Vol. XX, No. 3 — Fall/Winter 2016

www.panam.org

NEWSLETTERCLI OF THEPP PAN AMER HISTORICAL FOUNDATION From The Chairman, storical fou hi nda am tio Ed Trippe... n an Historical Foundation p

2 Celebrates 25th Anniversary 5t 17 h 20 an 2 - niversary 199 Congratulations from Kathleen Clair, Founding Member of the Pan Am Historical Foundation

Kathleen Clair joined Pan Am in 1948 and worked as the assistant to Juan Trippe, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, until her retirement As we approach the bittersweet 25th in 1980. After Pan Am filed for bankruptcy in 1991, Kathleen became a anniversary of the demise of Pan Am, it’s founding Director of the Pan Am Historical Foundation, which she served appropriate to remember all the good times shared during the many years that on until she stepped down in 2002. Kathleen’s recollections of her life at Pan Am prospered, as well as the high Pan Am and her memories of the early days of the Foundation are part of points during the past 25 years. In this the heritage of the Company. In her words… issue, Kathleen Claire, Juan Trippe’s Assistant for more than 40 years, shares I can’t believe it’s been 25 years since we scavengers interested in acquiring Pan her recollections of the founding of the formed the Foundation. Here is how it Am’s historic memorabilia – some were Pan Am Historical Foundation (PAHF) came about. A group of us, all retirees legitimate collectors and others who would in the wake of the Pan Am bankruptcy. organized by Norm Blake, met regularly have sold the company’s legacy on eBay. To It is a particularly poignant reminder for lunch in Greenwich, Connecticut assure success and to meet any competitive of how employees from all areas of the to reminisce about the old days and our bids for the assets, the Pan Am Historical company and throughout the world memories of Pan Am. At the time Pan Foundation and the University of Miami joined in saving our archives and Am closed down we were all devastated, decided to bid together to acquire the memorabilia. and very concerned that the Company’s archives. It was agreed that the University PAHF continues to focus on its mis-“historic archives and memorabilia might of Miami’s Richter Library would get the sion to preserve the legacy of our great be lost in the bankruptcy proceedings. archives so their historic value would be , and an important part of that Under the leadership of that group which saved in perpetuity. The Historical Society legacy is the loyalty of its employees. I included Paul Roitsch, Ed and Charlie of South would get the memora- can’t think of another company in the Trippe and me —and many others who bilia as they had plans to create an aviation world that has the culture Pan Am cre- quickly joined the effort—a plan was museum in Miami. ated to inspire such loyalty. Employees developed to create the Pan Am Historical Most of the archives had been stored in a from every corner of the globe continue Foundation to raise the necessary funds to warehouse in New Jersey and needed to be to meet with regularity and enthusiasm. save the archives and memorabilia. sorted and catalogued before they could The Pan Am Reunion in Berlin next Former Pan Am employees, Directors, be sent to the Richter Library. Retired May reflects that culture. The reunion and friends the Company were contacted Captain Paul Roitsch organized a group to has been organized by Captain Don and many gave generously. I remember go to the warehouse to take on this mam- Cooper and is sponsored by the PAHF. contacting former Pan Am Board mem- moth project. Paul reached out to a group It is expected to bring hundreds together ber, Thomas Watson, Chairman of IBM. of pilots, who reached out to other pilots. to celebrate Pan Am and to remember He immediately said he would send us Flight attendants, office personnel and oth- its Internal German Service (IGS) opera- a check for $10,000. He said that Juan ers also joined the group. Paul and I went tion that served Berlin all through the Trippe was a hero if there ever was one. every day – and there were always at least Cold War years. Al Ueltshi, Trippe’s former pilot of the a dozen volunteers there on any given day. As we approach 2017, the PAHF con- Pan Am executive airplane, who went on We went through all the file boxes, keeping tinues to focus on its long standing goals to become the Founder and Chairman of the important stuff and discarding the rest. of the creation of documentary film(s) Flight Safety, also gave generously. And The pilots were often the first to arrive. on the history of Pan Am, plans for there were many others. They made the coffee and offered us all the development of a traveling Pan Am As the bankruptcy proceeding contin- “coffee, tea or milk.” We brought in old Chairman continues on p. 2 ued though 1991 there were numerous 25th Anniversary continues” on p. 2 establish a partnership with a PBS station, with aircraft models. While much work is 25th Anniversary from p.1 and have an agreement, in principle, still required, the exhibit will also include vacuum cleaners from our homes and, at with WCVE in Richmond, Virginia. An films of interviews with a generation of the end of the day, the pilots would literally agreement with WCVE would allow the Pan Am history-makers. run the vacuum over the floor to clean up producers to pursue a broadcast schedule The website also continues to grow under the place. I really enjoyed going out to the on either American Experience, the PBS the management of Doug and Mimi warehouse. We all had a lot of fun. flagship history program, or on Ameri- Miller. Pan Am families with film and can Public Television, the second largest other Pan Am memorabilia are encour- That’s how the Foundation got its start. I distributor of public television programs. continued to work on the Foundation for aged to contact the website and donate Efforts to secure alternative funding to their materials to the PAHF. at least another ten years. Twenty-five years replace the Smithsonian contribution are later, the Foundation is still going strong, also progressing and, encouragingly, a As we approach the 25th anniversary and I was pleased to learn that the Pan Am grant of $50,000 was recently secured. of the Foundation, it is safe to say that archives are the most viewed collection at we are not only alive and well—we are the Richter Library. The traveling exhibit will draw upon prospering and exploring new horizons to PAHF’s outstanding library of both still preserve the legacy of Pan Am. I send my heartfelt congratulations to the photos and motion picture images, along Board and to all of our members for help- ing to preserve the legacy of Pan Am.” — Kathleen Clair A Trip to Remember: Richard Rhode’s Journey to Hong Kong by Clipper, 1938 Chairman from p.1 By Doug Miller exhibit, and the continued growth of the website, panam.org. Part Two: We left Richard Rhode heading out over the Pacific as a passenger on Pan Am’s , in June of 1938. (See Clipper Spring 2016) PAHF has also been supportive of the recently organized Pan Am Museum Foundation, which shares our mission to The 34 year-old NACA engineer was Richard, ever the engineer, kept up his preserve Pan Am archives. Their organiz- traveling at the behest of the airline’s chief observations: ers have launched an ambitious under- engineer Andre Priester to survey real One notices that hot foods and liquids taking to create a permanent Pan Am conditions the clippers faced flying across lose temperature rapidly after being Museum. As an initial step, the Pan Am the Pacific. served, as a result of the high rate of Museum Foundation will open a Pan Am One of his particular interests was docu- evaporation at the cruising altitude . . . Exhibit at the Cradle of Aviation on Long menting meteorological conditions. He no structural conditions worth recording Island, NY at a gala event on December had met with the Pacific Division’s chief up to time for retirement at night . . . no 3, 2016. PAHF is supporting the Exhibit weatherman, W.H. Clover for a brief- cumulus clouds of sufficient size to cause and will provide a virtual reality film on ing, but in 1938 the clippers flew across severe turbulence at the cruising altitude the B-314. We will also lend two models the ocean without a great deal of precise of about 8,500 feet . . . flying dead to the Exhibit, a DC- 8 and a 747, both weather information. Of course, observ- smooth from the time we left Alameda previously on display at the Intrepid Sea, ers at Pan Am’s island bases could provide until just before daylight as we were Air and Space Museum in New York. up-to-date weather data, but there were approaching the Hawaiian Islands. Progress on the documentary film has been still huge gaps. Sporadic reports from Hawaii provided Richard and his fellow frustrating. Until recently, we were moving ships at sea helped, but were not con- passengers an enjoyable interlude, but ahead with plans for Across the Pacific to be sistent. A third – very poor – source of early in the morning of day after their launched with the Smithsonian Channel weather information could be gleaned by arrival from the mainland, they were on this fall. However, in July our producers eavesdropping on Japanese radio traffic. their way again: Pan Am had hired the expert services of were advised of an unexpected problem. By this time I was getting accustomed to The Smithsonian Channel has a policy John Cooke, former US naval intelligence officer who had been trained to decipher travel by Clipper . . . it became increas- that their programs cannot be encumbered ingly difficult to fight a tendency to feel by union agreements. The conflict arises Japanese for just such work, but it was hardly a reliable source. that crossing the Pacific by air was an because our documentary uses union actors easy job. The flight was not difficult to play the roles of the film’s historical fig- So as the flight droned on, Rhode made for the crew under the almost-perfect ures. The agreement with the Screen Actors careful observations about cloud forma- conditions of our trip. The difficult jobs Guild (SAG) provides that their actors tions, along with copious photographs. are on the ground, performing innumer- participate in residual revenues. As neither Some of these provide a sense of the lone able chores to complete preparations the Smithsonian nor SAG was willing to aircraft out over the vast Pacific. Unlike for the initial takeoff in the short time compromise, the producers decided to part today, the Martin M-130 was likely the between round trips. When I learned ways with the Smithsonian Channel. The only aircraft aloft over the ocean for later of delays caused by mechanical and financial consequence, however, is that thousands of miles. The plane’s radio offi- structural failures of the Philippine and the documentary will lose the $200,000 cer kept up regular contact with distant China Clippers on the flights following Smithsonian Channel commitment. ground stations, tapping out half-hourly ours, it made me realize fully the impor- Beginning in September, the produc- reports, but in truth the Hawaii Clipper tance of the ground organization and the ers embarked on an alternative plan to was a speck in the vastness. Trip to Remember continues on back cover 2 A Tribute to Joe Sutter ’s 747 Design Engineer By Ronald Marasco Ron Marasco was involved with the 747 program at Pan Am since its inception. He held senior positions with Pan Am including Vice President of Maintenance and Engineering. Ron serves on the Board of the Pan Am Historical Foundation, and he is the author of the book, ‘The 747: A Tumultuous Beginning’.

oe Sutter, Boeing’s iconic Chief 747 There were always fifteen to twenty aircraft J Design Engineer and beloved friend of in various states of disrepair on the flight Pan Am, passed away at age 95 on August line and rarely did any of them have engines 30, 2016. He was the engineering driving installed because development of the Pratt force who led the creation of an airplane Whitney JT 9D engine significantly lagged years ahead of its time, thus fulfilling the the aircraft development. The JT9D engine vision of two of aviation’s most courageous problems were cataclysmic and extremely executives of the twentieth century: Bill disruptive to the flow of the manufacturing Allen, Chairman of Boeing, and Juan Trippe, process. It was an issue Sutter had to con- Chairman of Pan American World Airways. tinually deal with and agonize over: Sutter grasped their vision and spearheaded tall sides punctuated by two parallel rows “Never before in the history of commercial the development of an aircraft, whose physi- of windows like portholes. Thus my people aviation had a new type of airliner been cal size was breathtaking and its technology began drawing up double decker fuselages.” developed for a type of engine that didn’t unprecedented. It was the most transforma- exist yet.” Sutter’s team quickly determined the double tive event ever in commercial aviation and a decker was impractical, which was not good Joe Sutter’s pugnacious demeanor and relent- bold financial undertaking. Boeing and the news for top management because less pursuit of engineering excellence all of aviation world invested hundreds of millions they felt this could quash Pan Am’s interest. which have been well documented, served of dollars, without ever having seen a com- They decided to send a respected interior him extremely well. He was the right man pleted prototype aircraft. There were many design engineer to New York who had previ- for the job, at the right time. He was an skeptics and historians have said Boeing had ously worked with Pan Am, to hopefully sell effective catalyst working to balance manag- literally bet the company on the 747. The them on the single deck, wide bodied, twin ing his engineers, with the demands of his pressure on Sutter and his people to produce aisle design concept. It was an impressive management. Much has been written about was enormous. demonstration, and the rest is history. The Joe Sutter’s innumerable aviation contribu- Thankfully for history, Sutter in his mid- single deck, wide-bodied design would set tions over a long productive professional life, eighties wrote a tell-all book the 747: Creat- the standard for all of the long range wide- but he will always be remembered for how ing the World’s First Jumbo Jet and Other bodied aircraft that dominate the airline he miraculously presided over a design and Adventures from a Life in Aviation. It’s a landscape today. manufacturing process that was, without spellbinding account of unrevealed details question—chaotic. This often told story of the single deck on how thousands of Boeings engineers fuselage evolution was the first step in mak- Joe Sutter’s passing, brings down the curtain and technicians struggled mightily to keep ing what was simply a vision come alive. on commercial aviation’s glorious, swash- the 747 program from unraveling. He also But there were almost insurmountable buckling era, where a single individual, underscores Pan Am’s pivotal contribution in design challenges that lay ahead. Boeing like Joe Sutter, could make such a major launching the 747 program. Sutter, Trippe had committed to completing the largest, difference on an historic program, like the and Pan Am’s renowned Chief Engineer, most technically sophisticated aircraft ever 747. Ever the honest broker, Sutter mag- John Borger had collaborated on many new in the unheard of time of approximately 29 nanimously shared the credit for fathering aircraft programs, including the first US months—and to deliver approximately 100 his beloved airplane, in the Postscript of his , the B 707. This long trusted aircraft the first year of production. There- book: relationship ultimately culminated in their fore, the fabrication and assembly process greatest collaboration, the 747. But Sutter “I am often referred to as the father of the had to begin long before the prototype’s first noted that without a substantial Pan Am 747. If people want to call me that, that’s flight, which was February 9, 1969, only ten order, the 747 was going nowhere: fine as long as they recognize that I wasn’t months before the first delivery. This meant alone. The 747 has three fathers, the other “Pan Am was by far the most influential as problems developed during flight tests two being Juan Trippe of Pan American international airline back then. It had requiring a redesign or modification, those World Airways and Boeing’s Bill Allen. launched the 707 and would launch the 747 fixes had to be incorporated as the aircraft Trippe pushed hard for a high-capacity as our new airplane would be known when moved through the assembly line. airliner in the 1960’s. Bill Allen shared his the program was started—that is if we could This type of unorthodox manufacturing friend’s vision and had the courage to launch come up with something that Pan Am liked. scenario resulted in aircraft coming off the the 747 despite a long list of very good The Pan Am chairman wanted the new assembly line that required considerable reasons not to. If it weren’t for them, history to be an aerial ocean liner with additional work which had to be completed would have taken a different course.” Q outside, in the elements, on the flight line. 3 pahf spring flings Get Ready for the Berlin Reunion By Don Cooper As old saying goes “Good things come to those activities will be announced shortly, but here are who wait” I believe this to be true in the case some highlights. On the morning of Wednesday of the upcoming Berlin reunion. It’s has been May 24th, the Foundation will hold its annual a long time in coming and because of the meeting and the American ambassador will greet aging process, the taste of the wine becomes and welcome Pan Am back to Berlin. In addition enhanced. When the corks are pulled at the to these events Becky Sprecher and Ed Trippe welcoming reception on Tuesday evening May will give an excellent and interesting two hour 23, 2017 in the Potsdam ballroom at the Inter- presentation on Pan American history. Continental Hotel, a celebratory three-day Pan In the afternoon at 1300 hours, buses will Am celebration will get underway. depart the Inter-Continental to take attendees The event will actually begin on Monday to Potsdam, about a 30-minute ride, to visit the afternoon May 22nd when old friends and Palace of Sanssouci with its English Gardens The building was formerly know as the colleagues meet each other in the lobby of the and the Schloss Cecilienhof, the last palace of Superior Court of Prussia during the Nazi Meet Retired Pan Am hotel for the first time in many years. Officially Hohenzollerns who ruled Prussia and where era. It is a magnificent building consisting the reunion begins on Tuesday May 23rd, the Potsdam Conference was held at the end of of 550 rooms with less than 40 rooms used Captain Don Cooper with registration starting in the morning and World War II in Europe. to support BASC operations. The building’s continuing through the day until the welcom- On Thursday May 25th, the attendees will interior is beautiful and epitomized a bygone ing reception begins that evening. Registration board a bus in the morning for a short ride to era of elegance. will take some time with more than 800 people Tempelhof, now a recreational park. They will The phyiscal dimentions of the Berlin Con- arriving from various destinations. Most attend- be able to view the former airport and run- trol Zone were created by projecting a circle ees will be coming from Europe and the U.S., ways where the initial operations of the IGS with a 20 mile radius out from a foundation PAN AM HISTORICAL FOUNDATION but some will be coming from distant locations occurred. In the evening, nostalgia will surely pillar in the Kammergericht building. This such as Argentina, Uruguay, Hong Kong and set in during the gala dinner event when attend- produced a circle with a 40 mile diameter for TOUR TO IRAN IN SPRING 2017 the Hawaiian Islands. Many attendees will be ees realize that the momentous celebration will maneuvering aircraft. From this circle three accompanied by their families and friends, so it be coming to an end. The 2017 PAHF reunion corridors, North, South and Central, each will certainly be a grand celebration. will give attendees a good introduction and 20 statute miles wide (33 km /17nm ) were PAHF is sponsoring an exciting new comes to life. We will see the breathtaking The reunion will be a significant event for the overview of Berlin and our operations there, projected to their extended boundaries on destination in 2017 with an eight-day trip Iranian crown jewels and learn about the Pan Am Historical Foundation celebrating its along with an opportunity to meet old friends the West German border. and reminisce about our shared past. to Iran from March 29 – April 6. The tour contemporary art scene with a special visit 25th anniversary in 2017. A full schedule of The U.K. processed all flight request to will begin in Tehran, a city with historic to the Aaran Gallery. transit the North Corridor while the French significance for both Pan Am and Inter- A Short History of the Internal German Service handled the Center Corridor, and the U.S. Continental Hotels. In the 1960s, the Next, it’s on to Shiraz, a city known for its processed request for the Southern Corridor. Don Cooper, a Navy veteran of the The Battle for Berlin have access to Berlin. An agreement was adopted poetry and roses. We will tour the historic All flight request were phisically handed to a Korean War, applied for USAF flight airline also operated a Technical Assistance so access could be made by both surface and air. Eram Gardens, stroll through bazaars, and Early Monday morning April 16, 1945 at 0400 Russian controller for coordination with the training in 1956. He spent five years Program in Iran. Access by air posed control and safety issues, stop at the Pink Mosque, the oldest and hours was Attack – Day. The forces of Marshall Soviet air defense authorities. The request with the Air Force before joining the Air due to the limited air space in the corridors. The Zhukov’s 1st Byelorussians commenced a stu- would also be stamped in one of three ways: National Guard in 1961. During his ten- Pan Am’s service to Tehran dates back one of the most elegant mosques in south- corridors were restricted to non-combat military pefying artillery barge on the German defenses. 1) Permission Granted, Safety of Flight ure in the military he served overseas in to 1955, when the first flight from the ern Iran. The program ends in Isfahan, aircraft and the designated civil air carriers of By May 8th, Berlin was in shambles, Adolph Guaranteed, 2) Permission Granted, Safety the Marshall Islands, Japan, England and U.S. landed in Tehran. The company also perhaps the most beautiful of all Iranian the three Western powers. Additionally, pilots Hitler had committed suicide in his bunker and of Not Guarnteed, 3) Permissission Den- Morocco In January 1966, Don joined operated the Inter-Continental Tehran cities, known for its UNESCO-listed had to hold passports and licenses of the country the Soviets forces captured Berlin, bringing the nied. The three corridores were open, with- Pan Am, where he flew for 26 years until their air carrier represented. In the terms of the Hotel —a favorite for business and leisure architecture, as well as its vibrant contem- hostilities in Europe to an end. out restriction, to all four Allied Powers, but Pan Am’s demise. In total, Don had a Potsdam Peace Agreements, all flights were con- travelers as well as for Pan Am crews. porary art scene. limited to occupaying powers non combant Potsdam Peace Conference flying career of 36 years. The Isfahan Inter-Continental was under sidered Internal German Service (IGS). military and and their designated : While with Pan Am, Don was based Traveling with former colleagues, fami- From July 17 to August 2, 1945, the Potsdam To resolve any air issues, the powers agreed to contract to be built when the revolution Air France, British European Airlines (BEA) at: SFO, SEA (2 times), JFK (3 times), lies and friends, the tour offers a unique Conference was held in the Cecilienhof in Pots- established a military controlling agency, recog- curtailed all plans. Pan Am continued its and American Overseas Airlines (AOA). HKG, and LAX. He was also based at dam to negotiate peace terms at the end of war nized as the Berlin Air Safety Center (BASC). Tehran service through the early days of opportunity to visit this interesting coun- However, in 1974 BEA and BOAC merged, TXL with the Internal German Service in Europe. During the conference, a multitude of Like an onion, it was another layer of beauro- try and to learn about its history from the forming British Airways. In October 1950 two times for a total of 13 years. During the revolution and played a major role in issues were discussed on postwar Europe; mainly cracy to deal with on flight issues. The purpose days of the Persian Empire to the present. Pan American purchased AOA, and as a his career with Pan Am, Don flew the the 1979 evacuation of American families. the administration and occupation of a defeated of BASC was to coodinate the flights of the Distant Horizons has indicated that not consequent gained access to Berlin. B-707, B-727, B-737, B-747 and the Nazi Germany. There were many disagreements, Western powers to ensure safety in the Berlin On November 9th, 1989, the Berlin Wall, A-310. The Pan Am Historical Foundation is withstand the political rhetoric, the Iranian but the Big Three did agree that Germany would Control Zone (area around Berlin) and the three without warning, came down. After 46 partnering with Distant Horizons, who has people go out of their way to make Ameri- be divided into three military zones of occupa- corridors extending to the point where the corri- Don was involved in ten Pan Am years of occupation, Berlin was free. As Pan managed our Cuba Tours, and pioneered cans and other visitors feel very welcome. tion. Additionally, Berlin, located in the Soviet dors met with the boundaries of West Germany. reunion events with the first being in Amers, we did not realize the immediate the new era of travel to Iran beginning in Security has never been an issue. zone, would be partitioned into three zones. The Berlin control zone initially encompassed Toulouse, France, when Berlin’s Chief impact that it would have on our future. As Later on, Winston Churchhill insisted that two airports: Tempelhof and Gatow. In 1948 Pilot asked him to run a party for 47 1997. The itinerary begins with a welcome a consequence, Pan American sold the IGS dinner and a full day of sightseeing in For more details on this trip and to book France be included as an Allied Power with a Tegel Flughaven would be built to support the employees attending Airbus transition zone of occupation. operation to Lufthansa for 150,000 million training. His last (he says) will be the Tehran. We will visit the National Archae- your reservations, visit the Pan Am Tours efforts of Berlin Airlift. dollars, with a changover date of October Berlin Reunion this coming May. ological Museum, where Iran’s history section on our website: www.panam.org. In order to support the military forces and BASC operations center was located in the 27th, 1990, ending Pan Am’s presence in administer their zones, the Western Allies, had to Kammergericht Building, Berlin-Schöneberg. Berlin. Q 4 5 WE THANK OUR MANY SUPPORTERS AND WELCOME OUR NEW MEMBERS THROUGH SEPTEMBER 2016

LIFETIME MEMBERS Katherine Koelsch Kriken Marianne Steer Mary Lou Moore Bigelow Arlene Nesbitt Masako Baba Leslie Blake Kotiza Thomas J Stone William Budd 2014-16 Carmen Ongay John C Barbery Ursel Kratt Alvin Topiol Joseph A Castiglione 2014-16 Peter A Pappas Diane Barrett Jon E Krupnick Edward S Trippe Barbara B Chapman Georgena L Pasquinelli 2014-16 Henry W Beardsley Carrie V Lalonde Charles W Trippe Sr Ed Condit 2014-16 Angelo T Patterson 2014-16 Dick Blair Richard H Laumeyer Richard Urmston Barnaby Conrad III James E Potter Robert Wallace Blake James O Leet T E Van Note Jane Dowalo Conway 2014-16 Jacqueline Robertson-­Kitchell Fredric R Bocceri Anthony S Leidner Diane Vanderzanden William M Cooke Felipe M Rodriguez David Boudreau Peter M Leslie James W Vaughn Don Creswell 2015-16 Caroline E Schafbuch Linda K Broeckel-Fry John Luetich Craig W Waldvogel Joseph W. Dalton 2015-16 Graeme E Seaton 2014-16 Barbara Brown Michael E Lyon Cris Wasiak Norman Davies 2014-16 Charlette S Seidel Donald E Burns Ron Marasco Roberta Weingarten Kenneth De Ghetto Jane Ashcraft Shapiro Robert J Byrne Ruth Maron Ann Whyte Ann Hofstetter Delaney 2014-16 Inez Parker Sharp Jean C Carroll Millicent McKee Beth M Wilkins Mary Ann Dietrich Joan Schwenk Shaver Thomas W Carroll David McLean Akiyoshi Yonehara Jason Dittmer Randy Silva 2015-16 James S Chadwick Tim Meskill Terry Yuen Marguerite Djehizian 2014-16 Carol Bowlin Smith 2015-16 Kathleen M Clair Richard E Murray James A Zockoll Robert J Dore III 2014-16 Donald Glenn Sullivan Dan A Colussy Lawrence M Norton James F Zockoll J C Dunklee Arthur Schwarz Clifton N Cooke Col. H. David O'Malie Steven Zockoll Todd Estabrook Edward E Swofford Roger Cooke Patricia L Palermo BENEFACTORS Virginia A Everitt Allan H Topping Mario Paul Perillo Linda Freire Matthew C Tully 2015-16 Donald E Cooper Dan A Colussy 2014-16 Susan Piallat Pamela Freytag Jim Turk Charles D Cutting Peter M Leslie 2014-16 Don Funk Hollace P Vaughan Rosemarie Doerr Joan Policastro Anne-Marie Olympios 2014-16 Samuel F Pryor III John Gallagher C G Vlahakis George Doubleday II Sabine Schwarz Renard 2015-16 Doug Douglass Vincent D Reilly Colin Witt Bob Gandt Bernadette Wahle 2015-16 Benjamin F Edwards Sabine Schwarz Renard Bruce Gately Ward Wallau SPONSORS John Ferrari Fred Rentschler Ralph Goldberg 2014-16 NEW MEMBERS Beverly Fitzpatrick Robert P Reynolds Joan Buhler Robert A Horn Daniel S Bennett Michael Adkins Shaun F Fitzpatrick P.J. Rismon Robert Howson Gesualdo Belfiore John Dietz 2014-16 Nancy Hult Ganis Fran k Rodgers Johanna Janssen Louis Berman Shaun F Fitzpatrick 2014-16 ­Phillipe Kerhoas Roberta Gee George A Rogers Jean- Loralee Bubert Robert B Haserot John Leonard Margie Gewirtz Phyllis Roitsch Robert Clinton David A Lilly 2014-16 Choy H Lewis Gerald L Gitner William R Rose Evan English Judith A Mall 2015-16 George A Macdonald Capt. Fred A Graber John K Runnette 2014-16 Jim Fretwell Thomas L Murray 2014-16 Dennis Manibusan George B E Hambleton Pete Runnette Antonine Gal Joan A Payden 2015-16 Pierre D Martinet Pamela Hanlon Allison F Sanford Reed Marion Paul D Maxwell Bob Harrell Maricruz P Sawaya BOOSTERS Douglas Miller David A McCauley John H Hill Penelope Scambly Schott Kathryn J Angelis 2014-16 Constance Myers Ginny McKillop Helene Daugherty Hills Mrs. Paul C Sheeline Jane Ashcraft 2014-16 Douglas Scott Jerome Millon Bill Hussman Gail Z Siegel Sarah Page Bareau 2015-16 Karen Trippe Earl Kelley Page W Smith W Harvey Benefield 2015-16 Susan E Mittelkauf Trudy B King John R Steele Candace Bibby Caren Nelson

Pan Am Commemorative Book Scheduled for 2017 by Jeff Kriendler

In 2017, Pan Am will celebrate two his- lighthearted adventures about our jobs The book will be divided in to sections toric milestones: the 90th anniversary of and the work we loved. covering eras of the history of Pan Am. In the founding of Pan American World Air- This book will be different from previous addition, there will be sections on the air- ways; and the 25th anniversary of the Pan books in that it will trace the complete line’s contributions as a social icon through Am Historical Foundation. history of Pan Am in the form of a time- the arts, film, advertising, TV and calen- As a tribute to the company’s role in the line from first flight to last flight with the dars as well as the legacy the airline built in development of international commercial use of anecdotal stories and sidebars writ- international aviation through pioneering aviation, a new book is being planned to ten by the people who were part of the engineering and technology. commemorate these events. The seminal airline’s history. In addition, illustrations The hard-cover book will contain approxi- book is intended to encapsulate the great will be a key feature of the book, includ- mately 280 pages in full color. Some number of books written about Pan Am ing select pictures not previously pub- black-and-white images will be colorized over the past decades from the famous lished and images selected from a pleth- for effect. It will be a truly great collec- ‘flying boat’ days to the final years of ora of memorabilia that is preserved by tor’s item for anyone connected with Pan operation. It will commemorate singular collectors, libraries and museums, most American World Airways or who admires journeys such as the story told in ‘The notably our partners at the University of the “World’s Most Experienced Airline.” Long Way Home’. And it will celebrate Miami Special Collections. Publication is planned for late spring 2017.

6 Pan Am NC-146-M Introduces Medevac Flights to South America by Eric H. Hobson, Ph.D. Dr. Eric Hobson teaches at Belmont University in Nashville, TN., where he is knee-deep in writing a book-length history of the 1931 Matto Grosso Expedition to Brazil.

Pan American Airways Sikorski S-38 (NC-146-M) moored (L-R) E.R. Fenimore Johnson, expedition financier; Pan Am crew preparing to take expedition members to in Paraguay River at Fazenda Descalvados, Mato Grosso, Vincenzo Petrullo, Univ. of Pennsylvania Museum the Xingu River headwaters Brazil, 1931 representative aptain Charles Lorber, co-pilot/ topped off the fuel tanks; Due informed ments, and cut out torn skin. It would be C mechanic, Jose Sauceda, and radio- the U.S. Embassy and Pan American’s days before they would fly to Asunción. man, Hans Due stepped off Sikorsky Brazil operations center in Rio de Janeiro Corumbá and Asunción lie seven hun- S-38 (NC-146-M) on September 26, and coordinated ambulance reception in dred miles apart – the S-38’s maximum 1931 at Dinner Key. Since April they Corumbá. Clarke was conscious, but in flight range – on the Paraguay River. had flown 35,000 miles in remote pain and losing blood as he was car- Needing no charts, the Pan Am crew western Brazil under lease to the Matto ried aboard at 10:00 a.m.; meanwhile pointed the plane downriver September Grosso Expedition. Philadelphia mil- Sauceda restarted the Pratt and Whit- 9, and sliced through the morning mists. lionaire, E.R. Johnson, initiated the all- ney R-1340 Wasp nine-cylinder radial Due relayed messages between the U.S. inclusive lease (plane, crew, spare parts, engines. Embassies in Rio and Asunción, Para- maintenance, fuel and oil): given Brazil’s Lorber pointed the plane south and guayan customs officials, hospital staff, political turmoil and the global economic searched for calm air along the 250-mile and Pan American headquarters. Lorber crisis, he wanted his son, Fenimore, to route. The S-38 hit the Paraguay River and Sauceda maintained the craft’s 110 have a fast-exit option. Although Fen mid-channel about noon and taxied mph cruising speed, monitored fuel con- Johnson never needed the plane for this between flatbed trucks and gawking sumption, and shared the yoke through- purpose, John S. Clarke, Jr. did. townspeople crowding the Corumbá out the seven-hour flight. On August 28, a ranch hand rode into freight ramp. A horse-drawn ambulance Eight days after the friendly-fire accident, Fazenda Descalvados and announced awaited. a Paraguayan surgeon announced that that Clarke had been shot during a jaguar Corumbá was not the expedition’s first surgery had repaired extensive skeletal hunt, and was being brought to town. medical care choice. Clarke needed and muscular damage. Clarke was lucky: A 44 caliber bullet shattered Clarke’s trauma care and x-rays available only at had the shot entered lower, or a frac- left shoulder. “It was an ugly sight,” said the Mayo Brothers’ Hospital in Asun- tion of a second later, he would have guide Sasha Siemel. “The heavy bullet ción, Paraguay. But Asunción was 1000 died. Now the medical team was treat- had made a glance shot across the whole miles from Descalvados, well beyond the ing Clarke for tetanus. Lockjaw would shoulder blade and little bits of bone Sikorsky’s flight range. Clarke’s condi- have developed if he had remained in were sticking out all over.” Incredibly, tion was grave, and Jack was getting this Corumbá. Clarke lived and remained conscious first professional medical treatment at Clarke survived an accident more severe as Siemel dressed the wound, took a Corumbá within twenty-four hours of jaguar trophy picture, and prepared for a than many that killed South America being shot because Corumbá was as far adventurers before him because of a fifty-plus mile ride. In Corumbá, Brazil, as they could fly before dark, and it had Captain Lorber received terse orders: “fly father’s anxiety and Pan American Air- a hospital and aviation fuel. If Clark way’s willingness to entertain an atypical Descalvados sunrise – ambulance duty – survived the night, they would fly to destination Asunción.” request. The Pan Am crew showed the Asunción. world that an airplane staffed by skilled At sunup the Sikorsky crew raced to Due and Sauceda were planeside before crew could extract injured explorers from Descalvados, and at 8:00 a.m. taxied dawn to warm the engines and load extreme places, over long distances, and out of the Paraguay River. Captain every ounce of the plane’s 330-gallon fuel faster than had been possible before. Lorber removed half the cabin seats, capacity. Lorber arrived and announced Medevac flights are now routine, but reduced unnecessary weight (six pounds that Clarke lived but was too weak to in late 1931, Pan Am showed South removed = two miles), created a pallet, travel. The Brazilian doctor had cleaned America (and the world) another benefit and reviewed his medical kit. Sauceda the wound, removed more bone frag- of commercial aviation.

7 Pan Am Historical PAN AM HISTORICAL FOUNDATION NONPROFIT ORG Fou n dation 1275 FAIRFAX AVENUE, SUITE 747 US POSTAGE SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94124 PAID SAN FRANCISCO, CA OFFICERS & DIRECTORS RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED PERMIT # 11882 Edward S. Trippe Chairman C.W. (Pete) Runnette President Sally Andersen Treasurer Darlene Laster Secretary VP, Asia & Pacific Richard Blair VP, Europe and Atlantic Chair, Memberhip & Marketing, Lilian A. Walby VP, Latin America & Chair, Archives & Memorabilia John P. McGhee VP, Western U.S. & Alaska John H. Hill Chair, Museums & Exhibits Jeffrey Kriendler Chair, Communications Ruth Maron Clipper Editor Doug Miller Webmaster Don Cooper George Doubleday II Trip to Remember from p. 2 Peter M. Leslie Lefty Flies Again Ron Marasco fact that flights across the Pacific are not made without frequent difficulties. In our Spring 2016 issue of Clipper, we featured Gennaro Spampanato the story of Retired Captain Jack ‘Lefty’ Leftwich Allan H. Topping They reached Midway early, thanks to a tailwind. who celebrates his birthday each year with a flight The Hawaii Clipper’s passengers were treated to Charles W. Trippe, Sr. in his ultralight sport aircraft at Threshing Bee Air- a relatively unusual sight: The Pan Am supply port in McLouth, Kansas. Charles W. Trippe, Jr. schooner Trade Winds, which only visited the mid-ocean bases once every six months. Well, Lefty did it again! On August 7, Lefty cel- ebrated his 99th birthday with a flight in his two- place ‘sport pilot’ aircraft. His son Bill Leftwich CLIPPER EDITOR Ruth Maron recorded this annual tradition for us. [email protected] Happy Birthday, Lefty from all of us at the Pan Am Historical Foundation. WEBSITE www.panam.org Photo courtesy of the Rhode family WEBMASTER Doug Miller Midway proved an attractive respite, as he noted: [email protected] The beach is the most perfect I have ever seen …. nature has provided that the sand is cool to ARCHIVES the touch even under the warm early-afternoon www.library.miami.edu/ archives/panam/pan.html sun. Yes, Midway is a beautiful place, hardly spoiled by its commercialization by Pan Ameri- can and the cable company. Hotel facilities are EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR the equal of any to be found in first-class hotels Emilia J. de Geer in the States. [email protected] 415.682.4007 In our next installment in Spring 2017, we will My father doing the traditional fly by wave. follow Richard on his journey to Wake.