While the later accomplishments made by Pan Am deserve recognition, they are all too keen to gloss over the fact that their company was built on the bones of the work of an American hero, Col. Ralph A. O'Neill. O'Neill was not only a WWI ace, but created the Mexican Air Force and stopped a military dictatorship at our border. He built the first and longest transcontinental route up the eastern seaboard as well as Panair do Brasil. Its clear where the funding for this came from, as this PBS special and those interviewed are all so smug about cuttrthroat political collusion, nepotistic backdealings and illegal monopoly practices that it is disgusting. With such a lurid history, im surprised O'Neill was included at all. The quote given by O'Neill about the incident "You can steal my house, but you can't ask me to run it for you" was a gross understatement that sums up our glorification of corporate greed over innovation. I highly suggest reading "A Dream of Eagles" which highlights the creation of New York, Buenos Aires Line by one of aviations true pioneers.
