Round-the-World Flights

Odom & Reynolds Round-the World Flight

Page 3e (rev: 1001)

Flown Cover	Reynolds Autograph	Cachet	Reynolds,Odom & Sallee	Plane

	Milton Reynolds was impressed with the reliability and speed of the Douglas A-26 Invader 
plane. As a millionaire pen manufacturer, he purchased a surplus A-26 from the government to 
be used as a company plane.  He envisioned that if he beat Howard Hughes RTW flight record, it
would give his company world-wide publicity.  He had the plane (named, "Reynolds Bombshell) 
stripped of all non-essential military gear and installed extra fuel tanks.

	He hired William Odom to be his pilot and T. Carroll Sallee as navigator.  Reynolds wanted 
publicity for his company and setting a new RTW speed record would provide this exposure.  The 
trio departed from LaGuardia Airport in New York City on April 12, 1947 headed for Gander, 
Newfoundland to refuel for their Atlantic crossing.

	Minor mechanical difficulties were overcome on route.  Because of the lack of accurate 
weather information, some legs of their flight were extremely hazardous. They were on oxygen 
most of the flight as they flew at altitudes from 19,000 to 23,000 feet.

	Odom landed at LaGuardia on April 16, 1947 having traveled 20,020 miles in 3D 6H 55M 56S. 
Because they did not apply to the Federal Aeronautique Internationale (FAI) before their 
flight, their RTW mark was declared unofficial.

Itinerary:
Departed New York City		04/12/47
	Gander, Newfoundland
	Paris, France
	Cairo, Egypt
	Karachi, Pakistan
	Calcutta, India
	Shanghai, China
	Tokyo, Japan	
	Adak Island, Aleutians
	Edmonton, Canada
Arrived New York City		04/16/47

Keep the A-26 Flying. Visit the Commemorative Air Force.

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