Breese 5 Aloha

This was in fact the Breese - Wilde Model 5 originally conceived to take part in the Dole trans Pacific race from Oakland to Honolulu. Of the eleven aircraft taking part two disappeared, seven crashed, and the Breese came second (and therefore last) to the "Woolaroc" Travel Air 5000. This was one of two in the race, the other crashing, and it earnt the crew of Martin Jensen and Paul Schluter a $10,000 prize. However, the race did cost the lives of 10 aviators.

Crew 2 Passengers on later models 5

Power plant 1 x 220 h.p Wright Whirlwind J5-C radial

Span 41'0" Length 27'0" Height 9'3" Gross weight 4,300lb

Cruising speed 105 mph

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The Breese Aircraft Company was located on Long Island in New York. Jane's has a photo of a seaplane that they built around 1917 or so. Years ago, United Airlines put out a series of postcards with early planes and included a Breese 5. You could send in for a larger version, one of which I have framed. (A Lt. Breese was the engineering officer on the Navy seaplane which completed the first trans-Atlantic flight.) More info on Breese aircraft is available at the Empire State Aerosciences Museum near Schenectady County Airport in Scotia, N.Y.

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At least five of these were built, respectively named "City of Portland", "Aloha", "Pabco Pacific Flyer", and "Irving Cobin".

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I can't be sure but think N.A.T. had one of these and I have a photo of it in flight. Below the N.A.T logo on the side appears " N.A.T. FLYING SERVICE". N.A.T was formed in 1926 and I think the photo dates from the early 1930's and likely was taken at Chicago or Cleveland.

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