There is an amazing story behind the PAN AM Clipper 18603.

"Ford read on. Plan A, for the California Clipper, meant continuing on to the nearest friendly Pan American base known to be unoccupied by the Japanese, doing everything possible to avoid any contact with enemy forces. This meant continuing to Auckland. Ford had been a Navy pilot before joining Pan American. He knew exactly what to do. They needed to get away from their regular route?—?it was the first place any Japanese forces would sweep?—?and find a new path to Auckland. Rod Brown was dispatched to the map table to do so, and Leach was ordered to shut down the radio. From now they would continue in radio silence. This done, the rest of the crew were filled in on events, and all lights were extinguished. Finally, Ford unlocked his flight case and pulled out his .38 revolver. He strapped it to his hip. The California Clipper’s war had begun. And she was a long, long way from home."(The long way home)

The California Clipper left Hawaii bound for Aukland, on their way they got the message that the Japanese had bombed Peral Harbor.

Link to The long way home: https://medium.com/s/story/the-long-way-round-the-plane-that-accidentally-circumnavigated-the-world-c04ca734c6bb