Pan American clipper, Vol. 6, No. 17, September 17, 1947

              PAN AMERICAN
Volume 6
September 17, 1947
Number 17
Another Country Heard From—
PAA's Small Bermuda Staff Handles
Record Loads With Top Efficiency
“Just relax and enjoy Bermuda.”
That’s how they greet you when you step off the Clipper at Kindley Field and begin your vacation in the mid-ocean island paradise.
Ralph Downs,'the airport traffic supervisor, or Bill McRoberts, the station operations manager, is there to wring your hand and make you feel that Bermuda has been looking forward to your visit for a long time.
(Captain Tom Flanagan, PAA pilot stationed in Brussels with the DC-3 operation, turns Clipper reporter to describe recent gala goings-on in the Belgian capital.)
One-quarter of the way to Vienna as the 180 flight goes EVERY DAY is SEL. And way out in the outskirts of SEL is GROENENDAEL, and located in Groenendael is “L’HERMI-TAGE,” where it all happened.
Here’s what happened . . . Capt. SAM MILLER as you know is running an airline of his own over here. He has three DC-3’s and a C-47 to do it with, and so far it is running along in good shape. Well, now that it’s rolling he and some of his helpers, namely Capts. CONNORS, HILMER, PRICE, SPILMAN and FLANAGAN decided to relax a bit and have a little soiree. Capt. Price offered his villa l’Hermitage and its surrounding acres for the setting, and that was just about large enough for the group that came.
All the Pan American personnel here were invited. They came by truck, cars, horses and even the Company bus arrived with a load. Of course two crews, including Capt. Connors and Capt. Hilmer had to make the supreme sacrifice and keep the 180’s and 181’s going on schedule, but I’m sure Albert Vandervijvere thought to drink their beer for them.
MRS. PRICE took charge of all the maids and saw to it that the hot dogs and potato salad were served.
JIM SPILMAN cornered the hot dog concession and can work in any ball park now.
WAYNE SNYDER and ROGER HOVDEN brought their record player and kept the customers supplied with danceable music. So AL WALKER, BILL LOUCKS, ART SWANSON, ED YOUNG and a Host of others took advantage of that good American music and scratched the floors up a bit.
RANDY KIRK was Asst. Beer Garcon and was ably assisted by SAM MILLER who can pour a mean beer. Some of their better customers were CECIL MOORE, ED MURPHY, R. E. ANDERSON and our very able Maintenance Staff. Needless to say our lubrication problems were NIL.
Operationally speaking, MAC CONAHAN, Station Mgr. and Mr. BUDD, his Asst., were seen roving about with a beer or two. Mr. MORGAN of TFC was guiding them.
GLAMOUR and COLOR were supplied by all the wives, but we bachelors sneaked a dance or two when our stewardesses ANGIE PARYS, DENISE DEBELS and GEORGETTE COPPENS were occupied.
Sales Manager BILL BURTON at his desk in Hamilton.
"100" FLIGHTS OFFER NEW SLEEPER SERVICE
The blue carpet was rolled out to the “gangplank,” 28 passengers went aboard the waiting Clipper, and a new era in transatlantic air transportation was ushered in.
The date — September 15. The occasion — inauguration of PAA’s sleeper Clipper service on its “100” flight, New York to London.
For the first time since the outbreak of the war, when sleeper service in Pan American’s flying boats was suspended, Clipper passengers are now offered a blue ribbon luxury service that includes cocktails and dinner served on the new built-in seat trays, facilities for a game of bridge or gin rummy, music from the mainland piped in over a loudspeaker system, the comfort and privacy of a roomy dressing lounge, a full night’s sleep in a spacious berth, climaxed by breakfast in bed shortly before arrival in London.
Berths on the L-749 Constellation Clippers used for this “100” service cost $125 plus the regular NY-LON fare of $325. These Clippers accommodate 28 passengers, 18 with berths and 16 with reclining chairs. Two passengers are allowed to sleep in the wide lower berths on payment of a single $125 fare.
MUSIC IN THE AIR
All PAA-ers \^ith musical talent who are interested in forming a PAA dance orchestra are invited to get in touch immediately with Kenny Smith, Ext. 341.
More friendly, perspiring PAA-ers help you through the brief formalities of checking in at the sun-drenched airport that the US Army has raised up out of the coral reefs and the blue-green waters of the Atlantic Ocean.
After that you’re on your own, without a thought for anything but enjoyment of the days or the weeks ahead.
To make your stay in Bermuda as free as possible from transportation worries, Bill Burton, Bermuda sales manager, and Dick Todd, assistant sales manager, have devised a system that lifts all the responsibilities from the passengers’ shoulders. Unless you want to change your return reservations, there’s no need for you to visit the ticket office in Hamilton.
By the end of August, 15,865 incoming passengers had arrived in Bermuda by Clipper and 17,266 had taken off for New York. In eight months Bermuda traffic figures had surpassed the record for all of 1946, when 15,489 incoming passengers and 15,959 outgoing made the fast Clipper trip between New York and the British colony.
At this rate, the Bermuda reservations staff has handled an average of more .than 4,100 reservations per month. Bill Burton and Dick Todd seem more than a little proud when they tell you that this colossal job has been carried on by a smooth-working reservations staff that totals three.
Bermuda Takes Over
Seven days in advance of each Bermuda flight, reservations control in New York releases control of the flight to Bermuda. At this time, a card is filed for each passenger in the space control rack in the PAA office at Hamilton. The day before a passenger is scheduled to leave Bermuda, the card is moved to the “tomorrow’s desk,” each passenger is called at his home or hotel, arrangements are made for station wagon transportation to the airport, and the flight manifest is prepared.
That’s how they make it come true — that slogan, “Just relax and enjoy Bermuda.” And as PAA-ers in increasing numbers are learning, Bermuda offers plenty to be enjoyed.
At present, three of the finest hotels in Bermuda are offering special rates to Pan American employes on vacation. The Eagle’s Nest, spectacularly located atop Mount Lang-ton, the spacious Belmont Manor with its fine golf course, and the luxurious Elbow Beach at the ocean’s edge all make PAA-ers especially welcome with reduced rates — $8 per (Continued on page 4)
Capt. Flanagan