Classroom clipper, Vol. XVII, No. 2, December 1960

              December 1960
Published by Pan American Airways
Vol. XVII, No. 2
WAT GAP, 1960: Hong Kong to New York
By Lt. Col. James E. Carlton, CAP, Director of Information, Georgia Wing
In the October issue George Gardner reported on WATCAP (for World Air Tour, Civil Air Patrol) for the San Fran-cisco-Hong Kong sector. Col. Carlton here continues the story.
WATCAP left Hong Kong with much regret for we had learned to love the wonderful people, savor delicious Oriental food and shop and bargain in the quaint little shops. We had spent most of our money on suits, dresses, watches, cameras, transistor radios and many gifts for our families and friends.
George Gardner, WATCAP co-tour-di-rector and better known as your capable Clipper Editor, left us for a trip to Manila before returning to his New York office. He bade us good-bye at a farewell party at the Miramar Hotel but promised to try to meet us in Europe.
For the flight to Bangkok, we travelled on Pan American Flight One, in a Boeing Intercontinental Jet Clipper.
The Jet Clipper
The Intercontinental Jet Clipper was used for most of the long WATCAP hops. Costing around $6,000,000, weighing around 300,-000 pounds loaded she will fly 600 miles per hour for 5,000 miles at 7 miles altitude. It consumes 500 gallons of kerosene per hour, carries 128 passengers with a crew of eight, including four most attractive stewardesses (or stewardi as Shelley Berman says). We always looked forward to the fine coffee, excellent meals and service for which Pan Am is noted. We had heard how little vibration there is on the Jet Clipper so we proved it by balancing a buffalo nickel and a silver dollar on the table. All agreed that this is the only way to make a long trip.
In Bangkok we exchanged our nickels for ticals and purchased such things as Thailand silk, the finest in the world, neckties, beautiful semi-precious stones, highly polished tableware made of bronze with buffalo-horn handle. Neilloware is oxidized silver with inlaid designs and we bought lots of this in the form of belt buckles, dancing girl pins and temple-bell earrings with a refreshing tinkle. One of the men even bought a King Cobra belt.
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AGRA, INDIA. WATCAP at the Taj Mahal. "We had heard so much that we almost feared disappointment. We needn't have worried.
Even from a mile away our first view was breathtaking ... To describe the Taj with mere words is sacrilege, even color pictures are inadequate/

We liked the people here in our first Asian city too; they seemed to be a happier lot than those of the Orient. At the U.S. Embassy we were told many things about this wonderful country but the most surprising was the fact that 85% of the people are farmers whose average income is $100 per year and that English is their second language and is taught in all of the schools. The CAPers donned their uniforms and all went to SEATO Headquarters for a thorough briefing by Secretary General Pote Sarason. He pointed out in great detail the purposes, responsibilities and capabilities of his organization which seems well prepared
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to meet any emergency in China. This was the highlight of our visit here, but of course, we had to see the famous Royal Thai classical dancers, the golden Reclining Buddha, the Floating Markets and even the Pasteur Snake Farm with its deadly King Cobras and Pythons.
At Calcutta we were met at the airport here by Pan Am and tour-agent representatives as everywhere. They took a group-picture for the local papers, rushed us through customs, etc., and onto a bus bound for our hotel. This ride beginning at dawn was one of the most unpleasant of our
Continued, on page C-2