1. William Justin Mullahey was an American airline executive who was a long-time employee of Pan American Airways, helping the company expand its presence across the Pacific.
12 Facts About Bill Mullahey
1. 2.
Bill Mullahey played a large role in developing tourism throughout the Pacific Islands, including leading the development of the Pacific Asia Travel Association.
3.
Bill Mullahey attended the Saint Louis School in Honolulu before going to college at Columbia University in New York.
4.
Bill Mullahey served as an underwater demolitions expert, free diving at Wake and Midway atolls to place dynamite charges needed to clear coral to create landing channels in the lagoons.
5.
Bill Mullahey spent over a year working at Wake and Midway, before becoming an airport clerk in Manila, Philippines.
6.
Bill Mullahey next worked as an airport manager at Macao and Hong Kong, before becoming the Pan Am airport manager for Guam in 1937.
7.
Bill Mullahey later served as airport manager in Manila, Honolulu, and Canton.
8.
When World War II broke out, Bill Mullahey was airport manager in Auckland, New Zealand, from where he helped evacuate Pan Am staff from across the Pacific.
9.
Bill Mullahey helped the crew of the Pacific Clipper map out its westward flight from Auckland to New York in December 1941.
10.
In 1942, Bill Mullahey participated in the Naval Air Transport Service South Pacific Survey Flight, which used a Pan AM PBM-3 Mariner to scout a route for regular service between San Francisco and Brisbane, Australia.
11.
Bill Mullahey remained with Pan Am, building the airline's operations throughout the Pacific, until his retirement in 1972.
12.
Bill Mullahey is included in the PATA Gallery of Legends at Daniel K Inouye International Airport in Honolulu.