A retrospective produced by Pan American World Airways documenting the many times Pan Am provided help and assistance throughout the world in the course of decades of flying.
I'll never forget the Tehran evacuation. It was a very frightening experience. My crew was rerouted to help. Getting back out to the airport, we were surrounded by crowds rioting. When we did get to the airport, we got as many passengers as possible on the flight, overloading many seats. I can still remember the passengers reaction when we were finally out of Iran airspace. I have many wonderful memories of a grand airline. Gone but not forgotten.
That was the days of real hero's, from the top to the bottom of the company. I've read the books on Juan Trippe, on Pan Am itself, some of the individual pilots and crew; I am left with such gratitude for who they were, what they did and the legacy they left behind. We desperately need them today.
Pan Am was the defacto flag carrier of the U.S. for decades. No other airline flew into dangerous areas to provide relief or evacuate people the way that they did.
