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LOCKHEED VEGA Model 1 NC32E
“INVALID COACH”
This airplane is a Lockheed Vega Model 1 (S/N 33; ATC #49)
manufactured in January 1929 by Lockheed Aircraft Corporation,
Burbank,
CA. It left the factory with a Wright Whirlwind
engine (S/N 9285). It was a five-place airplane.
It landed at Tucson once on May 15, 1929 piloted by E.L. Benway. In
the Remarks column of the register, the flight was identified
by Benway as a “Ferry to N.Y.”
NC32E sold on August 14, 1929 to California Aerial Transport,
Inglewood, CA (Lawrence B. Talbot, President). It was
painted white with a red cross, and named the “Invalid
Coach”. It was used as an ambulance airplane.
Image, below, from R.S. Allen, p. 167. Follow this
link for
another image.
NC32E was the first airplane ever fitted out as an
ambulance. It was more than just the paint scheme. It
had a suspended, form-fitting bed rigged to remain level
during flight. It had a first-aid cabinet, stretchers,
heat pads, blankets, sheets and pillows. There was
room to seat a doctor and nurse at the bedside.
According to the NASM record, NC32E was involved in an accident
at San Bernardino, CA on July 9, 1934. I have seen other sources that cite the crash date as September 7, 1934. Someone got the 7/9 switched to
9/7 somewhere along the line. I have two sources that
agree on the 7/9 date. A third source is below, from the Web, an Acme photograph via eBay. The photograph was dated July 10.
Lockheed NC32M Crash, July 9, 1934 (Source: Web)
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Below, the press caption on the back of the photograph. If there were three passengers on board, only two, plus pilot Hague, are mentioned in the caption.
Lockheed NC32M Crash, July 9, 1934 (Source: Web)
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Regardless of the date, Pilot George E. Hague and two passengers
were killed and a third passenger was injured. According
to a letter from Paul Mantz (United Air Services) the airplane
was “…completely demolished. Remains stored
in our warehouse.” No further information.
Below, another earlier profile of 32E shared with us by friend of dmairfield.org, Tim Kalina. He says about this image, "Although you can't make out the registration on the rudder this is obviously NC35E. NC32E was owned by California Aerial Transport, which was based at LA Municipal Airport. The airport was originally known as Mines Field and this is the location of the attached photo."
Lockheed Vega NC32E, Mines Field, Date Unknown (Source: Kalina)
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UPLOADED: 04/14/06 REVISED: 01/15/11
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