Historic Events of April – Pan American World Airways

7 April 2026 Leave a comment

During the month of April, several significant events during the life of Pan American World Airways took place, including acquisition of 45% interest in the China National Aviation Corporation (CNAC) (1933); the departure in 1935 of the Pan American Clipper, a Sikorsky S-42, from Alameda for Honolulu on the first Pacific route survey; the launching of its first service to Macau and Hong Kong (1937); the founding of the Intercontinental Hotels Corporation (1946); the delivery of its first Convair 240 (1948); the formation of the Internal German Service (IGS) and the delivery of the DC-6A (1954); the delivery of its first DC-7C (1956); the announcement of a $525 million order for the Boeing 747 (1966); the Operation Baby Lift and the last flight from Saigon (1975); the nonstop flight of 5,478 miles by Clipper Constitution a Boeing 747SP, from Los Angeles to Tokyo;  and the delivery of its first Lockheed L1011 (1980).

Many of these are described in excellent detail, along with illustrations, in the book Pan American World Airways – Images of a Great Airline, Second Edition. The descriptions are written in a lively manner that will entertain – and educate – young and old alike.

Pan American World Airways – Images of a Great Airline, Second Edition, is a “must read” for anyone interested in the contributions made to international civil aviation by Pan American World Airways and belongs in every library of aviation literature. Included in this volume is a detailed timeline, covering the entire history of the airline, from the early beginnings to the sad end, along with many images of the airline’s aircraft and memorabilia, some of which are extremely rare.

This book is intended to tell the story of one of the greatest airlines of all time and be passed on so future generations will appreciate the important role Pan American World Airways played in developing international air transportation.

This book can be purchased on Amazon at the link below:

 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09K262GZY/

This book can also be purchased directly from the author. In addition, expedited and international shipping is available. Email  jamie.baldwin@jpbtransconsulting.com.

Filed under Airline History, Airlines, Pan Am, Pan Am Historic Events by Month, Travel Tagged with , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Unknown's avatarAbout James Patrick ("Jamie") Baldwin
James Patrick ("Jamie") Baldwin is an author, blogger, lecturer and consultant in air transportation, an Adjunct Professor at the University of Maryland University College (UMUC), a Visiting Lecturer at the University of Westminster (London) and a Visiting Lecturer at Emirates Aviation University (Dubai). He is also a Contributing Editor to Airways Magazine. Previously at ERAU’s College of Business he taught Business Law, Business Law for Airline Managers, and Airline Management. He was also faculty advisor to Sigma Alpha Epsilon. As a lecturer he coordinates Aviation Law workshops for Aeropodium, a UK-based aviation-related events company and organizes Aviation Law Conferences at his law school, American University Washington College of Law (AUWCL). As a consultant he specializes in start-up airline strategies, airline marketing, regulatory compliance, licensing, aircraft sourcing, strategic planning, contracts, agency agreements and preparing business plans. An avid golfer, Mr Baldwin periodically writes a golf column for the Dorchester Banner. Previously Mr Baldwin served as Deputy General Manager for Legal and Regulatory Affairs of Star Airways, a small Turkish cargo airline of which he was a founder, and prior to that, the US Representative of Tajik Air, the international airline of the Republic of Tajikistan. In the latter capacity, he represented the airline’s interests before the US government, multilateral development banks and private US and international business interests. He also coordinated and prepared on behalf of the government of Tajikistan a request for a grant from the US Trade and Development Agency for a feasibility study on its air transport sector. Mr Baldwin also served as an officer in the US Navy (1974-1978) and the active US Naval Reserve (1978-1994). His latest assignments included service as a Naval Liaison Officer on tanker convoys during the Iran/Iraq War, Officer in Charge of military officers boarding, inspecting and briefing masters of merchant ships delivering military cargo during the first Gulf War and Commanding Officer of a US Naval Reserve unit. He is now retired with the rank of Commander. Mr Baldwin is the author of Pan American World Airways – Images of a Great Airline (BluewaterPress, 2011). He also co-edited, with Jeff Kriendler, former Vice President, Corporate Communications at Pan Am, Pan American World Airways – Aviation History through the Words of its People (BluewaterPress, 2011). He, along with Mr Kriendler, recently published Pan Am - Personal Tributes to a Global Aviation Pioneer. Mr Baldwin obtained an A.B. (Bachelor’s) Degree in International Relations from the University of Southern California (Los Angeles) and a J.D. (Juris Doctor) Degree from the AUWCL (Washington DC). He is a member of the U.S. Naval Institute, the U. S. Golf Association, Cambridge Multi Sport (CMS) and Sigma Alpha Epsilon. He has traveled widely and includes among his interests distance running, golf, hill walking, sailing, model railroading, spectator sports, classical music and writing. He is married and resides in Maryland.

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