Clipper, Vol. 16, No. 1, February 1957

              Pan American World Airways
Volume 16
FEBRUARY, 1957
No. 1
Name Blake Division Manager
“Two hours of joy and peace ... that will not be forgotten.
From Refugee Camp To NYK . . .“Thanks'
By Trude Marczik
(Vienna Clipper Correspondent)
Pan American employees in New York collected $1,177.07 for a Christmas party for Hungarian refugee children. They gave their dimes, nickels, or dollars with their minds on a gay, bright festival with lots of fun and mirth.
For us who arranged and participated it turned out to be the most heart-breaking affair we have ever seen.
We picked out a newly opened refugee camp in Stock-erau, about 20 km from Vienna; a former military barracks where 1,400 refugees, among them 300 children who had crossed the border only a few days ago, were housed. Indescribable misery: women with children, some only a few weeks old, sitting on straw mattresses, waiting —waiting for transportation to a new life.
In the big dining room we had, with the assistance of the mayor of Stockerau, set up a Christmas tree, arranged loads of cakes, bun-loaves, toys, towels, soap, fruit, chocolate, candies.
A young Hungarian gets dressed as Santa Claus to give out the presents to the kids. A children’s choir and musicians are ready. Finally the doors are opened to let in the children accompanied by their mothers, brothers, and sisters. DTSM Walter Onken briefly welcomes them, and explains why this party is possible and wishes them a Merry Christmas. Inter-
preters -translate his words.
The choir starts “Silent Night, Holy Night.” Everybody is deeply moved. All of a sudden a young Hungarian steps forward, tears rolling down his cheeks. “We have lost everything,” he says. “We have nothing to give you in return. So we will sing our Hungarian national anthem.” And all those worn-out, haggard people stand up and sing.
I wish I could express with words what everybody felt at that moment. Not even hard-boiled photographers and TV cameramen could hold back their tears. These poor people’s way of showing their gratitude simply overwhelmed us and left us ashamed in front of so much human misery and greatness.
Hot chocolate and cakes are given to the kids, they start to eat, to unpack their presents, looking astonished at bananas and oranges which most of them are seeing for the first time, and their eyes are shining with excitement and happiness. Their mothers are happy with them.
All of you who have given to finance this party: look at the picture which will tell you more than my poor words can say, and be sure that with your contribution you have given to those people two hours of joy and peace and the confidence that will not be forgotten.
In behalf of those poor people: thank you.
NYK- Nassau Flights Start This Month
The culmination of a 10-year effort was realized this month as Pan American started daily, direct New York to Nassau service. The route was recommended by the CAB last month and approved by President Eisenhower.
The flight will be handled by LAD.
Pan American has been serving Nassau from Miami for the past 28 years but over the last decade, because of the growth of Southern Florida and the increase of tourism activity in the Bahamas, Pan American has been seeking a direct New York to Nassau link.
Daily Service
Daily tourist and first class roundtrip service will be offered on DC-7B Clippers. The 1,096-mile flight will take 3% hours and will cut one full hour off existing schedules now in operation between New York and Nassau.
The price is expected to be $81 one way and $145.50 round trip first class which means employees travelling on the 10 per cent discount vacation fare can make a round trip, first class flight for $14.50, sublo of course.
See 50,000 Pax
It is estimated that approximately 50,000 passengers will be carried the first year the route is in operation. There will be no diversion of traffic between the present Miami-Nassau link.
Pan American’s service will be the first direct U. S. Flag air link between the points.
Nassau was the second city to be serviced by Pan American Clippers. On Jan. 2, 1929 we opened the service and since that time have flown approximately 28,000 flights carrying about 725,000 passengers.
We're Still Here
The Clipper office is located at IDL; not LG A or LIC. A very harassed mail room asks that you properly address your mail in order to save time all around.
Assistant to VP Cray To Reactivate Post
Norman P. Blake has been named Atlantic Division Manager, filling a post which had been empty since 1954.
Mr. Blake, who until his promotion, was Executive Assistant to Vice President Gray, started with Pan American
in 1939. During the war he was a Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. A.F. and upon discharge joined American Airlines as assistant to the Vice President of Sales. In 1948 he was named European Traffic and Sales Manager for AOA and then rejoined Pan American upon the merger of the two firms in 1950. He was named regional Traffic and Sales Manager for Central Europe and then later Western Europe.
In 1951 Mr. Blake was named regional director of the Middle East and Inida region with headquarters at Beirut. Three years later, he was named Executive Assistant to AD Executive Vice President Harold E. Gray.
During the war Mr. Blake served first with the Ferrying Command which subsequently was incorporated into the ATC and then later he became Director of Traffic in Europe for the ATC.
He holds the Haakon VII Liberation Cross and Diploma from the Norwegian Government among his decorations. In 1943 he was sent to Russia on the Lend-Lease negotiations team. He subsequently returned to Russia in 1945 as a member of an aviation group discussing future transportation between the U.S.S.R. and the U. S.
Mr. Blake was born in Malden, Mass., and was graduated from the University of Massachusetts.
The post of Division Manager has been empty since the retirement of Capt. Horace Brock on Sept. 1, 1954. Mr. Blake took up his duties as Executive Asst, to Mr. Gray at that time.
Midwest to Get Rome and Paris Service June 2
Direct one-plane service from Chicago and Detroit to Paris and Rome will begin June 2.
The Clipper flights will leave the midwest every Sunday and Thursday and will return to Chicago and Detroit on Tuesday and Saturday. The new service will be in effect through Oct. 5 and will accommodate first and tourist class passengers in DC-7C’s.
Service from the midwest to Shannon, London and Frankfurt will be continued and the current three flights a week will be stepped up to five a week on April 28 and daily on June 1.
Round-trip fares between Chicago and Paris are $903.60 in first-class, $624 in tourist, and $527 for a 17-day excursion. Between Chicago and Rome, the first-class fare is $1,035.60, tourist is $714.40, and the 17-day excursion is $617.40.
Round-trip fares between Detroit and Paris are $875.30 in first-class, $604 in tourist, and $507 for a 17-day excursion. Between Detroit and Rome, the first-class fare is $1,007.30, tourist is $694.40 and the 17-day excursion is $597.40.
Sales Soar
Preliminary figures just received show that Atlantic Division Sales for 1956 exceeded quota by 17 per cent or $8,600,000!
Passenger sales reached an all-time high of $53,100,800— 119 per cent of quota. Cargo sales came to $6,731,600 or 103.5 per cent of quota over the same period.