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The Descriptive Finding Guide for the China National Aviation Corporation Collection
SDASM.SC.10025
SDASM.SC.10025
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Title: China National Aviation Corporation Collection
Identifier/Call Number: SDASM.SC.10025
Contributing Institution:
San Diego Air and Space Museum Library and Archives
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
0.21 Cubic feet
10” X 15” X 2.5” box containing a Pass-Down Log
Date (inclusive): 1929-1949
Abstract: China National Aviation Corporation (CNAC) was founded as a partnership between Curtiss Aircraft and the Chinese Nationalist
Government in 1929. This Collection contains a Pass Down Log from CNAC. The pass down log in this collection is a written
communication between various individuals such as Hugh Woods, a manager, and pilots such as Donald Wong, Moon Chin, Jay Thom,
and others.
Conditions Governing Access note
The collection is open to researchers by appointment.
Some copyright may be reserved. Consult with the library director for more information.
Immediate Source of Acquisition note
The materials in this Collection were donated to the San Diego Air and Space Museum.
[Item], [Filing Unit], [Series Title], [Subgroups], [Record Group Title and Number], [Repository “San Diego Air & Space Museum
Library & Archives”]
China National Aviation Corporation (CNAC) was founded as a partnership between Curtiss Aircraft and the Chinese Nationalist
Government in 1929. The manager was an American named Clement Keys. After accidents and disagreements with Chiang Kai-Shek,
the Chinese Nationalist president, Keys sold his interest to Pan American Airways in 1933. The airline used the Douglas DC-3
(military C-47) Skytrain and the Curtiss C-46 Commando to haul passengers and cargo from India “over the Hump” (“the hump”
being the name given by Allied pilots in World War II to the eastern end of the Himalayan Mountains) from Dinjan, India to
cities in central China. Military airlifts began in 1942 and continued until 1949 when the Communist government created a
new airline called Central Air Transportation Corporation. This company took over all operations from CNAC.
The pass down log in this collection is a written communication between various individuals such as Hugh Woods, a manager,
and pilots such as Donald Wong, Moon Chin, Jay Thom, and others.
This collection consists of a 10” X 15” X 2.5” box containing a Pass-Down Log from the China National Aviation Corporation
base in Dinjan, India. This pass-down log extends from August to October, 1945. It involves day-to-day operations of China
National Aviation Corporation (CNAC). In addition to the log pages, there are within the book various memorandums and communiques
loosely pressed into the book.
The log book contains abbreviations, some of which are included here: NKG - Nanking SCG - Sichang CKG - Chunking KMG - Kunming
TMW - Tomorrow PL - Plane WX - Weather COP - Co-Pilot (first officer) DJN - Dinjan, India HKW - Hankow, China SHA - Shanghai
China CATC Central Air Transport Corporation
Also note that dates and times are listed in the log together. Example: 230015 means 11:00 P.M. on the fifteenth.
Related Archival Materials note
Crouch, Gregory. China’s Wings: War, intrigue, Romance, and Adventure in the Middle Kingdom during the golden age of flight.
New York: Bantam Books,2012. http://207.67.203.79/S92006Staff/OPAC/TitleView/CompleteDisplay.aspx?FromOPAC=true&DbCode=0&PatronCode=0&Language=english&RwSearchCode=0&WordHits=&BibCodes=4200074
Willit, Robert L. An Airline at War: Pan Am’s China National Aviation Corporation and its men. Booksurge Publishing, 2008.
http://207.67.203.79/S92006Staff/OPAC/TitleView/CompleteDisplay.aspx?FromOPAC=true&DbCode=0&PatronCode=0&Language=english&RwSearchCode=0&WordHits=&BibCodes=4229587
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Chiang, Kai-shek, 1887-1975
China National Aviation Corporation.
Mcdonald, William C.
Central Air Transport Corporation
China
China Burma India Theater (CBI)
China National Aviation Corporation (CNAC)
Curtiss C-47 Commando
Curtiss-Wright Aircraft
Douglas DC-3 Family
Pan American World Airways, Inc.