The earliest flight around the world was by two US Army Douglas DWC seaplanes in 57 “hops” between 6 April and 28 September 1924, beginning and ending at Seattle, Washington, USA. The Chicago was piloted by Lieutenant Lowell H. Smith and Lieutenant Leslie P. Arnold, and the New Orleans by Lieutenant Erik H. Nelson and Lieutenant John Harding (all USA). Their flying time for the 42,398-km (26,345-mile) trip was 371 hr 11 min.