Major Ramón Franco, brother of the future Spanish dictator, and his crew came down in the North Atlantic after their Dornier flying boat ran out of fuel. Their westward attempt to circle the world was publicity-minded as well as ambitious. Eagle rescued the aviators in June 1929. The rescue demonstrates how a mobile aviation ship could support aircraft far from land as well as operate its own combat air group.
Notable Point · 39:49-40:29
Eagle rescues Ramón Franco's flying-boat crew
In June 1929 Eagle recovered Major Ramón Franco and his crew after their Dornier flying boat exhausted its fuel during a westbound round-the-world attempt.