From our Touch & Go newsletter: Vol. 21, No.1

NorCal History: Did You Know?

This was a man-made island in the center of San Francisco Bay built for the 1939 Exposition. It was such a success that an unexpected second year took place in 1940. The Island was intened to be the location for a new San Francisco Airport but this all changed with the start of World War 2 (US) in December 1941. At that time an exchange of land was made and the Navy took over Treasure Island and the present site of SFO became the property of the City and County of S.F. Pan American Airlines, now under Navy command, continued to operate from Treasure Island during the early part of the war and the Navy added Martin PBMs to the aircraft at T.I.

This September 1939 publicity photo shows the island in all of its glory. The building in the lower left with the curved front was intened to be the Pan American terminal in 1940 and later became the Headquarters for several Navy Commands including that of Admiral
Nimitz.  The two large hangars were the Pan American combined exhibit and Pacific flight operations. You can see one of the Boeing 314's at its pier in front of the hangars.  The Paul Mantz operation was in the upper right center of the photo.

Contributed by William T. Larkins (NC 5)