07/31/2014. Remarks by Johan Visschedijk: "The Swallow Airplane Company at Wichita, Kansas, built this monoplane for William P. Erwin to compete in the ill-fated Dole Air Derby (also referred to as Dole Air Race), to fly the Pacific nonstop from Oakland, California to Honolulu, Hawaii. The two-seat was powered by a 225 hp Wright J-5 radial engine. The derby started on August 16, 1927, Erwin and his navigator Alvin Eichwaldt returned soon after take off due to mechanical problems and subsequently did not compete.

Two days later Erwin and Eichwaldt departed in their repaired Special to search for missing Derby competitors and their aircraft, but were never seen again. Related to the Derby ten lives and eight aircraft were lost. Reportedly the Swallow Airplane Company went into receivership following the demise of the Special."