Ken Fortenberry is fundraising
Memorialize those lost on Pan Am Flight 7
The mission of this registered not for profit organization, Flight 7 Memorial Committee, is to place a memorial to honor the memory of the 36 passengers and 8 crew members of Pan American World Airways Flight 7 who perished midway between San Francisco and Honolulu on November 8, 1957.
Too often, history is lost, and the impact of those lives are not recognized. The crash of Flight 7 remains officially unsolved. Most of the occupants were not recovered from the unspecified Pacific Ocean crash site, therefore not buried or given a proper memorial.
We hope you join us in our quest to preserve the memories of these early aviators, and pre-jet passengers as they embarked upon the skies, yet remain in our thoughts today.
Too often, history is lost, and the impact of those lives are not recognized. The crash of Flight 7 remains officially unsolved. Most of the occupants were not recovered from the unspecified Pacific Ocean crash site, therefore not buried or given a proper memorial.
We hope you join us in our quest to preserve the memories of these early aviators, and pre-jet passengers as they embarked upon the skies, yet remain in our thoughts today.
Ken Fortenberry, chairman, son of Second Officer William Fortenberry
"I was six years old when my mom received a call from Pan Am that my father's flight was missing. Serving as second officer on the Boeing 377 Stratocruiser "Romance of the Skies" - my father would never come home."
"I was six years old when my mom received a call from Pan Am that my father's flight was missing. Serving as second officer on the Boeing 377 Stratocruiser "Romance of the Skies" - my father would never come home."
Gregg Herken, co-chair and board member
"Marie McGrath, one of the flight attendants on Pan Am Flight 7 "Romance of the Skies," was my 4th grade teacher in 1957. My family had just moved to San Mateo from Denver, and I was having trouble adjusting. In Denver back then, the height of fashion for 3rd graders was a buckskin coat with fringe (think Davy Crockett). But when I arrived at Sunnybrae Elementary with my coat, the kids thought I had fallen off a turnip truck. I never told my parents about the bullying I received, 'cause I was too embarrassed. But Miss McGrath--Marie quietly informed my parents, and the next week I returned to school sporting a brand new SF Giants jacket in black and orange (the team had recently moved to San Francisco), and I was suddenly a popular kid. Marie also held a "luau" for us 4th-graders, featuring foods she brought back from Hawaii on the Clipper, and I still remember wondering why and how people ever ate poi. I also remember when our principal announced on the PA system that "Miss McGrath's plane is missing."
"Marie McGrath, one of the flight attendants on Pan Am Flight 7 "Romance of the Skies," was my 4th grade teacher in 1957. My family had just moved to San Mateo from Denver, and I was having trouble adjusting. In Denver back then, the height of fashion for 3rd graders was a buckskin coat with fringe (think Davy Crockett). But when I arrived at Sunnybrae Elementary with my coat, the kids thought I had fallen off a turnip truck. I never told my parents about the bullying I received, 'cause I was too embarrassed. But Miss McGrath--Marie quietly informed my parents, and the next week I returned to school sporting a brand new SF Giants jacket in black and orange (the team had recently moved to San Francisco), and I was suddenly a popular kid. Marie also held a "luau" for us 4th-graders, featuring foods she brought back from Hawaii on the Clipper, and I still remember wondering why and how people ever ate poi. I also remember when our principal announced on the PA system that "Miss McGrath's plane is missing."
Lacey Wallace, board member
"This is my grandfather, Pan American World Airways First Officer William P. Wygant, who was a crew member on Flight 7, November 8, 1957. I know he flew in the Navy WWII, was in a lot of the major battles in the Pacific. There are rumors he was a flying tiger at one point, and we know he definitely flew the Ventura Bombers. Our family only has a few photos of him."
"It always amazes me he made it through all of the bloodshed in the Pacific only to die on a commercial flight in the same waters. Just happy that we will finally be getting the chance to memorialize them all."
"This is my grandfather, Pan American World Airways First Officer William P. Wygant, who was a crew member on Flight 7, November 8, 1957. I know he flew in the Navy WWII, was in a lot of the major battles in the Pacific. There are rumors he was a flying tiger at one point, and we know he definitely flew the Ventura Bombers. Our family only has a few photos of him."
"It always amazes me he made it through all of the bloodshed in the Pacific only to die on a commercial flight in the same waters. Just happy that we will finally be getting the chance to memorialize them all."
Norma Clack, board member
"I am related to six of the passengers who lost their lives in the Pan Am Flight 7 tragedy on November 8, 1957. My uncle, Lee Clack (age 36), was my father’s brother. Ann Clack (age 35) was Lee’s wife. Their four children were also on the plane - two sons, Bruce (age 9) and Scott (age 6) and two adopted daughters, Kimi (age 7) and Nancy Mariko (age 2). I was 10 years old when their family travelled from Japan to Michigan for a visit with relatives in the fall of 1957 – the last time I saw these loved ones."
Laures Lopez Stiles, Board Member
“My maternal grandfather, Louis "Louie" Rodrigues, a passenger on Flight 7. I never had the opportunity to meet my grandfather, although from the stories shared by my mother, I felt I knew him.
Our family is originally from Hawaii and my grandparents had moved to the "mainland" and were living in San Francisco when my grandfather received the news that his mother had passed away. Needing to return home to Hawaii for his mother's funeral, my grandfather was able to obtain a seat on Flight 7 through my uncle who was employed by Pan Am at that time.
My hope is that one day soon, we will all have the opportunity to have a memorial to remember the 8 crew members and 36 passengers aboard Flight 7. “
"I am related to six of the passengers who lost their lives in the Pan Am Flight 7 tragedy on November 8, 1957. My uncle, Lee Clack (age 36), was my father’s brother. Ann Clack (age 35) was Lee’s wife. Their four children were also on the plane - two sons, Bruce (age 9) and Scott (age 6) and two adopted daughters, Kimi (age 7) and Nancy Mariko (age 2). I was 10 years old when their family travelled from Japan to Michigan for a visit with relatives in the fall of 1957 – the last time I saw these loved ones."
Laures Lopez Stiles, Board Member“My maternal grandfather, Louis "Louie" Rodrigues, a passenger on Flight 7. I never had the opportunity to meet my grandfather, although from the stories shared by my mother, I felt I knew him.
Our family is originally from Hawaii and my grandparents had moved to the "mainland" and were living in San Francisco when my grandfather received the news that his mother had passed away. Needing to return home to Hawaii for his mother's funeral, my grandfather was able to obtain a seat on Flight 7 through my uncle who was employed by Pan Am at that time.
My hope is that one day soon, we will all have the opportunity to have a memorial to remember the 8 crew members and 36 passengers aboard Flight 7. “
- J
- C
- K
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