Come Fly the World: The Jet-Age Story of the Women of Pan Am

Come Fly the World tells the story of Pan Am World Airways stewardesses between 1966 and 1975. The airline required applicants to have a college education, speak two languages, and possess diplomatic skills suited to the Cold War era. Candidates also had to meet strict physical requirements: between 5'3" and 5'9" in height, between 105 and 140 pounds, and under 26 years old at hire. Julia Cooke weaves together the real-life stories of stewardesses including Lynne Totten, a science major seeking escape from lab work, and Hazel Bowie, one of the relatively few Black stewardesses of the period. These women found liberation and independence in their jet-set careers. The book documents Pan Am stewardesses' involvement in significant historical events, including their role during the Vietnam War. The airline operated runs from Saigon to Hong Kong, transporting soldiers on five-day rest-and-relaxation breaks before returning them to combat. The narrative culminates with Operation Babylift, the evacuation of 2,000 children during the fall of Saigon, in which the stewardesses played a crucial role.