Pan American World Airways - Images of a Great Airline

This version of Pan American World Airways – Images of a Great

Airline is a condensed edition in which a significant number of

pages from the original version are not included.

The original version is available in a soft cover book and can be

purchased from the publisher at the following link:

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The pages included here are from the manuscript prior to

submission to the publisher and are “pre-camera ready”.

Therefore borders on some images do not appear cropped.

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Table of Contents

Section Page Preface vii Acknowledgements ix Beginnings 1 War Years 15 Piston Era 23 Jet Age 47 Top of the World - Boeing 747 65 End of an American Icon 83

Preface

Probably no airline in the history of aviation has attracted more attention and has been more written about than Pan American World Airways, for decades the symbol of airline superiority world-wide. This is the airline that pioneered air navigation and communications. It introduced international and over-ocean flights. It set the standard for in-flight service and brought air travel to the masses through the introduction of “Tourist” class. It brought the industry into the jet age and eventually the era of the wide-body jet. To thousands of Americans living and working overseas, Pan American meant home. Pan American served the United States and never failed to answer the call of the country. For many, Pan American was the symbol of the United States around the world.

Pan American’s pioneering “firsts” have been thoroughly documented in many books and articles. And indeed a wealth of books, ranging from detailed histories to coffee-table picture books, is available to anyone interested in Pan American. In this book, Pan American’s firsts, along with significant events, are presented in chronological order and are divided into six sections representing key eras of the life of Pan American: (1) Beginnings (1927-1939); (2) The War Years (1940-1945); (3) The Piston Era (1946-1957); (4) The Jet Age (1958-1969); (5) Top of the World – Boeing 747 (1970-1979); and (6) End of an American Icon (1980-1991). The firsts and significant events are listed at the beginning of each section followed by illustrations from that era, including covers of annual reports, covers of time tables (along with a page of flight schedules and route map), baggage strap tags, safety information cards and pictures of aircraft. Some images are of items never before illustrated, many of which are rare or no longer exist.

I hope readers will enjoy seeing these items that were representative of Pan American’s

glory years and that this book will find its place alongside the many books already written about Pan American World Airways.

Jamie Baldwin Cambridge, Maryland

“Mass travel by air may prove to be more significant to world destiny than the atom

bomb. For there can be no atom bomb potentially more powerful than the air tourist,

charged with curiosity, enthusiasm and good will, who can roam the four corners of

the world, meeting in friendship and understanding the people of other nations and

races. The tourist plane and the bomber for years have been racing each other toward

a photo finish. In my opinion, however, the tourist plane, if allowed to move

unshackled by political and economic restrictions, will win this race between

education and catastrophe.”

Juan T. Trippe Chairman of the Board Pan American World Airways, Inc.

Beginnings

Pan Am Photo from Author’s Collection

Charles A. Lindbergh (left), Juan T. Trippe (right)


Fokker F-VII with Staff

Pan American Firsts and Key Events — 1927-1939

1927

When its Fokker F-VII left Key West on October 28, 1927 for Havana with 772 lb of mail, Pan American Airways became the first American airline to establish a permanent international service.

Was the first American airline to operate multi-engined aircraft permanently in scheduled transportation with the Fokker F-VII.

1928

Inaugurated passenger service on 16 January 1928 with a Fokker F-VII between Key West and Havana.

Established its base at Miami on 29 October 1928.

Was the first American airline to use radio communications.

Was first to order and purchase aircraft built to its own specifications, the Sikorsky S-38. This aircraft, a float-plane, piloted by Charles A. Lindbergh, completed the first airmail flight to the Canal Zone on 6 February 1929. Copilot John A. Hambleton, one of the airline’s co-founders, previously made the initial survey flights and set up refueling stops in Central America.

1929

Was first to develop and use instrument flying techniques.

Was first to employ cabin attendants and serve meals aloft.

Pan American-Grace Airways (PANAGRA) formed jointly with W.R. Grace Corporation.

1930

Was the first American airline to offer international air express service.

1931

Was the first American airline to develop and operate four-engined flying boats with the Sikorsky S-40. This aircraft was the first to be designated “Clipper”. The American Clipper made its first flight on 19 November 193

First Timetable - 1927 (image of a reproduction of the original eight-page folder)


Fokker F-VII


Ford Tri-Motor

Time Table – 1930s 1930 Annual Report

Time Table 1930s


Sikorsky S-40 – Southern Clipper


Sikorsky S-42

Time Table 1930s


Martin M-130 - China Clipper

War Years


Boeing 314 – Yankee Clipper

Pan American Firsts and Key Events — The War Years

1941

Involvement with World War II began prior to the bombing of Pearl Harbor. After a meeting between Juan Trippe and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, supplies were airlifted to West Africa and airstrips upgraded across Africa to reinforce General Montgomery’s 8th Army.

1942

In January, 1942, the Pacific Clipper, a Boeing 314, commanded by Captain Robert Ford, completed the first flight around the world. Originating in San Francisco, the flight was required to return to the United States on a westward course due to military action following the bombing of Pearl Harbor. From Honolulu, the flight eventually arrived in New York after stopping in Canton, Suva (Fiji), Noumea, Auckland, Gladstone, Port Darwin, Surabaya, Trincomalee (Ceylon), Karachi, Bahrain, Khartoum, Leopoldville, Natal, and Port of Spain.

Was first to operate international service with all-cargo aircraft using DC-4s (Army C-54s) and Coronados (Navy R5Ds).

1943

On 11 January 1943 President Franklin D. Roosevelt flew on the Dixie Clipper, a Boeing 314, to the Casablanca Conference. He was the first American president to fly on a commercial airliner while in office. The route was Miami-Trinidad-Belem, Brazil-Bathurst, Gambia and then by army transport to Casablanca. The return trip by the Clipper originated in Bathurst and stopped in Natal, Brazil, and Trinidad, arriving in Miami, 30 January 1943.

1945-1946

As the war was winding down, began taking delivery of DC-4s and Lockheed

Constellations. In January 1946, trans-Atlantic services commenced with the Constellation. In March 1946, services between Los Angeles-San Francisco-Honolulu also commenced with the Constellation.

Piston Era

R.A. Scholefield Photo (airliners.net)

Boeing 377 – Clipper Seven Seas

Jochen Beeck Photo (airliners.net)

Douglas DC-7C – Clipper Bald Eagle

1948 Time Table with Round-the-World Schedules and Route Map

Baggage Strap Tags (1950s)


Lockheed 049 Constellation – Clipper Winged Arrow


Douglas DC-6B – Clipper Midnight Sun

Connie Heggblom Photo (airliners.net)

Douglas DC-6B – Clipper Viking – at Leopoldville

Panagra Time Table and Baggage Strap Tags (1950s)

Mel Lawrence Photo

DC-7B - El InterAmericano – at Miami

Mel Lawrence Photo DC-6B – El Pacifico - at Miami


Douglas DC-7B – Clipper Jupiter Rex

Mel Lawrence Photo

Boeing 377 – Clipper Reindeer – at Tokyo

Mel Lawrence Photo

Douglas DC-7C – Clipper Flora Temple – at San Francisco


1958

On 26 October 1958, Clipper America, a Boeing 707-121, left New York for Paris inaugurating the first scheduled trans-Atlantic service with American-built jets. Was first to offer a daily schedule with the Boeing 707.

1959

Was first to offer a scheduled round-the-world jet service.

1961

Was first to offer a worldwide marketing service for shippers and importers around the world.

1962

Was first to establish a global electronic reservations system: Panamac.

Was first to complete 100,000 transatlantic flights.

1963

Was first to operate Boeing 707-321C pure-jet freighters.

1964

The Beatles arrive in New York on Clipper Defiance for their United States debut on the Ed Sullivan Show.

Was first to relay in-flight messages via Satellite Syncom III.

1966

Was first to order the Boeing 747.

1967

Was first to make a fully automatic approach and landing in scheduled service.

PANAGRA sold to Braniff on 8 January 1967.

Baggage Strap Tags (1950-60s)

Pan Am Postcard from Author’s Collection

Boeing 707-121

Mel Lawrence Photo

Douglas DC-8 – Clipper Great Republic – at New York

1959 and 1960 Annual Reports


Douglas DC-8 – Clipper Queen of the Pacific



Photo by Author

Boeing 707-321 – Clipper Stargazer – at Los Angeles

George Hamlin Photo

Boeing 727-121 – Clipper Flotte Motte - at Miami


Top of the World - Boeing 747

Photo by Author

Boeing 747-121


1970

Najeeb J. Halaby appointed Chairman.

On 22 January at 1:52 a.m., Clipper Young America, a Boeing 747-121, left New York for London (Heathrow) with 330 passengers, the first airline to operate a commercial flight with a wide-body jet.

Was first to fly in the 747 a production-model system for communications via satellite.

Was first to test Data Link, automatic aircraft identification and position equipment.

1971

Was first to open a major maintenance facility specifically designed for the Boeing 747.

Was first to offer round-the-world service with the Boeing 747.

1972

William T. Seawell succeeds Halaby.

Was first to use the FAA-certificated visual approach monitor (VAM), a heads-up pilot display used during visual landings.

Was first to use electronic surveillance and screening devices for security in boarding passengers.

Was first to log 100,000,000 air miles flown with its 747 fleet.

1973

Was first to offer upper deck dining service in the 747s.

Was first to order the Boeing 747SP (Special Performance) jet.

Was first to open the largest single air terminal in the world at New York Kennedy International Airport, New York, 5 December 1973.

1974

Was first to install the Ground Proximity Warning System (GPWS) fleet-wide and have the system certificated by the FAA.


Boeing 747-121


1971-72 Time Table with Flight Schedules and Route Map

1972, 1973 and 1975 Time Tables

John Wegg Photo (Airways Magazine)

Boeing 747SP – Clipper Young America – landing at Los Angeles

A J Best Photo (airliners.net)

Boeing 737 – Clipper Charlottenburg – landing at London (Heathrow)


Summer 1978 Time Tables with Flight Schedules and Route Map

End of an American Icon

Konstantin Wedelstaedt Photo (airliners.net)

Clipper Juan T. Trippe


1980

Merged with National Airlines, 7 January 1980.

Took delivery of the Lockheed L-1011-500 on 11 April 1980 and operated the aircraft with “active controls”, a fuel saving computer.

1981

Started first service to the People’s Republic of China, 27 February 1981.

Pan Am Express formed, 1 June 1981.

1982

C. Edward Acker succeeded William T. Seawell as Chairman and CEO.

1984

Introduced the Airbus A-300.

1985

Sold Pacific Routes to United Airlines, 22 April 1985.

1986

Inaugurated the “Pan Am Shuttle”, Washington-New York (LaGuardia)-Boston with Boeing 727s. New York terminus was the renovated and rejuvenated Marine Air Terminal, from where the Boeing 314 flying boats once departed.

1988

Thomas Plaskett replaced C. Edward Acker.

Clipper Maid of the Seas (Pan Am 103) destroyed in terrorist bombing over Lockerbie, Scotland.

1990

Sold IGS (Internal German Services) to Lufthansa.

Sold London Heathrow routes to United Airlines.

1991

Filed for bankruptcy protection on 8 January 1991 under Chapter 11 of the US Bankruptcy Laws.

Sold the Frankfurt hub and remaining European routes and the Pan Am Shuttle, along with aircraft, to Delta Airlines on 28 July 1991.

On 1 November 1991, the last trans-Atlantic revenue flight, Clipper Voyager, arrived in New York from Frankfurt.

On 4 December 1991, ceased all operations. A 747 from New York to São Paulo was the last revenue flight from New York; a 727, Clipper Goodwill from Barbados, was the last revenue flight to arrive at Miami, greeted by emotional scenes and a fire-hose display.

The Pan Am/National Merger

George Hamlin Photo

John Wegg Photo (Airways Magazine)

McDonnell Douglas DC-10 – Clipper Morning Star

George Hamlin Photo

Lockheed L-1011-500 – Clipper Golden Eagle – at Houston

1982 Time Table with Flight Schedules and Route Map

1986, 1987 and 1988 Time Tables (above)

Route Map from 1986 Time Table (below)

Photo by Author

Airbus A-300 – Clipper Chicago – at Caracas


Bill Hough Photo (airliners.net)

Airbus A-310 – Clipper Mayflower


A J Best Photo (airliners.net)

Boeing 747-200 – Clipper Belle of the Sky

Safety Information Cards – Boeing 747

Bill Hough Photo (airliners.net)

De Havilland Canada (DHC) Dash 7 – Pan Am Express – at New York

Safety Information Cards – DHC-Dash 7

George Hamlin Photo

Boeing 727-200 – Clipper Rambler – taxiing at Marine Air Terminal, New York (LaGuardia) Clippers Pathfinder and Mohawk at gates (foreground)

Andy Martin Photo (airliners.net)

Boeing 727-200 – Clipper Glad Tidings – at Washington (National)

Gerhard Plomitzer Photo (airliners.net)

Boeing 737 – Clipper Morning Glory

Photo by Author

Boeing 747 at London (Heathrow) on a snowy April morning

This map from the May 1991 Time Table reflects the European routes after the sale of the London (Heathrow) gates and slots (note Pan American continued to serve London (Gatwick) from

Miami and Detroit). These routes (and Frankfurt hub), were sold to Delta in July 1991 with the exception of a Miami-Paris route.

1989, 1990 and 1991 Time Tables

Last Time Table and Map

Baggage tag issued Last In-flight Magazine on the last day of flights to Europe from New York, 31 October 1991.

Associated Press Photo

Last revenue flight from Europe, Clipper Voyager, leaving Frankfurt, 1 November 1991

Miami Herald Photo

Last revenue flight, Clipper Goodwill, arriving at Miami, 4 December 1991

The Final Resting Place for a Proud Fleet

George Hamlin Photo



Pan American World Airways - Images of a Great Airline

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