New! An important work for anyone interested in the Golden Days of the Pan American Clippers or the Japanese WW II invasion and occupation of Hong Kong.
Clipper Hitch is a behind-the-scenes story of the airline business during the Golden Days of the Air Age when Pan American was operating the world’s largest transoceanic flying boats and when its subsidiary, China National Aviation Corporation, was the only scheduled airline flying over a declared war zone in 1941.
Part One details how the author adjusted to the mysteries and intricacies of “face” in managing Pan Am business staff in the Royal Crown Colony and in dealing with complexities of Chinese language and customs and stiff British manners and methods; how he handled famous passengers of the business, political, military and diplomatic worlds.
Part Two tells how he joined a gung ho group of American volunteers to carry on Red Cross services, and certain subterfuges, during the Japanese siege and occupation of Hong Kong.
The print edition is in two volumes. The Kindle edition contains the entire content of the two print volumes.
After the print edition was published, the editor became aware of a Pan American Airways promotional film, “Overnight to Hawaii,” made by in 1940 and 1942. The video makes a nice complement to Schafer’s description of Pan Am’s fleet and Pacific operations in Part One. The video can be seen on YouTube at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tneNPSEy17U
Purchase Part 1 at Amazon.com (List Price: $14)
Purchase Part 2 at Amazon.com (List Price: $14)
Purchase Kindle edition at Amazon.com (List Price: $9.99)
Published: June 2026
ISBN: 9798258791795 (Part 1) and 9798199220187 (Part 2)
Page Count: 576 (Part 1) and 550 (Part 2)
356,000 words, 85 illustrations
Binding Type: US Trade Paper
Trim Size: 6″ x 9″
Language: English
Color: Black and White
Related Categories: History / Modern > World War II