In the quest to establish a new around-the-world record, James Mattern, in his Lockheed Vega "Eagle" took off from Floyd Bennett Field on June 5, 1933, bound for Paris. Ice formed on the wings over the Atlantic and forced him off course. He eventually landed in Norway, refueled, and flew on to Moscow. While over Siberia, the engine failed and forced him to land the plane on the tundra. After wandering the trackless wasteland for several days, he was rescued by Eskimos. Mattern never tried to break the record again. His aircraft is shown here at Floyd Bennett Field before the attempted flight.