Interview conducted 10/17/1997 3 audio cassettes The interview describes Captain David Bridges’ career with Pan American World Airways between 1944 and 1981. He describes his early interest in aircraft as well as his memories of the San Francisco Bay Aerodrome and the Alameda, Oakland, and San Francisco International airports. He describes his Civilian Pilot Training (CPT) in San Francisco, CA, and Douglas, AZ; his employment by Pan American; and his flight training at Treasure Island, instrument school in Concord, and navigation school. He describes his experiences as a Fifth Officer, a Navigator, a First Officer / Co-pilot, and a Captain / Pilot. He relates his memories of San Francisco International Airport (SFO) in 1939, the Treasure Island Terminal in 1944, flying in and out of the seaplane terminals at Treasure Island and SFO, and the Marine Railway operations. Captain Bridges discusses the airplanes he flew, including the Boeing 314, 377 Stratocruiser, 707, and 747; the Martin PBM Mariner; and the Douglas DC 3, DC 4, and DC 7C. He describes the routes he flew, including the 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. He discusses the seaplane operations on some of the Pacific islands, as well as changes in navigation techniques and equipment over the years, including celestial, radio, and inertial guidance. He relates his experiences as a Pan American employee and discusses the effects of seniority in an era when airplanes required a decreasing number of crew members. He also discusses Pan American’s struggles over acquiring new routes and its competition with domestic carriers, and shares his opinion about Juan Trippe’s role in this struggle.