Interview conducted by Carol L. Osbourne on 10/17/1997
Final transcript
The interview describes Captain David Bridges’ career with Pan American World Airways from 1944 to 1981; early interest in aircraft; memories of the San Francisco Bay Aerodrome; Alameda, Oakland, and San Francisco International (1939) airports; Civilian Pilot Training (CPT); Pan American flight training at Treasure Island (1944), instrument school in Concord, and navigation school. He describes his experiences as fifth officer, navigator, co-pilot, and pilot; airplanes he flew: Boeing 314, 377 Stratocruiser, 707, 747, the Martin PBM Mariner, and the Douglas DC-3, DC-4, DC-7C; routes he flew: Pacific Division routes from San Francisco to Honolulu, Palmyra, Canton Island, Funafuti, Espiritu Santo, Noumea, Brisbane, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Bangkok, Singapore, Sydney, Auckland, Pago-Pago, Manila, Calcutta, Da Nang, Saigon, and the around-the-world route; seaplane operations on Pacific islands; changes in navigation techniques and equipment including celestial, radio, and inertial guidance; experiences as a Pan American employee; effects of seniority; Pan American’s challenges over acquiring new routes and its competition with domestic carriers, opinions about Juan Trippe’s role.
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