In service with the US Navy it made a forced landing 650 miles east of Oahu on 3 November 1945[1] and when the subsequent salvage attempt was abandoned, the Honolulu Clipper was deliberately sunk by gunfire.

The plane set a record at the time by carrying 45 persons, including thirty paying passengers, on the final leg of the trip from Manila to Hong Kong.

[2] Honolulu Clipper departed Hawaii on 3 November 1945 with an Operation Magic Carpet flight carrying 26 military personnel returning to the United States after service in the Pacific.

The aircraft lost power in both starboard engines after five hours of flying, and successfully landed 650 miles east of Oahu shortly before midnight.

The merchant tanker Englewood Hills maintained radio contact, found the aircraft and removed the passengers on the morning of 4 November.