{frac|2}} hours.<ref name=Horvat-66/>{{rp|82}} They were greeted in Hawaii by a crowd estimated between 25,000 and 30,000, and escorted by a [[Boeing PW-9]] out of [[Wheeler Field]]. Goebel and Davis won the race in 26 hours, 17 minutes, earning them the US$25,000 first prize.<ref name=Horvat-66/>{{rp|82}} After their sponsors were paid, Goebel and Davis split the remainder, earning them each US$7,500.<ref name=SCEN-19270825/>

Marguerite Jensen, the wife of Martin, anxiously asked the crew of ''Woolaroc'' if they had sighted ''Aloha'', which had departed just ahead of ''Woolaroc''; they replied they had not, adding to her anxiety.<ref name=Horvat-66/>{{rp|82}} Jensen flew much of the way at a low altitude of {{convert|10|to|50|ft}} above sea level, helping fuel economy but making it impossible to sight the stars for navigation.<ref name=Horvat-66/>{{rp|84}} Three times during the flight, Jensen attempted to climb to {{convert|4000|ft}}, but went into a tailspin each time; once Jensen inadvertently commanded a shallow dive and skimmed the water with the landing gear, prompting him to rise to a safer altitude of {{convert|500|ft}}.<ref name=Horvat-66/>{{rp|86–87}} 

[[File:Dole Air Race - Goebel, Dole, Jensen.jpg|thumbnail|right|Dole (center) awards prizes to Goebel (L) and Jensen (R) on August 19]]
The next morning, at 9:30&nbsp;AM (Hawaii time) on August 17, Jensen calculated they should be close to Hawaii, based on average speed and time elapsed.<ref name=LAT-87>{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-01-04-me-2147-story.html |title=He Knows What It's Like to Meet, Beat Challenge: Pilot Among Few to Finish Deadly 1927 Race to Hawaii |author=Smollar, David |date=January 4, 1987 |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |url-access=limited |access-date=4 March 2020}}</ref> Over the next two and a half hours Schluter, the navigator, attempted to determine their position from the sun.<ref name=Horvat-66/>{{rp|87}} At noon on August 17, Schluter was able to plot their location: they were approximately {{convert|200|mi}} north of Oahu, and Jensen turned for the finish. When they landed at approximately 2:15&nbsp;PM, ''Aloha'' had only {{convert|5|USgal|L}} of fuel remaining; in order to ensure the engine never starved for fuel, the crew was required to pump the gravity-fed tank until it overflowed.<ref name=Horvat-66/>{{rp|87}}&nbsp;<ref name=LAT-87/>

''Aloha'' arrived approximately two hours after ''Woolaroc'', in 28 hours, 16 minutes, earning Jensen and Schluter the US$10,000 second prize. Out of his $10,000 winnings, pilot Jensen gave his navigator Schluter only $25.<ref>{{cite news |title=Winner of $10,000 in Dole Race Gives Only $25 to His Navigator |newspaper=Boston Daily Globe |date=August 25, 1927 |page=8}}</ref> Details of Schluter's scanty share became public after he approached friends in Hawaii to help him cash a check; Jensen stated that Schluter had taken the position for experience<ref name=SCEN-19270825>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SCEN19270825.1.7 |title=Navigator of 'Aloha' Given $25 and Fare |agency=AP |date=August 25, 1927 |newspaper=Santa Cruz Evening News |access-date=4 March 2020}}</ref> and the ''San Francisco Chronicle'' reported that Schluter had offered to pay any Dole pilot $500 to permit him to navigate.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SPDN19270826.2.78 |title=Navigator of Aloha Is Not Complaining |agency=AP |date=August 26, 1927 |newspaper=San Pedro Daily News |access-date=4 March 2020}}</ref> Wyatt singled out the crew of ''Aloha'' for praise, calling their use of [[dead reckoning]] the greatest single achievement in the history of aviation, especially in comparison to the radio-following course of ''Woolaroc'', which he called "as easy as walking down a railroad track."<ref name=SCEN-19270819>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SCEN19270819.1.7 |title=No Scientific Purpose Served by Flight; Advised Rejection of Miss Doran After First Failure |agency=Mercury-Herald |date=August 19, 1927 |newspaper=Santa Cruz Evening News |access-date=4 March 2020}}</ref>

==After the race==
===Search for ''Golden Eagle'' and ''Miss Doran''===
{{multiple image |align=right |direction=horizontal |total_width=500
 |image1=Dole Air Race NX913 "Golden Eagle" Lockheed Vega, Frost & Scott.jpg
 |caption1=''Golden Eagle'': Frost (L) & Scott (R)

 |image2=Dole Air Race - Knope, Doran, Pedler.jpg
 |caption2=''Miss Doran'': Knope, Doran, and Pedler (L–R)

 |image3=Dole Air Race NX941 "Dallas Spirit" Swallow Monoplane, Erwin & Eichwaldt.jpg
 |caption3=''Dallas Spirit'': Erwin (L) & Eichwaldt (R)

|footer=Aircraft crews that disappeared over the sea, Aug 16 & 19
}}
Neither ''Golden Eagle'' nor ''Miss Doran'' was ever seen again.<ref name=GAS-58/>{{rp|188}}&nbsp;<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The New York Times|title=FLOWERS CAST ON SEA FOR LOST DOLE FLIERS: Steamer Halts in Pacific While Tribute Is Paid to Six Men and Young Woman.|date=17 September 1927}}</ref> Dole put up a US$10,000 reward for anyone who found either plane; this was matched by each plane's sponsors, for a total of US$20,000 reward for each aircraft.<ref name=Horvat-66/>{{rp|87}}&nbsp;<ref name=HT-19270819/> Of the two, ''Golden Eagle'' had a radio capable of reception only and could use the shipboard radio signals for navigation;<ref name=Horvat-66/>{{rp|81}} ''Miss Doran'' had no radio equipment at all.<ref name=AD-1927/>{{rp|254}} The odds of survival were grim; although each plane was required to carry fresh water, food, and a life raft, these were limited in quantity and durability as seaborne assistance had been anticipated to respond quickly.<ref name=HT-19270819/><ref>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SCEN19270819.1.1 |title=This Is All They Have to Keep Alive |agency=AP |date=August 19, 1927 |newspaper=Santa Cruz Evening News |access-date=6 March 2020}}</ref> In addition, the route was experiencing rough seas and a high [[sea state]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SBS19270820.1.2 |title=Hope for Missing Dole Fliers Sinks as Storms Besiege Island Region: Mariners See Heavy Sees as Great Menace |agency=United Press |author=Ekins, H. R. |date=August 20, 1927 |newspaper=San Bernardino Sun |access-date=7 March 2020}}</ref> Unlike the unsuccessful flight of Rodgers in 1925, the two missing aircraft were not flying boats, and they were not expected to remain afloat for more than a few days.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SRPD19270819.1.1 |title=Ships Will Sink After Few Days Expert's Belief |agency=AP |date=August 19, 1927 |newspaper=Press Democrat |access-date=6 March 2020}}</ref> Both Jensen and Goebel took to the air and searched the ocean on August 18; Goebel searched near [[Kauai]] and Jensen checked the [[Molokai Channel]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SBS19270819.1.1 |title=Rumors of Finding Aviators False, Neither Ship Sighted by Searchers: offer Reward of $40,000 for Rescue of Fliers on Two Missing Dole Planes |agency=Associated Press |date=August 19, 1927 |newspaper=San Bernardino Sun |access-date=6 March 2020}}</ref>

According to Wyatt, the radial engine of ''Miss Doran'' was misfiring on four of nine cylinders when it returned to Oakland; he believed the aircraft had gone down shortly after entering the fog bank just off the Golden Gate.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=CJ19270906.2.91 |title=Miss Doran Plane Engine Defective |date=September 6, 1927 |newspaper=Coronado Eagle and Journal |access-date=3 March 2020}}</ref> ''Miss Doran'' was last sighted passing the [[Farallon Islands]] at 2:43&nbsp;PM [[Pacific Standard Time]] (PST).<ref name=AD-1927/>{{rp|252}}

''Golden Eagle'' was last reported approximately halfway to Honolulu, at the southern edge of the course with ''Aloha'' at 2&nbsp;AM PST on August 17 by {{ship|SS|City of Los Angeles|1922|6}}, relaying messages from the Army Signal Corps.<ref name=AD-1927/>{{rp|254}} At about the same time, {{ship|SS|Manulani}} relayed a message that ''Woolaroc'', possibly accompanied by ''Miss Doran'', was also approximately halfway, at the northern edge of the course.<ref name=AD-1927/>{{rp|254}} Because ''Golden Eagle'' had sufficient fuel to reach and pass Hawaii altogether, some theorized the aircraft may have overshot the goal in the darkness;<ref>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SRPD19270819.1.1 |title=Pilots Overshot Islands Is Fear of Ernie Smith |agency=AP |date=August 19, 1927 |newspaper=Press Democrat |access-date=6 March 2020}}</ref> Wyatt rejected that theory as ludicrous, as the ''Golden Eagle'' would have passed over the islands in broad daylight.<ref name=SCEN-19270819/>

42 Navy ships were involved in the search for the ''Golden Eagle'' and ''Miss Doran'', joined by smaller vessels based in Hawaii; {{ship|USS|Langley|CV-1|6}} and {{ship|USS|Aroostook|CM-3|2}} departed from San Diego the night of August 17.<ref name=SPNP-19270818>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SPNP19270818.2.27 |title=42 Navy Craft Combing Seas in Big Search |agency=United Press |date=August 18, 1927 |newspaper=San Pedro News-Pilot |access-date=4 March 2020}}</ref> The search fleet included three submarines, {{USS |R-8 |SS-85 |6}}, {{USS |S-42 |SS-153| 2}}, and {{USS |S-46 |SS-157| 2}}. By August 19, ''Langley'' had started steaming towards Hawaii at {{convert|15|kn}} from a spot {{convert|40|mi}} west of the Farallones, sweeping a lane {{convert|200|mi}} wide with its airplanes. Other surface ships that had set out from California were commanded to shift their search parallel to the Great Circle route.<ref name=HT-19270819>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=HT19270819.2.2 |title=Navy to Keep up Search for Four More Days |agency=United Press |date=August 19, 1927 |newspaper=Healdsburg Tribune |access-date=4 March 2020}}</ref> Meanwhile, three ships left Hawaii for San Francisco on August 18, sweeping the ocean in the opposite direction: {{ship|USS|S-29|SS-134|6}}, {{ship|USS|Pelican|AM-27|2}}, and {{ship|USS|Sunnadin|AT-28|2}}.<ref name=SPDN-19270818/><ref>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SCEN19270819.1.1 |title=Forty Naval Ships Continue Tireless Search |agency=AP |date=August 19, 1927 |newspaper=Santa Cruz Evening News |access-date=6 March 2020}}</ref>

Some residents of [[Wailuku]] stated they had heard an airplane's engine grow louder, then abruptly cease on the afternoon of the 17th.<ref name=SBS-19270826/> Two boys said they had seen an aircraft run out of fuel and glide down just {{convert|1+1/2|mi}} off the north shore of Oahu on August 17 at 9&nbsp;PM local time, with its engine glowing red.<ref name=SPDN-19270917>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SPDN19270917.2.19 |title=Believes Miss Doran Went Down Near Oahu |date=September 17, 1927 |newspaper=San Pedro Daily News |access-date=7 March 2020}}</ref> A report that ''Miss Doran'' had been found in [[Honolua Bay]] the night of August 18 proved to be false; a [[sampan]] with an identical red, white, and blue color scheme had been mistaken for the aircraft.<ref name=MT-19270819/><ref>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SCEN19270819.1.1 |title=Baseless Story Excites Honolulu Residents |agency=AP |date=August 19, 1927 |newspaper=Santa Cruz Evening News |access-date=6 March 2020}}</ref> On August 19, an amateur radio operator in Alhambra reportedly intercepted a radio message stating a derelict airplane had been found along with a raft containing a live man and a dead woman;<ref>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SCEN19270819.1.1 |title='Woman Dead,' Comes Through Air: Alhambra Operator Is Authority |agency=AP |date=August 19, 1927 |newspaper=Santa Cruz Evening News |access-date=6 March 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SRPD19270820.1.1 |title=Girl's Body Picked Up At Sea Radio Operator Hears |agency=AP |date=August 19, 1927 |newspaper=Press Democrat |access-date=7 March 2020}}</ref> the radio frequency was not traditionally used by ships, however, and no ships were known to be in the vicinity of the transmission's origin.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SBS19270820.1.2 |title=Scout Radio's Death Report About Fliers |agency=Associated Press |date=August 20, 1927 |newspaper=San Bernardino Sun |access-date=7 March 2020}}</ref>

===Final flight of ''Dallas Spirit''===
{{quotebox |text={{pad|0.5em}}5:10&nbsp;PM — Passed S. S. ''Manoa'', dipped in salute, answered on whistle, which we couldn't hear, only seeing steam; might pick up destroyer squadrons, although this depends on their speed.<br/>{{pad|0.5em}}5:45&nbsp;PM — Saw a rum-runner on left; had a hell of a time keeping Ike in the plane.<br/>{{pad|0.5em}}5:52&nbsp;PM — Passed a destroyer bound for Honolulu.<br/>{{pad|0.5em}}7:10&nbsp;PM — Changed course; now at lat. 35:30 N., lon. 130 W.<br/>{{pad|0.5em}}7:18&nbsp;PM — Weather partly cloudy, sea smooth, visibility 30 miles.<br/>{{pad|0.5em}}8:03&nbsp;PM — Getting dark.<br/>{{pad|0.5em}}9:02&nbsp;PM — SOS – Went into tail spin; came out O.&nbsp;K. but sure scared; sure was a close call; Bill Erwin thought it was all off but we came out of it, the lights on the instrument board went out and it was so dark that Bill couldn't see the tail spin.<br/>{{pad|0.5em}}9:10&nbsp;PM — SOS tail spin– |author=&nbsp;—&nbsp;radio transmissions from crew of ''Dallas Spirit'' |source=transcribed by Associated Press, published August 20, 1927<ref>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SPDN19270820.2.19 |title=Radioman at Coast Guard Base Picks Up Last Message From Dallas Spirit |date=August 20, 1927 |newspaper=San Pedro Daily News |access-date=5 March 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SPDN19270820.2.22 |title=Renew Efforts to Find Fliers: Dallas Spirit Sends SOS and Then Is Silent |agency=AP |date=August 20, 1927 |newspaper=San Pedro Daily News |access-date=5 March 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SRPD19270820.1.1 |title=Lone Bill Told Story of Trip to Last Minute |date=August 20, 1927 |newspaper=Press Democrat |access-date=6 March 2020}}</ref> |width=35em}}
After repairing ''Dallas Spirit'', Erwin and Eichwaldt joined the search, leaving Oakland for Honolulu on August 19 at approximately 2:20&nbsp;PM PST;<ref name=GAS-58/>{{rp|189–190}}&nbsp;<ref name=HT-19270818/><ref name=MT-19270819>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=MT19270819.2.17 |title=No Trace Lost Planes Found: Determined Effort Is Being Made to Locate Five Missing Flyers |agency=United Press |date=August 19, 1927 |newspaper=Madera Tribune |access-date=6 March 2020}}</ref> the crew intended for Honolulu to be the next stop on their way to Hong Kong to win the Easterwood prize,<ref name=Dmag-85>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.dmagazine.com/publications/d-magazine/1985/february/nostalgia-plane-crazy/ |title=Nostalgia Plane Crazy: How Lone Star Bill lifted the Dallas Spirit |author=Peeler, Tom |date=February 1985 |magazine=D Magazine |access-date=4 March 2020}}</ref> although Erwin stated they would refuel in Hawaii and fly back to Oakland if they did not spot the missing aircraft on the westbound trip.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=MT19270818.2.14 |title=Erwin Plans Help Search Lost Flyers |agency=United Press |date=August 18, 1927 |newspaper=Madera Tribune |access-date=5 March 2020}}</ref> Local [[ham radio]] operators convinced Erwin to take along the radio set from ''Pabco Pacific Flyer'', a 50-watt transmitter powerful enough to allow the aircraft to stay in contact with other operators in California or Hawaii for the entire trip.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=HT19270819.2.8 |title='Dallas Spirit' Prepares to Join Search at Sea |agency=United Press |date=August 19, 1927 |newspaper=Healdsburg Tribune |access-date=6 March 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mtFVeYXxi-0C&pg=PA144 |title=The World of Ham Radio, 1901–1950: A Social History |author=Bartlett, Richard A. |date=2007 |publisher=McFarland & Company, Inc. |location=Jefferson, North Carolina |isbn=978-0-7864-2966-0 |chapter=10. More Amateurs and Aircraft: The NC-4, Byrd, the Dolebirds, the Lindberghs, and Others |pages=140–153 |access-date=5 March 2020}}</ref>{{rp|144}}

Their last radio message, received at 9&nbsp;PM that night, was that they were in a tailspin approximately {{convert|600|mi}} out to sea.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The New York Times|title=CALLS DOLE RACE "MISTAKE." Ernest Smith Fears That Erwin May Have Stripped Fuselage|date=21 August 1927|page=2}}</ref><ref name=SBS-19270917/> ''Dallas Spirit'' was also never seen again. Erwin's aircraft was reported to be {{convert|600|mi}} from Hawaii at noon on August 20, but the report was not confirmed.<ref name=SPNP-19270820>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SPNP19270820.2.19 |title=Erwin Plane Reported Sighted in Air 600 Miles from Hawaii Goal: Fate of Miss Doran, Pals Is Unknown |date=August 20, 1927 |newspaper=San Pedro News-Pilot |access-date=7 March 2020}}</ref> {{ship|USS|Hazelwood|DD-107|6}}, which was approximately {{convert|100|mi}} away and searching for the other two missing aircraft when ''Dallas Spirit'' went down, proceeded to the spot where the last transmission was made, arriving less than three hours later. ''Hazelwood'' scoured a area of {{convert|3200|mi2}} without finding any wreckage or flotsam from ''Dallas Spirit''.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SCEN19270822.1.1 |title=Slim Chance for Finding Rescue Ship |agency=AP |date=August 22, 1927 |newspaper=Santa Cruz Evening News |access-date=4 March 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SCEN19270822.1.1 |title=Might Have Seen Plane Take Dive |agency=AP |date=August 22, 1927 |newspaper=Santa Cruz Evening News |access-date=4 March 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SBS19270823.1.3 |title=Systematic Search for Erwin Plane at Point of Pluge Still Futile: Officer of Vessel Among First to Reach Point of Plane Drop Pessimistic |agency=Associated Press |date=August 23, 1927 |newspaper=San Bernardino Sun |access-date=6 March 2020}}</ref>

By August 22, naval ships from California had met their counterparts who had left from Hawaii, with neither fleet finding a trace of the three planes.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SPNP19270822.2.18 |title=Hope of Ever Finding Lost Flyers Fades |agency=United Press |date=August 22, 1927 |newspaper=San Pedro News-Pilot |access-date=4 March 2020}}</ref> On August 23, green flares were spotted on the slope of [[Mauna Kea]], but Army airplanes sent to investigate reported the flares were a new gasoline-powered light being tested by a rancher.<ref name=SPNP-19270824>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SPNP19270824.2.42 |title=No Trace Yet of Lost Dole Prize Flyers |agency=United Press |author=Ekins, H. R. |date=August 24, 1927 |newspaper=San Pedro News-Pilot |access-date=6 March 2020}}</ref>

At the time, the Navy's search operation was authorized to continue until August 23,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=HT19270819.2.2 |title=Navy to Keep up Search for Four More Days |agency=United Press |date=August 19, 1927 |newspaper=Healdsburg Tribune |access-date=6 March 2020}}</ref> then extended to August 25,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=MT19270822.2.21 |title=Ocean Search Is Fruitless: Greatest Ocean Hunt Fails to Find Clew Missing Dole Flyers |agency=United Press |date=August 22, 1927 |newspaper=Madera Tribune |access-date=6 March 2020}}</ref> after 16 ships were added to the search fleet, including {{ship|USS|Omaha|CL-4|6}}.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=HT19270823.2.11 |title=16 Ships Join in Search for Three Planes |agency=United Press |date=August 23, 1927 |newspaper=Healdsburg Tribune |access-date=6 March 2020}}</ref> Ships were ordered to "Seek Till All Hope Gone" on the night of August 24.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SRPD19270825.1.1 |title=Navy Ships Will Continue Search for Missing Flyers |agency=AP |date=August 24, 1927 |newspaper=Press Democrat |access-date=7 March 2020}}</ref> The estimated cost of the extra fuel used in the search was US$90,000,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SCEN19270823.1.8 |title=Uncle Sam Will Lose $90,000 by Dole Race |agency=AP |date=August 23, 1927 |newspaper=Santa Cruz Evening News |access-date=5 March 2020}}</ref> later revised to $135,000, with 8,000 sailors involved.<ref name=SBS-19270826>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SBS19270826.1.3 |title=Rumor About Plane Passing Followed Up |date=August 26, 1927 |newspaper=San Bernardino Sun |access-date=6 March 2020}}</ref> A final accounting tallied the total cost at {{USD|82246.14|1927|round=-4}}, of which {{USD|70256.34|1927|round=-4}} was for fuel; the search covered an area of {{convert|350000|mi2}} and involved 54 ships, which steamed a combined total of {{convert|152000|mi}}, and airplanes from ''Langley'' flew {{convert|9000|mi}} of search routes.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SBS19280822.1.19 |title=Hunting Lost Fliers Is Costly Navy Item |agency=Associated Press |date=August 22, 1928 |newspaper=San Bernardino Sun |access-date=10 March 2020}}</ref>

On October 1, another tugboat was dispatched to the [[Johnston Atoll]], approximately {{convert|750|mi}} northwest of Hawaii, under the continued suspicion that ''Golden Eagle'' had overshot Hawaii or drifted past it after ditching in the ocean.<ref name=SPDN-19270930/><ref>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SBS19271002.1.1 |title=U.S. Will Renew Hunt for Pacific Fliers: Naval Craft Use Granted by President |date=October 2, 1927 |agency=Associated Press |newspaper=San Bernardino Sun |access-date=7 March 2020}}</ref> After a thorough search, {{ship|USS|Whippoorwill|AM-35|6}} radioed that no trace of the missing aircraft had been found.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SPNP19271005.2.5 |title=Search Fruitless |date=October 5, 1927 |newspaper=San Pedro News-Pilot |access-date=7 March 2020}}</ref>

===Fragments and clues===
Bright yellow debris with dangling wires was spotted several hundred miles off [[Cape Flattery]] on September 1, 1927, thought to be part of ''Golden Eagle''.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SRPD19270914.1.1 |title=Dole Plane Sighted: Gold Eagle Reported off Flattery |agency=AP |date=September 14, 1927 |newspaper=Press Democrat |access-date=7 March 2020}}</ref> A silver-colored piece of an aileron washed ashore at Redondo Beach in late October 1927; it may have come from ''Dallas Spirit'', based on the color.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SPNP19271027.2.109 |title=Plane Wing Is Cast up by the Sea |date=October 27, 1927 |newspaper=San Pedro News-Pilot |access-date=5 March 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |agency=United Press |title=Wreckage of Plane May Be That of Dole Ship Dallas Spirit |newspaper=The San Bernardino Daily Sun |location=San Bernardino, California |date=October 28, 1927 |volume=LXI |number=58 |page=4 |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SBS19271028.1.4}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SPDN19271112.2.93 |title=Late News From All Parts of the World Reported by the Camera |date=November 12, 1927 |newspaper=San Pedro Daily News |access-date=5 March 2020}}</ref>

Two fishermen retrieved the collar of a kapok life jacket on September 9 near [[Waimanalo Beach]] on [[Makapu{{okina}}u Point]];<ref>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SBS19270910.1.2 |title=Clew to Fate of Dole Flier Given with Finding of Life Jacket Band: Report Human Torso Hooked by Fisherman |agency=United Press |date=September 10, 1927 |newspaper=San Bernardino Sun |access-date=7 March 2020}}</ref> they stated they had seen the torso of a body in the jacket when they snagged it, but the collar broke free during retrieval.<ref name=SPDN-19270917/><ref>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=HT19270912.2.26 |title=Body Located Thought One of Missing Flyers |agency=United Press |date=September 12, 1927 |newspaper=Healdsburg Tribune |access-date=7 March 2020}}</ref> In November 1927, a skeletal leg and foot washed ashore at [[Eureka, California]]; it was never conclusively tied to the Dole flyers.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=HT19271117.2.5 |title=Bones Washed Ashore at Eureka May Be Flyer's |agency=Tribune Service |date=November 17, 1927 |newspaper=Healdsburg Tribune |access-date=10 March 2020}}</ref> 

A note in a bottle was found near [[Fleming Point]] on October 5, 1927 and initially thought to be from Mildred Doran; its authenticity was doubted immediately, as the handwriting was noted to be "that of a woman, small and delicate, but ungrammatically worded".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SCEN19271005.1.5 |title=Doubt bottle as of Doran Origin |agency=AP |date=October 5, 1927 |newspaper=Santa Cruz Evening News |access-date=7 March 2020}}</ref> A nearly illegible message was found in a perfume bottle washed ashore near [[Aberdeen, Washington]] in August 1928; it purported to be from Mildred Doran and was dated October 2, 1927.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SBS19280823.1.1 |title=Doran Message Found in Bottle |agency=United Press |date=August 23, 1928 |newspaper=San Bernardino Sun |access-date=9 March 2020}}</ref> Another message in a bottle, purportedly from the crew of ''Golden Eagle'', was turned into Redondo Beach police in August 1928; this was also suspected to be a hoax.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SPNP19280828.2.15 |title=Note Written on Shirt Signed by Honolulu Fliers? |agency=United Press |date=August 28, 1928 |newspaper=San Pedro News-Pilot |access-date=7 March 2020}}</ref>

The reward for the return of the aircraft was not withdrawn by James Dole until March 1928.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SBS19280318.1.4 |title=Ocean Fliers Reward Fund Is Withdrawn |agency=Associated Press |date=March 18, 1928 |newspaper=San Bernardino Sun |access-date=3 March 2020}}</ref>

Martin Jensen piloted ''Aloha'' on an aerial search, carrying Denham Scott, ''Golden Eagle'' navigator Gordon's brother, in May 1928, looking over the jungle slopes of Mauna Kea on the island of Hawaii based on unsubstantiated reports that a monoplane had been spotted there heading for Honolulu on August 17, 1927.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SRPD19280517.1.1 |title=Dole Flyer Hunt Begun in Hawaii |agency=AP |date=May 17, 1928 |newspaper=Press Democrat |access-date=7 March 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SBS19280517.1.1 |title=Seek Missing Ocean Airmen |agency=Associated Press |date=May 17, 1928 |newspaper=San Bernardino Sun |access-date=10 March 2020}}</ref> Denham also led a ground search.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SRPD19280512.1.1 |title=Dead Dole Flyer's Brother on Search |agency=AP |date=May 12, 1928 |newspaper=Press Democrat |access-date=10 March 2020}}</ref> In June 1928, Denham announced that he had found an area where an airplane may have made a forced landing. The tops of the trees had been broken off and a burned rag on a stick was placed at the end at the site.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SPNP19280608.2.33 |title=Believe Lost Dole Plane Fate Solved |date=June 8, 1928 |newspaper=San Pedro News-Pilot |access-date=7 March 2020}}</ref> He led a second search on Mauna Loa starting in early August;<ref>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=LMJ19280802.1.6 |title=Search |date=August 2, 1928 |newspaper=Livermore Journal |access-date=10 March 2020}}</ref> however, no further clues were found and the search was abandoned later that month.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SBS19280808.1.17 |title=Search for Missing Dole Race Airplane at Last Abandoned |agency=Associated Press |date=August 8, 1928 |newspaper=San Bernardino Sun |access-date=10 March 2020}}</ref>

In April 1929, the wreckage of an unidentified aircraft washed ashore near Carmel.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=HT19290415.2.18 |title=Ocean Gives Up Wreck of Plane |date=April 15, 1929 |newspaper=Healdsburg Tribune |access-date=3 March 2020}}</ref> Wreckage from one or more airplanes washed ashore at [[Kamilo Beach]] in June 1929; one bit apparently was part of a stabilizer, a {{convert|30|in|adj=on}} piece of aluminum with a few chips of red, white, and blue paint, matching the livery of ''Miss Doran''.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SBS19290618.1.1 |title=Clew to Dole Planes Found |agency=Associated Press |date=June 18, 1929 |newspaper=San Bernardino Sun |access-date=7 March 2020}}</ref> The final search for the missing aviators concluded later that month, as Jack Frost's brother Ezra followed up a theory the ''Golden Eagle'' may have crash landed on [[Mauna Loa]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SBS19290626.1.2 |title=Hunt for Dole Race Aviators Is Concluded |agency=United Press |date=June 26, 1929 |newspaper=San Bernardino Sun |access-date=3 March 2020}}</ref>

==Aftermath==
[[File:1927 California-to-Hawaii flights.ogv|thumb|right|Dole Air Race movie reel (Prelinger Archives)]]
In the days after the race, the disqualified owners of the ''Air King'' charged that race officials should have disqualified the ''Golden Eagle'', because it also had only 350 gallons of fuel capacity when it took off.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Washington Post|title=RULES WAIVED FOR LOST DOLE PLANE, IS CHARGE: Golden Eagle Had Less Fuel Than Required, Airways System Declares. TELEGRAM TO M'CRACKEN|date=19 August 1927}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=HT19270818.2.2 |title=Owners of Golden Eagle File Charges in Washington |agency=United Press |date=August 18, 1927 |newspaper=Healdsburg Tribune |access-date=1 March 2020}}</ref> In a bitter conclusion, the father of the sponsor of the race, Rev. [[Charles Fletcher Dole|Charles F. Dole]], died on November 27, 1927.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The New York Times|title=REV. CHARLES F. DOLE DIES.: Peace Advocate Was Father of Sponsor of Dole Air Race|date=28 September 1927}}</ref>

Goebel and Davis returned on the [[Matson, Inc.|Matson liner]] {{ship|SS|Manoa}},<ref name=SCEN-19270825/> with ''Woolaroc'' on board,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=HT19270824.2.17 |title=Green Light on Hawaii Slopes Not Flyer Clew |author=Ekins, H. R. |agency=United Press |date=August 24, 1927 |newspaper=Healdsburg Tribune |access-date=7 March 2020}}</ref> to an impromptu parade in San Francisco, arriving on August 31. They doubted there would be any survivors of a sea ditching.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Washington Post|title=WINNERS OF DOLE RACE BACK, BOWED IN SORROW: Goebel Says He Entertains No Hope for Seven Who Did Not Finish|date=1 September 1927}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SCEN19270831.1.1 |title=Welcome Has Tinge of Sorrow; Goebel Believes Lost 'Gone' |date=August 31, 1927 |agency=AP |newspaper=Santa Cruz Evening News |access-date=1 March 2020}}</ref> For their winning flight, both Goebel (a Lieutenant in the Army Reserves) and Davis (active-duty Navy) were awarded the [[Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)|Distinguished Flying Cross]] in 1928.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SPNP19280817.2.10 |title=Nation Honors Him |date=August 17, 1928 |newspaper=San Pedro News-Pilot |access-date=7 March 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/47571935/ |title=Navy to Decorate Eight for Bravery |date=May 11, 1928 |newspaper=Reading Times |page=6 |access-date=7 March 2020 |url-access=subscription}}</ref>

Jensen returned to San Pedro aboard ''City of Los Angeles'' on September 1 and immediately announced he would undertake a non-stop solo flight from Los Angeles to New York, carrying a lion.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SBS19270904.1.2 |title=Jensen Lands Only to Plan New Conquest |agency=United Press |date=September 4, 1927 |newspaper=San Bernardino Sun |access-date=7 March 2020}}</ref> The lion, named [[Leo the Lion (MGM)|Leo]], was one of the [[Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer]] studio mascots; they took off on September 16 after the lion had raw steaks.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SCEN19270916.1.1 |title=Live Lion in Air Plane Flying East |agency=AP |date=September 16, 1927 |newspaper=Santa Cruz Evening News |access-date=7 March 2020}}</ref> However, the aircraft never arrived in New York;<ref>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SRPD19270918.1.1 |title=Airman, Lion Vanish |agency=AP |date=September 18, 1927 |newspaper=Press Democrat |access-date=7 March 2020}}</ref> Jensen crash-landed on an Arizona mountain in heavy fog.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SPNP19270919.2.14 |title='Flying Lion' Plane Crashes in Arizona |agency=United Press |date=September 19, 1927 |newspaper=San Pedro News-Pilot |access-date=7 March 2020}}</ref>

''Woolaroc'' has survived and is on display at the [[Woolaroc|Woolaroc Museum]] in [[Oklahoma]], which started as a hangar to store and display the plane.<ref>[https://archive.today/20021016003912/http://www.joplinglobe.com/archives/2000/000612/headline/story2.html Ranch delights children]; ''[[The Joplin Globe]]'', by John Hacker, MONDAY, JUNE 12, 2000</ref> ''Aloha'' was sold to a New York businessman and destroyed in a 1933 hangar fire at [[Roosevelt Field (airport)|Roosevelt Field]].<ref name=LAT-87/> Both ''Woolaroc'' and ''Aloha'' were powered by the [[Wright Whirlwind]], which added to that engine's endurance legend, as it had already been used in ''Spirit of St. Louis'' (Lindbergh), [[Columbia (WB-2)|''Columbia'']] (Chamberlin/Levine), [[America (aircraft)|''America'']] (Byrd), ''Bird of Paradise'' (Maitland/Hegenberger), and ''City of Oakland'' (Smith/Bronte).<ref name=USAS-1927/>

Both Ernie Smith, pilot of the first civilian nonstop flight to Hawaii, and Ben Wyatt, navigation examiner for the Dole Air Race, criticized the race after its conclusion. Smith called it "stunt flying – not practical with land planes. And now there are six men and a girl out there somewhere battling for their lives. All for $35,000. It isn't worth it."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SCEN19270822.1.2 |title=Ernie Smith Terms Dole Race Mistake |agency=AP |date=August 22, 1927 |newspaper=Santa Cruz Evening News |access-date=3 March 2020}}</ref> Wyatt believed that "[no] scientific value can be derived from such flights [with land planes]."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SPNP19270910.2.5 |title=Calls Pacific Air Ventures Foolhardy |author=Little, Herbert |agency=United Press |date=September 10, 1927 |newspaper=San Pedro News-Pilot |access-date=3 March 2020}}</ref> Goebel, Davis, and Jensen proposed that all aircraft flying over large bodies of water should be required to carry radio equipment.<ref name=SCEN-19270823>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SCEN19270823.1.8 |title=Dole Prize Race Aided Aviation Principals State |agency=AP |date=August 23, 1927 |newspaper=Santa Cruz Evening News |access-date=5 March 2020}}</ref>

Planning for a memorial service at sea occurred in late August and early September.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SCEN19270829.1.5 |title=Impressive Rites Planned for Missing Airmen |date=August 29, 1927 |newspaper=Santa Cruz Evening News |access-date=7 March 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SCEN19270902.1.8 |title=Memorial Rites for Dole Racers Fully Planned |date=September 2, 1927 |newspaper=Santa Cruz Evening News |access-date=7 March 2020}}</ref> A separate service was held by the San Francisco Women's Club on September 8.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SRPD19270908.1.5 |title=Last Tributes for Dole Race Flyers in S.F. |date=September 8, 1927 |newspaper=Press Democrat |access-date=7 March 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SCEN19270908.1.1 |title=Women Hold Dole Services This Evening |date=September 8, 1927 |newspaper=Santa Cruz Evening News |access-date=7 March 2020}}</ref> Tributes and flowers were loaded onto {{ship|SS|Maui|1916|6}} at the Matson Lines dock on Piers 30 and 32 in San Francisco before it departed for its regular service to Honolulu.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SPDN19270912.2.132 |title=Memorial for Victims in Dole Flight; Capt. Schluter Back on Ship |date=September 12, 1927 |newspaper=San Pedro Daily News |access-date=7 March 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SCEN19270914.1.1 |title=Metropolis Weeps for Air Heroes |date=September 14, 1927 |newspaper=Santa Cruz Evening News |access-date=7 March 2020}}</ref> On September 16, ''Maui'' stopped at the spot where the last message was received from the ''Dallas Spirit'' to spread the flowers and release a floral Bible made by Miss Doran's students. Each of the seven flyers who died was eulogized and [[Tennyson]]'s poem "[[Crossing the Bar]]" was recited.<ref name=SBS-19270917>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SBS19270917.1.1 |title=Floral Tributes to Lost Fliers Cast on Ocean: Pacific's Air Victims Paid Last Honors |agency=Associated Press |date=September 17, 1927 |newspaper=San Bernardino Sun |access-date=1 March 2020}}</ref>

Constance Ohl Erwin, the wife of Bill, pilot of ''Dallas Spirit'', gave birth to a son on October 12, 1927 and named him Bill.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SCEN19271012.1.1 |title=Lost Pilot's Wife Bears Him Son |agency=AP |date=October 12, 1927 |newspaper=Santa Cruz Evening News |access-date=3 March 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SBS19281218.1.3 |title=Mothers of Two Fliers Who Lost Their Lives in Mercy Trip Over Ocean Give Mutual Consolation |agency=United Press |date=December 18, 1928 |newspaper=San Bernardino Sun |access-date=3 March 2020}}</ref>

Davis, navigator of Woolaroc, stated "We know now that flying is a practical means of transportation across the Pacific. All that is necessary is a popular demand for this speedy transportation."<ref name=SCEN-19270823/> Just under one year later, [[Charles Kingsford Smith]] and the crew of the [[Fokker F.VII]] trimotor [[Southern Cross (aircraft)|''Southern Cross'']] successfully flew a trans-Pacific route from Oakland to Australia via Hawaii and Fiji; Smith was carrying Alvin Eichwaldt's ring.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://aviation.hawaii.gov/aviation-pioneers/sir-charles-kingsford-smith/ |title=Sir Charles Kingsford-Smith |publisher=Hawaii Aviation |access-date=10 March 2020}}</ref> The United States Navy set a record for flight time in a successful mass flight from California to Hawaii concluded in January 1934;<ref>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=HT19340111.2.4 |title=Navy Airmen Land in Hawaii: Set Record for Massed Air Flight |date=January 11, 1934 |newspaper=Healdsburg Tribune |access-date=10 March 2020}}</ref> later that year, Kingsford Smith became the first to fly east from Hawaii to California in November when he retraced his 1928 flight in reverse using ''[[Lady Southern Cross]]'', setting a new speed record in the process.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=HT19341105.2.14 |title=Smith Lands Safely; Span 2400 Miles of Water in 15 Hours |date=November 5, 1934 |newspaper=Healdsburg Tribune |access-date=10 March 2020}}</ref> In January 1935 [[Amelia Earhart]] completed the first solo flight from Hawaii to California.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=HT19350112.2.18 |title=Amelia Earhart Lands at Oakland: Makes First Solo Flight from Hawaii to California Shore |date=January 12, 1935 |newspaper=Healdsburg Tribune |access-date=10 March 2020}}</ref> [[Pan American World Airways|Pan American]] established a trans-Pacific route later that year during a series of flights,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=HT19350828.2.12 |title=Clipper Ship Lands on Bay at Trip's End |agency=United Press |date=August 28, 1935 |newspaper=Healdsburg Tribune |access-date=10 March 2020}}</ref> and began regular commercial "Clipper" flying boat service from San Francisco to Manila via Hawaii, Midway, Wake, and Guam in October 1936.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SPNP19361021.2.79 |title=Clipper Planes Span Pacific in Regular Passenger Service |date=October 21, 1936 |newspaper=San Pedro News-Pilot |access-date=10 March 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SPNP19361027.2.35 |title=Paying Flyers Reach Manila |agency=AP |date=October 27, 1936 |newspaper=San Pedro News-Pilot |access-date=10 March 2020}}</ref>

==Summary of competitors==
[[File:1927DOLERACE.jpg|300px]]
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
|+ Dole Air Race<ref name=SCEN-19270809>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SCEN19270809.1.7 |title=Flight Start Places Drawn by Aviators |agency=AP |date=August 9, 1927 |newspaper=Santa Cruz Evening News |access-date=1 March 2020}}</ref><ref name=DoleProgram>{{cite web |url=https://www.pbagalleries.com/view-auctions/catalog/id/383/lot/118793/Official-Program-Dole-Trans-Pacific-Flight-North-America-to-Hawaii-August-16-1927 |title=Lot 23 of 701: Dole Trans-Pacific Race Flyer |date=1927 |website=PBA Galleries |access-date=29 February 2020}}</ref>
|-
! colspan="4" |Aircraft
! colspan=2 | Start
! rowspan=2 | Pilot || rowspan=2 | Navigator
! rowspan=2 | Finish
! rowspan=2 class="unsortable" | Notes
! rowspan=2 class="unsortable" | Ref.
|-
! Name || [[Aircraft registration|Reg.]] 
! Make & Model || class="unsortable" | Image
! Draw || Launch

|-
| ''Oklahoma'' 
| NX911
! [[Travel Air 5000]] 
|[[File:Travel Air 5000 Oklahoma NX911 on ground before ill-fated Dole race (lfq).jpg|80px]]
| 1 ||  1
|[[Bennett Griffin]] || Al Henley
| DNS
|align=left  | Forced to return after 30 minutes with fuselage issues.
|<ref name=SPNP-19270808>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SPNP19270808.2.13 |title=Hawaii Flyers Get Positions |agency=United Press |date=August 8, 1927 |newspaper=San Pedro News-Pilot |access-date=29 February 2020}}</ref><ref name=MT-19270816/>
|-
! ''El Encanto'' || NX5074
!Goddard Special 
|[[File:Dole Air Race NX5074 "El Encanto" Goddard Special.jpg|80px]]
| 2 ||  2
|Norman A. Goddard || Kenneth C. Hawkins
| DNS
|align=left  | Wrecked on takeoff.
|<ref name=SPNP-19270808/><ref name=MT-19270816/><br/><ref name=SPDN-19270801>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SPDN19270801.2.34 |title=2 Navy Airmen Entering Dole Hawaii Flight |date=August 1, 1927 |newspaper=San Pedro Daily News |access-date=29 February 2020}}</ref><ref name=CC-19271005>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=CC19271005.2.4 |title=Norman Goddard Will Land at Imperial Soon |date=October 5, 1927 |newspaper=Calexico Chronicle |access-date=29 February 2020}}</ref>
|-
| ''Pabco Pacific Flyer'' || NX646
![[Breese-Wilde Model 5]] 
|[[File:Dole Air Race NX646 "Pabco Pacific Flyer" Breese-Wilde.jpg|80px]]
| 7 ||  3
|colspan=2| Livingston Gilson Irving
| DNS
|align=left  | Wrecked after two attempts to take off.
|<ref name=MT-19270816/>
|-
| ''Golden Eagle'' || NX913
! [[Lockheed Vega]] 
|[[File:Dole Air Race NX913 "Golden Eagle" Lockheed Vega, Frost.jpg|80px]]
| 15 ||  4
|Jack Frost || Gordon Scott
| DNF
|align=left  | Sponsored by [[George Randolph Hearst]], publisher of the ''[[San Francisco Examiner]]''. Lost at sea.
|<ref name=SB-Derby1/><ref name=SPDN-19270818/><br/><ref name=SPDN-19270930>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SPDN19270930.2.157 |title=Navy Renews Golden Eagle Search; Tug Ordered: Dispatch Boat Northwest of Hawaii in Hunt |agency=AP |date=September 30, 1927 |newspaper=San Pedro Daily News |access-date=29 February 2020}}</ref><ref name=MT-19270816/> 
|-
| ''Miss Doran'' || NX2915
! [[Buhl Airsedan]] 
|[[File:Buhl CA-5 Airsedan NX2915 Miss Doran Dole racer.jpg|80px]]
| 4 ||  5
|Auggie Pedlar || Lt. V. R. Knope
| DNF
|align=left  | [[Mildred Doran]], namesake, was a passenger. Turned back after 14 minutes due to engine backfire; successfully took off on second attempt. Lost at sea.
|<ref name=SPDN-19270818>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SPDN19270818.2.22 |title=Navy Heads Search for Fliers: Tugs Start out over Course of Dole Entrants |agency=AP |date=August 18, 1927 |newspaper=San Pedro Daily News |access-date=29 February 2020}}</ref><ref name=MT-19270816>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=MT19270816.2.20 |title=Honolulu Flight Under Way: Four Flyers Hop Off First Great Air Derby for Dole Flight Prize |date=August 16, 1927 |newspaper=Madera Tribune |access-date=29 February 2020}}</ref><br/><ref name=HT-19270817/>
|-
| ''Aloha'' || NX914
! [[Breese-Wilde Model 5]] 
|[[File:Dole Air Race NX914 Aloha Breese-Wilde M-5.jpg|80px]]
| 11 ||  6
|Martin Jensen || Paul Schluter
| 2
|align=left  |
|<ref name=Conant/><ref name=MT-19270816/><br/><ref name=HT-19270817/>
|-
| ''Woolaroc'' || NX869
! [[Travel Air 5000]] 
| [[File:Woolaroc airplane by Tyler Thomson 1.jpg|80px]]
| 9 ||  7
|Arthur Goebel || William J. Davis
| 1
|align=left  | Finished with {{convert|1+1/2|USpt|L}} of gas. Name originated from the "woods, lakes, and rocks" on the lands of the corporate sponsor, [[Phillips Petroleum Company|Phillips Petroleum]].
|<ref name=SB-Derby1/><ref name=MT-19270816/><br/><ref name=HT-19270817>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=HT19270817.2.7 |title=Woolaroc Wins Honolulu Air Race |date=August 17, 1927 |author=Palmer, John N. |agency=United Press |newspaper=Healdsburg Tribune |access-date=29 February 2020}}</ref>
|-
| ''[[Dallas Spirit]]'' || NX941
! Swallow Monoplane 
|[[File:Dole Air Race NX941 "Dallas Spirit" Swallow Monoplane.jpg|80px]]
| 5 ||  8
|[[William Portwood Erwin]] || Alvin Eichwaldt
| DNS
|align=left  | Originally to be navigated by Erwin's wife, Constance. Forced to return with engine trouble. Lost at sea while searching for missing ''Miss Doran'' and ''Golden Eagle''.
|<ref name=SB-Derby1>{{cite news |url=http://archives.starbulletin.com/2003/12/29/features/story2.html |title=The Dole Derby, Chapter 1: The Pineapple King's Great Pacific Air Race |author=Burlingame, Burl |date=December 29, 2003 |newspaper=Honolulu Star-Bulletin |access-date=29 February 2020}}</ref><ref name=MT-19270816/>
|}


{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"
|+Entrants that withdrew, crashed, or disqualified prior to race start
|-
! colspan="4" |Aircraft
! Start
! rowspan=2 | Pilot || rowspan=2 | Navigator
! rowspan=2 class="unsortable" | Notes
! rowspan=2 class="unsortable" | Ref.
|-
! Name || [[Aircraft registration|Reg.]] 
! Make & Model || class="unsortable" | Image
! Draw 
|-
| ''City of Peoria'' || NX3070
! Air King biplane 
|[[File:Dole Air Race NX3070 "City of Peoria" Air King (2).jpg|80px]]
| 3 
|Charles Parkhurst || Ralph Lowes
|align=left  | Disqualified for inadequate fuel capacity. Alternate pilots Dick Grace or Ernest Smith; Smith was the first civilian to fly nonstop to Hawaii, crashing on Molokai in ''City of Oakland''.<ref name="HT-19270817" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Ernest Smith |url=https://aviation.hawaii.gov/aviation-pioneers/ernest-smith/ |access-date=2024-11-26 |website=aviation.hawaii.gov |language=en}}</ref>
|<ref name=MT-19270816/>
|-
| ''Wanda'' || NX1445
! Hess Bluebird<ref>{{cite web |author=Smith, Wesley R. |date=June 2014 |title=Mystery Airplane: The Alliance Argo A-1 |url=http://eaavintage.org/june-2014-mystery/ |access-date=1 March 2020 |website=EAA Vintage Aircraft Association}}</ref>
|[[File:Hess Bluebird Special for Dole Air race L'Air December 15,1927.jpg|80px]]
| 6 
| colspan=2 | Frederick A. Giles
|align=left  | Unable to meet qualification deadline of 10&nbsp;AM on August 15. Attempted flight to Australia via Honolulu in November 1927; landed at [[San Simeon]] instead.
|<ref name=HT-19270815>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=HT19270815.2.10 |title=Eight Qualify in Dole Contest, One More Is Expected |author=Palmer, John N. |agency=United Press |date=August 15, 1927 |newspaper=Healdsburg Tribune |access-date=1 March 2020}}</ref><ref name=SPNP-19271122>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SPNP19271122.2.22 |title=Airmen Spanning Two Oceans: Capt. Giles Winging Way to Honolulu |agency=United Press |date=November 22, 1927 |newspaper=San Pedro News-Pilot |access-date=1 March 2020}}</ref><br/><ref>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=HT19271123.2.14 |title=Giles, Forced Back on Flight, Lands in South: Plane Damaged, Flier Returns to Bay in Auto |agency=United Press |date=November 23, 1927 |newspaper=Healdsburg Tribune |access-date=1 March 2020}}</ref><ref name=SBS-19270811>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SBS19270811.1.3 |title=Oakland Air Racers Zealously Work Over Planes After Crash in South: More Caution Exercised as Tragedy Told |agency=United Press |date=August 11, 1927 |newspaper=San Bernardino Sun |access-date=1 March 2020}}</ref><br/>
|-
| ''Pride of Los Angeles'' ||
! [[Catron & Fisk CF-10|International CF-10]] 
| [[File:Pride of Los Angeles.jpg|80px]]
| 8 
|James L. Giffin || Theodore S. Lundgren
|align=left  | Crashed into San Francisco Bay on approach to Oakland August 11, both survived.
|<ref name=Conant/><ref name=SPNP-19270811/><br/><ref name=SCEN-19270813>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SCEN19270813.1.2 |title=Hurried Preparations Gone Awry |date=August 13, 1927 |newspaper=Santa Cruz News |access-date=29 February 2020}}</ref>
|-
! — || —
! — 
|
| 10 
| colspan=2 | Robert C. Fowler
|align=left  | Unable to purchase plane; withdrew.
|<ref name=CC-19270805>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=CC19270805.2.19 |title=Planes Tuned for Trip to Honolulu |agency=Associated Press |date=August 5, 1927 |newspaper=Calexico Chronicle |access-date=1 March 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=HT19270808.2.10 |title=Six Entrants for Dole Prize in Bay Section |agency=United Press |date=August 8, 1927 |newspaper=Healdsburg Tribune |access-date=1 March 2020}}</ref>
|-
| ''Miss Hollydale'' || NX912
! [[International Sportsman|International F-17W biplane]] 
|[[File:Dole Air Race NX912 "Miss Hollydale" International F-17W.jpg|80px]]
| 12 
|Frank L. Clarke || Jeff Warren
| align="left" | Announced withdrawal from competition and left abruptly on August 13.
|<ref name=SPNP-19270813>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SPNP19270813.2.2 |title=Flyer Hops off for Honolulu: Airman Pulls Fast One on Dole Entries |date=August 13, 1927 |newspaper=San Pedro News-Pilot |agency=United Press |access-date=1 March 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://azmemory.azlibrary.gov/digital/collection/dddispatch/id/5665/ |title=Views of Dole Flight Entrants |date=August 17, 1927 |newspaper=Douglas Daily Dispatch |page=3 |access-date=2 March 2020}}</ref>
|-
| ''Spirit of John Rodgers'' ||
! Tremaine Hummingbird 
|[[File:Dole Air Race Tremaine Humming Bird.jpg|80px]]
| 13 
|George D. Covell || Richard S. Waggener
| align="left" | Original navigator L.P. Pawlikowski withdrew August 8 with illness. Crashed at Point Loma enroute to start of race on August 10. No survivors.
|<ref name=SB-Derby1/><ref>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SBS19270811.1.1 |title=Navy Airmen Fall as Trip North Begun |agency=United Press |date=August 11, 1927 |newspaper=San Bernardino Sun |access-date=1 March 2020}}</ref>
|-
| ''Angel of Los Angeles'' || NX705
! Bryant Monoplane 
|[[File:Dole Air Race NX705 "Angel of Los Angeles" Bryant Monoplane.jpg|80px]]
| 14 
| colspan=2 | Arthur V. Rogers
| align="left" | Crashed during test flight at [[Western Air Express Field]] (Montebello) on August 12. No survivors.<ref>{{ASN accident|id=60096|type=|title=ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 60096|wikibase=yes|accessdate=1 March 2020}}</ref><br /><ref>{{cite web |author=Spitzzeri, Paul R. |date=July 10, 2019 |title=From Point A to Point B: the Crash of the Monoplane 'Angel of Los Angeles', 1927 |url=https://homesteadmuseum.wordpress.com/2019/07/10/from-point-a-to-point-b-the-crash-of-the-monoplane-angel-of-los-angeles-1927/ |access-date=1 March 2020 |website=The Homestead Museum}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=August 13, 1927 |title=Third Plane in Race to Crash. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1927/08/13/archives/third-plane-in-race-to-crash.html |work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref>
|<ref name="Conant" />
|}

Notes
* [[Naval Aircraft Factory PN|PN-9]] refers to the unsuccessful 1925 Navy attempt
* [[Bird of Paradise (aircraft)|''Bird of Paradise'']] is the successful June 1927 Maitland/Hegenberger flight
* [[Travel Air 5000|''City of Oakland'']] is misspelled as ''Spirit'' and refers to the July 1927 Smith/Bronte flight and crash landing
* [[Mildred Doran|''Miss Doran'']] is misspelled as ''Dorian''

==See also==

* [[List of aviation awards]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite magazine |url=https://archive.org/details/aerodigest1119unse/page/250/mode/2up/ |title=The Dole Pacific Race |date=September 1927 |magazine=Aero Digest |pages=250–255, 366  |volume=11 |number=3}}
* {{cite news | first = Jane Eshleman | last = Conant | title = Death Dogged the Dolebirds: Pioneer Pacific Fliers Wrote Tragic Chapter in Air History | url = http://www.sfmuseum.org/hist10/27dolerace.html | work = San Francisco Call-Bulletin | date = October 10, 1955 | access-date = September 12, 2010  }}
* {{cite book |title=Great Adventure Stories |editor-last=Brent |editor-first= Rafer |publisher=Bartholomew House |location=New York |url=https://archive.org/details/greatadventurest012839mbp |chapter=$35,000 Race to Death |last=Conant |first= Jane |pages=[https://archive.org/details/greatadventurest012839mbp/page/n178 175]–200 |date=1958}}
* {{cite journal |jstor=30235716 |title='The Dallas Spirit': The Last Fool Flight |last=Dealey |first= Ted |date=July 1959 |volume=63 |number=1 |pages=15–30 |journal=The Southwestern Historical Quarterly}}
* {{cite book |last=Forden |first=Lesley |title=Glory Gamblers: The Story of the Dole Race |date=1961 |publisher=Ballantine Books |location=New York }}
* {{cite book |url=http://aviation.hawaii.gov/publications/above-the-pacific/ |title=Above the Pacific |date=1966 |author=Horvat, William J. |publisher=Aero Publishers, Inc. |pages=59–89 |chapter=VI: All the Way & VII: Enter the Civilians}}
* {{cite journal |url=https://www.aahs-online.org/tocb.php?year=1975 |title=Part 1 |last=Forden |first= Leslie N. |date=Fall 1975 |journal=Journal of the American Aviation Historical Society |volume=20 |number=3}}
* {{cite journal |url=https://www.aahs-online.org/tocb.php?year=1975 |title=Part 2 |last=Forden |first= Leslie N.  |date=Winter 1975 |journal=Journal of the American Aviation Historical Society |volume=20 |number=4}}
* {{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rYW6DHWqPXIC&pg=PA11 |title=The Dole Race to Hawaii: The wildest air derby of them all (Part 1) |pages=11–13 |date=May 1978 |magazine=FAA General Aviation News |publisher=Flight Standards Service, Federal Aviation Administration}}
* {{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rYW6DHWqPXIC&pg=RA1-PA11 |title=The Conclusion of the Dole Race: Unreliable navigation led Hawaii-bound airmen to watery grave (Part 2) |pages=11–13 |date=June 1978 |magazine=FAA General Aviation News |publisher=Flight Standards Service, Federal Aviation Administration}}
* {{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-oct-12-me-42043-story.html |title=Pacific Quest Brought Dark Days for Aviation |last=Rasmussen |first= Cecilia |date=October 12, 1997 |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |url-access=limited}}
* Burlingame, Burl (1986). "The Dole Derby". ''Honolulu Star-Bulletin''
* {{cite news |url=http://archives.starbulletin.com/2003/12/29/features/story2.html |title=Chapter 1: The Pineapple King's Great Pacific Air Race |author=Burlingame, Burl  |date=December 29, 2003 |newspaper=Honolulu Star-Bulletin}}
* {{cite news |url=http://archives.starbulletin.com/2004/01/05/features/index2.html |title=Chapter 2: In which aeroplane crews take off with dreams of glory blinding their common sense |author=Burlingame, Burl  |date=January 5, 2004 |newspaper=Honolulu Star-Bulletin}}
*{{cite news |url=http://archives.starbulletin.com/2004/01/12/features/index.html |title=Chapter 3: Conclusion |author=Burlingame, Burl  |date=January 12, 2004 |newspaper=Honolulu Star-Bulletin}}
* {{cite journal |url=http://www.cslfdn.org/pdf/Issue93_P4.pdf |title=Triumph and Tragedy over the Pacific: The 1927 Dole Air Race |author=Kurutz, Gary F. |pages=7–13 |date=2009 |number=93 |publisher=California State Library Foundation |journal=California State Library Foundation Bulletin}}
* {{cite book |title= Winners' Viewpoints: The Great 1927 Dole Race |first= Gary W. |last=Hyatt |publisher=self (Oldairfield, LLC) |date= October 2009 |isbn=9781520437200 <!-- can't find it? url is on black list! -->}}
* {{cite book |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UjVlAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA43 |title=Pushing the Limits: The Remarkable Life and Times of Vice Adm. Allan Rockwell McCann, USN |last=LaVO |first= Carl |date=2013 |publisher=Naval Institute Press |location=Annapolis, Maryland |isbn=978-1-61251-334-8 |chapter=5: Worlds to Conquer |pages=43–58}}
* {{cite book |url=https://www.chicagoreviewpress.com/race-to-hawaii-products-9780912777252.php |title=Race to Hawaii: The 1927 Dole Air Derby and the thrilling first flights that opened the Pacific |last=Ryan |first= Jason |date=August 2018 |isbn=978-0-912777-25-2 |publisher=Chicago Review Press |location=Chicago, Illinois}}

{{commons category}}

==External links==
*[https://www.flickr.com/photos/sdasmarchives/albums/72157667480712492 Dole Air Race] at [[Flickr Commons]] via [[San Diego Air and Space Museum]]
* Movie reel of the Dole Air Race [https://archive.org/details/DoleAirR1927]
*[https://www.thisdayinaviation.com/16-august-1927/ ''This day in Aviation'', extensive account and pictures from Dole Air Race]
* {{cite web |title= Arthur C. Goebel |work= Davis-Monthan Airfield Register Website |date= November 2009 |url= http://www.dmairfield.org/people/goebel_ac/index.html |access-date= September 12, 2010 }}
*[https://archiveswest.orbiscascade.org/ark:/80444/xv483978/op=fstyle.aspx?t=k&q=martin+jensen Martin Jensen papers] at the [[American Heritage Center]]

{{Aviation accidents and incidents in the 1920s|year=1927}}
{{Aviation accidents and incidents in the United States before 1930}}
[[Category:Air races]]
[[Category:Aviation accidents and incidents in 1927]]
[[Category:Aviation awards]]
[[Category:Challenge awards]]
[[Category:Dole plc]]
[[Category:Aerial disappearances]]
[[Category:Aviation accidents and incidents in Hawaii]]
[[Category:History of the Pacific Ocean]]
[[Category:History of Honolulu]]
[[Category:History of Oakland, California]]
[[Category:1927 in aviation]]
[[Category:1927 in California]]
[[Category:1927 in Hawaii]]