The very first Lockheed (rather than Loughead) aircraft, the Vega prototype, was bought by newspaper tycoon William Randolph Hearst and took off in the Dole Air Race to Hawaii one month after its first flight. It was clearly the most advanced plane in the race but vanished in the Pacific with pilot John Frost and navigator Gordon Scott. Photo from: San Diego Air & Space Museum

The Travel Air 5000 was designed as a small airliner. Ernest Smith succeeded in flying the prototype from Oakland to Hawaii in July 1927, despite crashing into a thorn tree on arrival. One month later the Travel Air 5000 Special, NX869 Woolaroc, won the disastrous Dole Air Race over the same route. Seen here just before take-off, sister aircraft Oklahoma was not successful - pilot Bennett Griffin aborted the race with a technical problem and returned to Oakland. Reg not painted on race day. Photo from: California State Library

Only two aircraft made it from California to Hawaii in the tragic Dole Air Race. Seven crashed before or during the race. Miss Doran disappeared in the Pacific without trace, carrying pilot Augy Pedlar, navigator Vilas Knope and the brave passenger, Mildred Doran. There was no radio on board. The name Miss Doran was worn frontally. Photo from: California State Library