ERA | WORLD WAR TWO
"How America's Airline Went To War," by Steve Weintz, about Pan Am during WW2, from War Is Boring, with an original clip from "Clippers At War."
The M-130 China Clipper was the first out of the gate, but it was the Philippine Clipper that saw WW2 up close on Wake Island in 1941 for Pan Am.
Air Mail & Pan Am History: China Clipper Endnote, a cover from Ken Sanford's impressive collection of stamps, courtesy of Jon Krupnick. Read the PDF.
Echoes of Wake Island, by Bonnie Gilbert tells the story behind her 2012 book, "Building for War" and the civilian contractors and marines on Wake Is.
NYC's 1965 Landmarks Preservation Law preserved the Interior at the MAT, LaGuardia with its Art Deco Design and stunning WPA Mural by James Brooks.
Clipper Cargo background notes: A timeline of the history of Pan American World Airways Cargo operations 1930-1940.
The building of Treasure Island Terminal and seaplane base in San Francisco Bay, and the Pan Am flying boats that took part in World War Two.
Pan American Airways in World War Two by Bob Gandt: A story that began December 7, 1941 with the bombing at Pearl Harbor. Read the PDF.
Loading the China Clipper: An Excerpt from Morten Beyer's book about Pan American World Airways' China Clipper cargo, "Flying Higher" (2010).
War Claims a Clipper: Six hours after the Pearl Harbor attack, at Kai Tak Airport, Hong Kong, December 8, 1941: 6:50 a.m., local time (Dec. 7, 1941, 12:20 p.m.)
A Mighty Design: The story of the development and construction of Pan Am's famous Boeing B-314 flying boat, written by Doug Miller. Read the PDF
As WW2 began in Europe, PAA Pilot Charles Lorber landed his B-314 in Bermuda and British censors & marines removed all mail bound for Germany.
A B-314 in World War 2: "The 'Round The World Saga of the "Pacific Clipper" by John A. Marshall (1999), appeared in "Air and Space Magazine."
"When Passengers Were News." Pan Am's flying clipper ships were a lifeline in June 1941, prior to United States' involvement in World War Two.
"The Day Wendell Willkie Chose To Fly Pan Am" by Tom Culbert: Willkie's tour around the world for FDR, and a story about an unusual WW2 mission.
After the Pearl Harbor attack, Churchill sailed to Washington DC to meet with FDR, but flew home on the B-314 Clipper Berwick due to safety concerns.
A look at Pan Am-Africa during WW2. Later the United Nations would use airfields built by Pan Am for humanitarian purposes in Sudan.
In 1945 after WW2 ended, Pan American released a new film, “Clippers At War” to publicize the contributions made by the men & women of Pan Am.
