Pioneer aviator Gib Blackmore was born in Bloomfield, IN in 1903. He died in Tacoma, WA in 1997.

He attended Purdue University and then took flying training at Pensacola earning his Navy wings in 1929.

In the heart of the depression, he flew for several airlines including Century, American, Western, and Aerovias Centrales in Mexico City. The latter airline was acquired by Pan American and he flew for Pan Am for over 30 years.

He had the honor of being at the controls of the first transatlantic passenger flight on the Boeing 314, Dixie Clipper, in June 1939. The flight departed from New York for Marseilles, France, via Lisbon, Portugal.

When he reached mandatory retirement in 1963, Captain Blackmore had amassed over 30,000 hours and was flying jets. He flew every Pan Am airplane except the Boeing 747.