One World Flight was a 13-episode documentary series that aired on CBS radio from 14 Jan to 8 Apr 1947. Produced by Norman Corwin, the show was a result of Corwin winning the first One World Award, which granted him a round-the-world trip. Over the course of four months, Corwin, accompanied by CBS Recorder Lee Bland, traveled 42,000 miles across 16 countries, carrying 225 pounds of recording equipment. They interviewed people from all walks of life, including heads of state and common citizens. The series aimed to help heal the wounds of World War II through presenting different perspectives from around the world.
The One World Award was established in honor of Wendell Willkie, a lawyer and activist who ran for the U.S. presidency on the Republican ticket in 1940. He later became a devoted internationalist, supporting President Roosevelt's policies and advocating for world government after the war. Norman Corwin, often referred to as the Poet Laureate of Radio, was the first recipient of this award.
Despite the significance of One World Flight, the series was overshadowed by being scheduled against Bob Hope's popular show. Nonetheless, it remains an important historical record capturing global perspectives during an urgent moment in world history.