Pan Am Flight 7 Memorial Committee

12/05/2023

THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN - Our memorial was dedicated last April and we are so grateful to everyone who donated to make it possible. With the remaining funds in our account, on November 8, we placed this flower arrangement at the memorial site on the Millbrae (CA) History Museum.

04/14/2023

Pan Am Flight 7 Memorial Committee thanks Key Aero for their coverage of our permanently placed memorial.

https://www.key.aero/article/stratocruiser-memorial-unveiled-california?fbclid=IwAR1fT-pzzre-xPLSIs06o75giPOSj3U_UU0cQokXDWKkMgmY3jyfF6E9Bus

Passengers and crew of Stratocruiser 'Clipper Romance Of The Skies' which crashed in 1957 have been remembered at a newly revealed memorial

04/13/2023

Thank you CBS News

Kenny Choi reports on the new memorial in Millbrae unveiled in observance of the Pam Am Flight 7 crash's 65th anniversary. (4/4/2023)

04/04/2023

We invite all to view the memorial dedication via Zoom today, Tuesday April 4, 2023 at 11am PCT (Pacific Standard Time)

Topic: Flight 7 Memorial Zoom feed
Time: Apr 4, 2023 11:00 AM Pacific Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88259345655?pwd=NlNGN2QvMTVpSXRKd2duOUNQeldIdz09

Meeting ID: 882 5934 5655
Passcode: 838864

03/30/2023

12/24/2022

SEASONS GREETINGS AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL! On Christmas Day 1956, a Boeing Stratocruiser (may have been Romance of the Skies) departed Tokyo for Wake Island. Several years ago my colleague, Dr. Gregg Herken, found this menu from the flight while we were researching the disappearance of our Flight 7. The delicious menu was classic Pan Am, first-class all the way! My father, William Holland Fortenberry "Navigator Deluxe," signed the menu as did all of the crew, a custom for Christmas Day flights. Dad didn't live to see another Christmas as he and 43 others perished in November 1957 when N90944, Clipper Romance of the Skies, crashed in mid-Pacific. For the past 14 months a hard-working and dedicated committee has been working to erect a memorial to honor those who lost their lives on that day, and thanks to many of you we reached our financial goal. We have hit an unexpected snag placing our memorial in the City of Millbrae, but hope to have this resolved soon after the new year and will have a dedication ceremony to which all of you are invited. Meanwhile, we hope you and yours have a wonderful holiday, and we thank you once again for all of your encouragement and support. - Ken H. Fortenberry, co-chair, Pan Am Flight 7 Memorial Committee.

11/08/2022

IMPORTANT UPDATE - On this date 65 years ago, forty-four persons boarded Pan Am Flight 7 at San Francisco International Airport for a routine trip to Honolulu, the first stop on its around-the-world journey. Boeing 377 Stratocruiser “Clipper Romance of the Skies” mysteriously crashed just past the point-of-no-return, and all 44 souls aboard perished. Nineteen bodies were recovered more than a week later, and 25 were lost at sea.

One year ago, family members and friends of those aboard the plane started a not-for-profit committee to establish a permanent monument to memorialize those who died. Thanks to the generosity of wonderful people from all walks of life, we have reached our goal and a memorial has been engraved and is ready for dedication and placement.

The City Council of Millbrae, California (the city closest to the San Francisco airport), unanimously and enthusiastically approved our request several months ago to place the small monument on city property and plans were progressing for a dedication ceremony last Thursday, November 3. Unfortunately, and with no hint of any issues, a few days prior to the ceremony, the city attorney raised objections to our plan, claiming she was concerned that it might open the floodgates for others with similar requests.

We were stunned, disappointed, and quite frankly a bit outraged that the city attorney threw us a curveball at the last minute, and we are working with the city manager (who, like the city council, embraced our idea from the outset) to resolve the attorney’s issues. As you know, there are hundreds – if not thousands – of historic memorials and monuments on public property all across the United States, and we hope that we can soon work this out and invite you to our dedication.

Meantime, please accept our heartfelt thanks and sincere gratitude for your continued support and encouragement.

- Ken H. Fortenberry and Gregg Herken, co-chairs, Pan Am Flight 7 Memorial Committee.

10/29/2022

We at Pan Am Flight 7 Memorial Committee sincerely thank Pan Am Historical Foundationfor highlighting our efforts in their monthly newsletter.

https://www.panam.org/images/WhatsNew/Fall_2022_Clipper/Fall_Clipper_2022_RGB_Final.pdf

10/08/2022

Pan Am Flight 7 Memorial Committee has worked hard to get the Pan Am Flight Crew & passengers names etched in stone. Location has been approved (Millbrae, CA) but we are just short our goal to get this stone moved and mounted. Read here for more info and donate any amount: https://www.gofundme.com/f/memorialize-those-lost-on-pan-am-flight-7?qid=f4f3499c59c9557f89f3244f08c3df6a

10/07/2022

Pan Am Flight 7 Memorial Committee is so close to our goal!! A site has been approved (Millbrae, California) and a working draft of the monument is pictured! PLEASE help Pan Am Flight 7 Memorial Committee honor these early aviators and passengers with this permanent monument. We respect and are thankful for ANY amount you can give. Read our updates, see more photos and donate : 💐 : https://www.gofundme.com/f/memorialize-those-lost-on-pan-am-flight-7?qid=f4f3499c59c9557f89f3244f08c3df6a