Interview conducted on October 15, 1999.
Final transcript
The interview describes Captain Henry R. Hayes’ career as a pilot with Pan American World Airways from 1946 to 1978, and his work as a Safety Representative and Accident Advisor for the Air Line Pilot’s Association (ALPA) from 1960 until 1979; education at Harvard University; early interest in aviation; Civilian Pilot Training Program (CPTP) with descriptions of the Piper J-3 Cub; entering the United States Army Air Corps in 1940; training on Stearman PT-15, the PT-17, Stearman biplane, North American AT-6 (NT-6), Vultee BT-13; reaction to the attack on Pearl Harbor, and preparation for wartime activity; service in the Army Air Corps 45th Bomb Group; part of the crew of a Douglas A-20 twin-engine bomber and Douglas B-24 bomber; training 1943 for the Royal Air Force (RAF) Coastal Command; bombing missions as part of the European campaign in the 2nd Air Division, 93rd Bomb Group; decision to leave the Air Corps in May 1946; hiring by Pan American; training in at the San Francisco base; effect of seniority on his career; airplanes he flew: Douglas DC-3, DC-4, DC-6, DC-7, Boeing 377 Stratocruiser, 707, and 747; routes he flew: San Francisco to Honolulu, Wake Island, Guam, Manila, Canton Island, Los Angeles, and Nandi, Korean Airlift and Caribbean cargo routes in 1950 on a Douglas C-46; based in New York 1953-1964; extensive description of navigation over oceans; describes two inflight incidents on the C-46 and on a Douglas DC-6 at Shannon Airport; work while based in New York as a safety rep for the Air Line Pilot’s Association, the inflight incidents he investigated: incident with a Boeing 707 in November 1963 near Philadelphia and with a 707 freighter in San Francisco; work as the Safety Representative and Accident Advisor for ALPA based in San Francisco; promotion to pilot in 1967 on the Boeing 707; discusses relationship between ALPA and the Air Transport Association; thoughts on Pan American as a company.
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