by Lyle Jansma
Before sunrise on the morning of December 7th, 1941, eight general aviation pilots pre-flighted their aircraft, preparing to take advantage of what should have been an excellent day of flying above Oahu, Hawaii. One of those pilots was Cornelia Fort, a 22-year-old Nashville native who had passed on the world of Debutants and High Society back home to follow her dreams of flight. As circumstance would have it, Cornelia Fort and the other seven pilots were the first American aviators to face the Japanese warplanes commencing their attacks on the American military bases on Oahu that morning. In those first few minutes of the attack, enemy airmen shot three Piper J-3 Cubs from the sky and fired upon several Aeronca TC-65’s; forcing them down.
Above John Rodgers airport, a lone Interstate Cadet S-4A was doing pattern work. Cornelia Fort was giving her student a few final points before his intended solo later in the morning when something caught her eye. Inbound from the Pacific Ocean Fort saw several aircraft which she thought at first were P-40 Tomahawks. Just then, she noticed her student was on a collision course with another aircraft headed straight towards Pearl Harbor. Fort instinctively pulled back on the stick and banked to avoid the aircraft. As the plane passed beneath them, she clearly saw the red roundel of the Imperial Japanese Navy on its wings. Cornelia Fort instinctively understood what this implied, and the explosions now rippling below confirmed as much. Taking control of the diminutive Cadet, Cornelia pushed its nose over and headed straight for John Rodgers airfield. In the seconds it took to get the Cadet on the ground she was strafed in the air by one Zero and then again by another while landing; narrowly escaping death in the process. Fortunately, Cornelia Fort and the Interstate Cadet would both become Pearl Harbor Survivors.
What followed that morning, on that Day of Infamy, and the terrible losses inflicted upon America is well understood by those who know their history. What became of those eight general aviation pilots and their aircraft has become somewhat clouded; a victim of folklore and inaccurate Hollywood depictions. Today, the actual Interstate Cadet S-4A (NC37266) that Cornelia Fort flew on that morning has been found and restored to its original airworthy condition. In a project conceived by Lt.Col. Greg Anders USAF (Ret.), NC37266 flies as part of the Lost Aviators of Pearl Harbor. This project’s goal is to cast a clearer light upon what those early-morning American aviators experienced during the Pearl Harbor raid and re-introduce their story to the public. Throughout the next year leading up to the 75th anniversary of the Attack on Pearl Harbor, Anders and his Lost Aviators of Pearl Harbor plan to accomplish this by attending air shows and local events starting in Chino and culminating in Honolulu on December 7th, 2016.
While diminutive in its appearance, it can be rightfully stated that Cadet NC37266 holds a provenance on par with those of the Memphis Belle and Enola Gay. The historical significance of being the only currently airworthy aircraft to be fired upon during the Pearl Harbor attack, as well as a candidate to fly above that same battlefield 75 years later to the minute, is a rare distinction indeed. In summing up Cornelia Fort and Cadet NC37266, Anders notes that “she departed as a flight instructor and landed a veteran.” This simple statement truly embodies the important story that Anders will reveal with the Lost Aviators of Pearl Harbor project in 2016.
For more information on the project or to reach out with support, please visit their website at www.lostaviaitorsofpearlharbor.org.
As a breaking news addendum to this story, Greg Anders has purchased Tora Tora Tora Zero replica N7757 which will have an active role participating in his museum’s Lost Aviators of Pearl Harbor project, helping tell the story of Cornelia Fort and NC 37266 – ‘The Pearl’.
For more information on the project or to reach out with support, please visit their website at www.lostaviaitorsofpearlharbor.org.
Born in Milan, Italy, Moreno moved to the U.S. in 1999 to pursue a career as a commercial pilot. His aviation passion began early, inspired by his uncle, an F-104 Starfighter Crew Chief, and his father, a military traffic controller. Childhood adventures included camping outside military bases and watching planes at Aeroporto Linate. In 1999, he relocated to Atlanta, Georgia, to obtain his commercial pilot license, a move that became permanent. With 24 years in the U.S., he now flies full-time for a Part 91 business aviation company in Atlanta. He is actively involved with the Commemorative Air Force, the D-Day Squadron, and other aviation organizations. He enjoys life with his supportive wife and three wonderful children.
Thank’s
Hi, I’m a French TV documentaries director, intending to shoot a discovery doc in Hawaii next January. As I’m a private pilote, found of aviation (and owner of a 1961 PA22-108 Colt TW), I was looking for a sequence to shoot about planes and Pearl Harbour. I’d like to get in touch with Greg Anders to assess what we could do… My e-mail : [email protected]
My Dad was part owner of an Interstate Cadet in Honolulu in Dec 1941. He was a civilian working on underground fuel tanks & joined the Navy after the attack. He never knew what happened to the plane. I would love to find out if he was part of the “:underground Flying Club”. Do you have info on its members?