China Clipper airplane lands in Manila

Identifier
irn1004721
Language of Description
English
Alt. Identifiers
  • 2013.25.1
  • RG-60.1446
Level of Description
Item
Languages
  • Silent
Source
EHRI Partner

Creator(s)

Biographical History

The five Frieder brothers from Cincinnati, Ohio (Philip, Henry, Alex, Morris, and Herbert) made their fortune in cigars, which they manufactured in the Philippines. The brothers took turns managing the cigar production. Every two years, one of the brothers (excluding Henry) and his family would relocate to their home at 44 Brixton Hill, Santa Mesa, Manila. The Frieder brothers were passionate poker players and often played with influential individuals, such as President Manuel L. Quezon, the US High Commissioner Paul V. McNutt, and Army Colonel Dwight D. Eisenhower. In the late 1930s, together, they devised a way to provide refuge in the Philippines to German and Austrian Jews. President Quezon stipulated that those who came not be a burden on the Philippine economy, so the tiny Jewish community in Manila accepted that responsibility. While McNutt pressured the US State Department to keep Philippine borders open to refugees, the Frieder brothers (working with the Joint Distribution Committee) arranged transportation and visas for European Jews who possessed skills in fourteen occupations, one being cigar manufacturing. President Quezon provided a temporary home for the refugees where they could live and grow their own food on the land he was developing for his son. The haven was named Mariquina Hall. Between 1937 and 1941, the Frieder brothers, McNutt, Quezon, and Eisenhower aided in the rescue of over 1,300 Jews. In December 1941, the Japanese invaded the Philippines. All Frieder brothers had returned to the US a month earlier in anticipation of the invasion. Between December 1941 and September 1945, Manila was under Japanese occupation. Ironically, during that time, unlike all other internationals who were interned in a make-shift prison in Santo Tomas University, the Jewish refugees were considered Germans - therefore allies of Japan - and not imprisoned. A few refugees were killed in the crossfire between US and Japanese armies as the battle for Manila ended. Birthdates: Alex Frieder - December 2, 1893 Corinne Rosenberg Frieder - March 11, 1893 Edna Frieder Lichtig - August 7, 1918 Louise Frieder - June 12, 1922 Alice Frieder Weston - July 1, 1926

Scope and Content

Interisland boat departs from pier (destined for Mindinao?), people wave ribbons. Aerial views of the first China Clipper plane flying low and landing in shallow water near the busy Pier 7 in Manila on November 29, 1935. 01:22:32 CUs, Frieder family and friends smile for the camera aboard a ship meeting the clipper.

Note(s)

  • Original metal film box labeled this reel as "1933-1935 Manila"

  • The China Clipper (NC14716) was built for Pan American Airways to inaugurate the first commercial transpacific air service. On November 22, 1935 the plane took off from Alameda, CA in an attempt to deliver the first airmail cargo across the Pacific Ocean. On November 29, the airplane reached its destination, Manila, after traveling via Honolulu, Midway Island, Wake Island, and Guam, and delivered over 110,000 pieces of mail.

Subjects

Places

Genre

This description is derived directly from structured data provided to EHRI by a partner institution. This collection holding institution considers this description as an accurate reflection of the archival holdings to which it refers at the moment of data transfer.