The RAF, He Flew Approximately 170 Trans-Oceanic Flights. in October Of
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the RAF, he flew approximately 170 trans-oceanic flights. In October of 1942, Pangborn flew the first Lancaster Heavy Bomber to the United States for tank dropping tests at Wright’s Field. After the war, Clyde Pangborn worked in South America, making airline route surveys throughout Mexico and ferried commercial aircraft to their points of destination. In 1953, Pangborn became a test pilot for Lear Aviation. For the next few years, Pangborn flew for companies such as Bechtel Corporation, a Utah construction company, and Lockheed Aircraft. In 1956, Pangborn ferried six Lodestars from Johannesburg, South Africa to Kansas City and Santa Monica. He also ferried five B-26s from Maryland to Bordeau. In 1956, Pangborn suffered a mild heart attack. He must have been feeling the effects of the years of open cockpits and the pressures of flying. In the fall of 1957, Pangborn remained in a New York hospital for six weeks with a major heart attack. News of Pangborn’s illness quickly spread throughout most of the aviation world. On March 20, 1958, a testimonial dinner was held at the Hotel Manhattan with Lt. General James Doolittle as chair- man. Pangborn was never able to attend the dinner, because upon his arrival in New York City, he was rushed to the hospital with pneumonia. On March 29, 1958, Clyde Pangborn died at age 62. He was buried in Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors. Throughout his life, Clyde Pangborn picked up a number of interest- ing mementoes and memberships. From 1933 to 1938, he was an associate member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police. From 1941 to 1944, he carried a card of the International Investigators Incorporated of the British Detective Association. In 1931, he was given a card membership for the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police. In 1929, he was made amember of the State Secret Service in West New York, New Jersey. In 1936, he carried a press card for the magazine Police Reporter. He was a 1935 member of the World Association of Detectives. In 1932, the courtesies of the Police Department of West New York were extended to Pangborn. In addition to these curious mementoes, Clyde Pangborn was also a member of The National Exchange Club, The Explorer’s Club, The American Legion, The Rotary Club of Wenatchee, The Press Club of Chicago, The Adventurers Club of New York, The League of International Aviators, The Quiet Bird Men, and The Council of the American Geographical Society. Pangborn also carried identification from his professional stature as a pilot. The U.S. Department of Commerce Civil Aeronautics Administration issued him an Airman’s Identification Card; he carried a medical certificate that indicated that the "holder shall wear correcting lenses while exercising the privileges of this airman’s certificate~! he was given a certificate of authority to "designated flight test pilot representative;" had a credit card from Shell Petroleum made out to Scottish Aviation Limited; and was a member in good standing of the Royal Air Forces Associ- ation. However, it was in th~ area of awards that Clyde Pangborn excelled. On October 15, 1931, Omaha, Nebraska presented Clyde Pangborn with keys to the city. Also, the cities of Albany, New York and Patter- son, New Jersey presented keys to Pangborn. In 1931, a medal was struck by the state of New York showing an airplane in flight and given to Pangborn in honor of his flight across the Pacific. In addition, the mayor of the city of New York honored the aviators with his Mayor’s Committee Medal. 34 The one great singular honor that Clyde Pangborn received for his flight across the Pacific came in 1931. In New York City, with the elite of the aviation world present, Clyde Pangborn received the Harmon Trophy, one of the most prestigious aviation awards. The New York Times, on November 21, 1931, carried the following article: PACIFIC FLYERS GET JAPANESE AIR MEDALS Although they had been convicted and fined for violation of the Japanese espionage code before the start of their flight across the Pacific, Hugh Herndon Jr. and Clyde Pangborn were decorated by the Japanese Consul General yesterday with the highest aeronautic award of this country. The White Medal of Merit of the Imperial Aeronautical Society was pinned to the breast of each of the two flier, in the office of the consulate, 90 Broad Street. With the medal each pilot received a scroll signed by Prince Nashi- moto, honorary president of the society. The gold medals were suspended on ribbons bearing the imperial colors of Japan. The design pictures a spread eagle perched on an airplane propeller. The two fliers arrived at the Consolate unattended. They were received by Consul General Kensuke Horinouchi, who made the awards in his offical capacity. The Consul later invited the fliers to an informal dinner to be given by him in their honor next week. According to the Consular officials, the award is a reflection of the good feeling of the Japanese people toward the two men whose conviction came as a result of their care- lessness in carrying a camera over fortified areas. Throughout his life, Clyde Pangborn never fully realized the fame and monetary success that he so desperately attempted to achieve. Upon the completion of the non-stop flight across the Pacific, the Japanese newspaper Asah~ gave to the two aviators the standing reward of $25,000 that the newspaper had posted for the first aviators who made the flight. However, Clyde Pangborn found out, much to his chagrin, that in the hustle and bustle to begin the great adventure, he had hastily signed papers in New York that barred him for a whole year from making any personal appearances, or endorsing any products, or doing any kind of promotional work that might be related to the flight. He also found that because Hugh Herndon had financed a portion of the renovations to the airplane, Herndon still retained ownership of the airplane. Because the maioritv of the financing of the flight came from the family of the Herndons, most of the $25,000 went to Hugh Herndon. Clyde Pangborn realized only $2,500 for his around- the-world adventure. Pangborn received the "Kings Medal" for service in the cause of freedom for his efforts in World War II. As a pilot in the RAF Ferry Command, and for his active role in the recruitment of others, King George VI personally pinned the medal on Pangborn’s lapel. He was later to say that when he received his service medal, it was one of the proudest moments of his life. In a museum in Wenatchee, Washington, Dr. William Stuart, the curator, has painstakingly displayed most of the artifacts of Clyde Pangborn’s flight. Throughout the years, man9 of his 35 .