Interview conducted by Mauree Jane Perry on February 26, 1999.
This interview describes Mr. Toarmina’s career with Pan American Airways from 1942 to 1980; work as a steward / flight attendant, purser, check purser, and flight director; training at Treasure Island as a steward on a seaplane, further training on procedures on landplanes, and additional training for his other roles; work on the Boeing 314, the 377 Stratocruiser, 707, and 747, the Consolidated PB2Y-3, Douglas DC-4 and DC-6; experiences while flying over the Pacific Ocean during World War II; in-flight incident at Funafuti in 1944 involving a PB2Y-3; Pacific Division routes from San Francisco to Honolulu, Wake Island, Midway, Noumea, Canton Island, Funafuti, Palmyra, Espiritu Santo, Sydney, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Bangkok, and Singapore; duties and procedures on the Clipper flights and how these responsibilities changed over the years; introduction of female flight attendants; changes in the hiring and employment practices; seniority system for stewards and pursers; Pan American’s union for flight attendants; physical layout of the Treasure Island Terminal in 1942, buildings and activity at Mills Field; encounters with Juan Trippe, Charles Lindbergh, Admiral Chester Nimitz, King Rama IX and Queen Sirikit of Thailand, and Ava Gardner.
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