SS Flying Lark facts for kids

The SS Flying Lark was a ship built in Fredrikstad, Norway in 1915. It started its life as a banana boat named SS Honduras. Over 43 years, this ship traveled all over the world. It had 10 different owners and was known by eight different names.

Today, it is most famous as the Flying Lark. This was the name given to it by its last owners in 1957. In April 1958, while in the Moluccas in eastern Indonesia, the Flying Lark was attacked. An aircraft from the CIA sank the ship. This attack was part of a secret mission and sadly killed at least nine of its crew members.

Building the Flying Lark

The ship was built by Fredrikstad Mekaniske Verksted in Fredrikstad, Norway. It was designed as a banana boat. The ship had two large boilers that made steam. This steam powered a special engine called a triple-expansion steam engine. This engine helped the ship move across the oceans.

A Ship of Many Names

The Honduras began its journey with a company called Dampskibsselskab Globe. It was registered in Kristiania, Norway. In 1918, the ship was sold to C.H.F. Jensen. Later, in 1920, S. Dreyer took over its management.

In 1934, the ship was sold again. Its new owners, Weinberger Banana Co, renamed it Tuxpam. It was then registered in Bluefields, Nicaragua. In 1938, it moved to Weinberger Steam Ship Co. A year later, in 1939, it got another new name: Denny.

Later in 1939, a Lithuanian company bought the ship. They renamed it Trakai. During World War II, in 1942, the United States Maritime Commission took control. They registered it in Panama City. The ship was managed by different companies during this time.

After the war, in 1946, the Trakai was sold again. It was renamed Phoenix and registered in Greece. In 1948, a Swiss company bought it. They changed its name to Ville de Genève and registered it in Rouen, France. In 1955, it was sold to D.S. Zampazas and others. They renamed it Ionion and registered it in Greece.

By the late 1950s, the ship was no longer carrying just bananas. It was now a general cargo ship, carrying all sorts of goods. In 1957, it was sold to Chiap Huah Shipping Co. This company gave the ship its final name, Flying Lark, and registered it in Panama.

The Sinking of the Flying Lark

In April 1958, the Flying Lark was in Amboina Harbour in Indonesia. It was loading a cargo of copra, which is dried coconut meat. On April 28, a Douglas B-26 Invader bomber plane attacked the ship. This plane was operated by the CIA. It was painted black and had no markings.

The bombing damaged the Flying Lark. Sadly, nine crew members died, and six others were reported missing. The damaged ship stayed afloat for at least two days. It finally sank on or after April 30.

Why Did the CIA Attack?

This attack was part of a secret CIA mission. The goal was to support a group called Permesta rebels in North Sulawesi, Indonesia. These rebels were fighting against the government of President Sukarno. The CIA wanted to make Sukarno's government weaker.

The CIA pilots were told to attack foreign merchant ships. The idea was to scare away trade from Indonesian waters. This would hurt Indonesia's economy. The CIA hoped this would make people turn against President Sukarno.

The pilot who bombed the Flying Lark was Allen Lawrence Pope. He was a former USAF pilot working for the CIA. On May 18, the Indonesian Navy and Air Force shot down Pope's plane. They captured him. After this, the USA quickly stopped the CIA mission and changed its approach to Indonesia.

Location in Indonesia