Clipper, Vol. 11, No. 8, April 14, 1955

              Read From California To Calcutta, From Alaska To Australasia
PUBLISHED BY THE EMPLOYEES OF PAN AMERICAN WORLD AIRWAYS
THAILAND PRIME MINISTER
Thai Government Charters Clipper to Fly Official Party on Good-Will Mission Around the World
Voi. 11 No. 8
DOT DASHES WITH OSCARS
Masaichi Nagata, president and director of the Daiei Motion Picture Company of Japan, is shown here with the two “Oscars” he recently won for directing the best foreign film, “Gate of Hell,” and for the best color costumes, in the same picture. Admiring the coveted awards is stewardess Dorothy Olsen, who was aboard the Clipper that carried the film executive back to Tokyo.
Release of Speed Marks Shows PAA Far in Front
86% of Airline Speed Records Are Property of Pan American
According to a summary of airline speed records just released, Pan American leads all other U. S. airlines—domestic and international —in the matter of setting records.
Based on reports made by AT A member airlines, Pan American now holds 101 of the 117 speed records set bu the airlines since 1945.
Included in the impressive array is the Tokyo-Honolulu mark of 9 hours and 18 minutes. Other PAA records include New York to London in 8 hours 55 minutes, Shannon to Gander in 6 hours and 37 minutes, and San Juan to Miami in 3 hours 19 minutes.
New Omni-Range Commences Operation at Manila Airport
The first of 15 very high frequency omni - directional radio ranges (VOR) destined for Southeast Asia has been commissioned at Manila International Airport. The VOR range has been adopted as the international standard for world airways.
Pan American has been selected to fly His Excellency, Field Marshal P. Pibulsonggram, Prime Minister of Thailand, and an official party that is making a goodwill tour around the world.
The Clipper departed Bangkok today for Manila. From there the group will visit Tokyo, Seoul and Honolulu before arriving in San Francisco on April 23rd. The special Clipper will leave San Francisco for New York on April 28th.
While in the Bay Area the Prime Minister, his wife, and other Thai government leaders will inspect leading industries and make a side trip to Hoover Dam.
The Strato Clipper in which the Thai party will circle the globe has been completely re-done inside to provide the ultimate in comfort and luxury. A sleeping compartment has been installed for the Prime Minister and his wife. Adjoining this is a section with a table for conferences and prepara-
tion of speeches. The rear part of the Clipper is equipped with both berths and sleeperettes. A special table has also been installed in the lounge.
In order to observe protocol the Clipper has also been equipped with special flag brackets outside the cockpit windows. Aboard are the flags of Thailand and all countries to be visited.
The same crew will stay with the Prime Minister, who is flying for the first time, and his party all the way from Bangkok to New York. Members of the crew are Captain Bill Pryce, 1st Officer Tom Hurley, 2nd Officer Ed Mathwig, Flight Engineers Ed Beers and Wes Claes, Purser Glen Orf, and Stewardesses June Murphy and Lois Liebe.
PAA has been awarded a $220,-074 Army contract for six round trip trans-Pacific flights between April 16th and May 3rd.
April 14, 1955
FIRE WATER
A1 Killian, left, and Don Matthews of the San Francisco fire house are shown with part of the 36 fire extinguishers that have just been modified for use at Nandi. The extinguishers were changed from a soda-acid type to a water-cartridge type, which do not require re-charging. The only maintenance needed on this type is an annual weighing. The change was ordered following a survey of Nandi’s fire prevention facilities.
PAA Seeks Two Changes In Pacific Decision
CAB Asked to Reconsider Route Award and Expiration Dates
In a petition to the CAB last month Pan American has asked the Board to reconsider two aspects of its recent trans-Pacific decision.
The first point brought up by PAA was the award to Northwest Airlines of the Tokyo-Taipeh-Hong Kong route. The petition pointed out that the Hong Kong-United States traffic over this route is quite thin and warrants only one U. S. carrier. This carrier, the petition states, should be Pan American in view of its permanent certification into Hong Kong over the Central Pacific route. Mention is also made of the large number of foreign carriers operating over this sector.
The second point made concerns the termination dates of its own and Northwest’s temporary authorization to serve Tokyo.
As now written, the certificates give PAA a five-year authorization on the Tokyo-Hong Kong sector, a three-year authorization between Hong Kong and Calcutta and (Continued on Page 3)
CALORIE CONSOLIDATION
The reason for this picture is an airline merger—of sorts. Pan American’s flight kitchen in Seattle this month started providing meal service for Western Air Lines flights. Checking the type of high-class chow their “Californian” and “Advance Californian” passengers can look forward to are Neil Stewart, center, Seattle district sales manager for Western, and wielding the dipper, Mac Helmer, WAL operations manager. At left are Don McMorran, regional traffic and sales superintendent for PAA in Seattle, and Mel Young, station chef. At right, standing by with the first-aid kit, is Jimmy Kellites, ground service supervisor in Seattle for PAA.