Aviation Memorabilia Newsletter

NetLetter #1110 - February 27, 2010

Changes Ahead (good ones) Due to the continued popularity of the NetLetter and the donations we have received, we are expanding and are planning some changes that we thought we'd make you aware of in this issue. As you may know the NetLetter is under the umbrella of the ACFamily Network group of websites. In order to provide more options to our readers and not duplicate services, we will be adding the NetLetter list (of over 4,000 readers) as an option to the much larger (over 13,000 member) ACFamily News List which has just been re-activated. In conjunction with this change we will soon be announcing a brand new updated NetLetter web site with full access to all of our NetLetter archives (since 1995) as well as a new NetLetter logo. We expect the changeover to happen either with the next issue (#1011) or the one after. We still have some minor bugs to work out. Further information will be announced when available. You, as a NetLetter subscriber should not notice any difference in receiving the NetLetter. We do have some subscribers (about 100 or so) that will need to sign-up again for technical reasons and those readers will be notified individually if this applies to you. Sincerely, Your NetLetter Team

Vesta's Jump Seat Why not allow the NetLetter be your platform, and opportunity, to relive your history while working for either TCA, AC, CPAir, CAIL, PWA, AirBC etal. and share your experiences with us! The first woman to win her fixed wing pilots license was the self-styled Baroness de la Roche real name Elise Raymonde Deroche. She is described in contemporary reports as a "young and pretty" comedienne (which probably means she was an actress in the jargon of the time, though she is also described as a "lyrical artist', or singer). Previously a baloonist, She won license nr 36 of the International Aeronautics Federative (FAI)  on the 8th Match 1910. at the age of 24. She participated in the aviation meetings at Heliopolis. Budapest. Rouen and Saint Petersburg (at the latter of which the Tsar himself praised her for her bravery and audacity.

Our first 70 years. 1949 - May 1st - Inaugural North Star service arrived at Saskatoon., pre-inaugural flight was Apr 30th.

TCA/AC People Gallery Over the past months we have been publishing various photographs from earlier "Horizons", should any photos prompt a memory in seeing one of them, feel free to send us your comments and thoughts. Musings from "Between Ourselves" magazine - Issue dated Midsummer 1949 - Stewardess Betty Munro is pictured here with a meal for airborne appetites which has been introduced on North Star services overseas last winter and domestically June 20th this year. A joint meeting of the Calgary Operations and Traffic staff was held in the Palliser Hotel on May 19th during which Verne Van Iderstine received his ten year pin. (No identifications were provided  - eds) The Outdoor Writers of America Association Convention was held in North Bay on June 5th. These TCA'ers attended. Left to right: F.I.Young, W.R.Campbell, D.Barclay, F.Holland, H.Harling, R.S.Thomson, J.E.Nickson. Lunch time on the late shift at Vancouver finds Maintenance personnel enjoying the sea breezes on the seaplane ramp in front of TCA's hangar. (Here again we have no identifications, but we thought we would show you that the same work ethic still prevails today!  - eds) D'arcy McLeod Cargo Sales Rep at Windsor. D'arcy started his career Colonial Western Airlines then Latcham Air Services, Century Airways then Caperol & Austin Airways then in the mid 40's joined TCA. Betty Evans a Reservation Agent at Windsor. Prior to joining TCA in August 1946 she was in the RCAF. These members of Saskatoon staff were pleased with a record 92 consecutive flights without a station delay. The happy gang, left to right: D.McMillan, E.Fournier, .O.Donnachie, N.Biernes, K.Wannamaker. Front row are: F.McNabb, N.Hepburn,  P.Leddy. Members of the Winnipeg Traffic at a Reservations Sales meeting. This is the photo of the group. Seated left to right are: Maryon Weiss, Rene Book, Robie Weir, Don McLeod, Stan Knight, Swan Johnson, Tom Moore, Helen Workentin, Max Dow, Bob Danaher, Marg Taggart, Beth Ferguson, Shirley Murphy. First row standing: Jane Gray, Bill Martin, Alison Chown, Irene Prince, Doris Haldorson, Edna Winterburn, Stan Howe, Mr. Baer. Back row standing: Brendy O'Brien, Bob MacDonald, Glen Milne, Eric MacDonald, Bill Muir, Art Arnold, Bury Drummond-Hay, Al Heatin, George Mitchell, "Mac" McLeod. New Stewardesses All dressed up in new summer uniforms are these recent Stewardess graduates from the 32 and 33 Flight Attendant Training Classes. Back row left to right, E. J. Johnston, P. E.Steeves, A. J. Smith, M. J. Comeau, J. F.Fuller, M. M. Renoud, M. J. McSkmmng, L.M. Cousins, F. A. Scott, T. 0. Kain, L. M.Aulfery, B. E. C. Denholm, E. M. Olivier. Front row, D. J. Blyth, K. M. Mitchell, I. C.Ward, R. F. Day, C. M. Be/yea, M. F. Kauth. Welcome to England Much better even than a plush red carpet is the reception that awaits TCA's U.K. bound passengers when they deplane at our English terminal. Vivacious Josephine Burwell-Smith greets all visitors with a big smile and a cheery, "Welcome to London, England". Jo, who is a Ground Hostess at LHR , knows both Princesses, Elizabeth and Margaret. She served with them in the Windsor Sea Rangers for six years

Alan's Space Google Earth captures aircraft boneyard Spanning 1,052 hectares, the world's largest plane graveyard is where the remnants of war and space exploration go to die. For the first time, Google Earth has released high-resolution images of "The Boneyard" - the world's largest military aircraft cemetery adjacent to the Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, Ariz. It was established after World War II. Officially it is called the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group (AMARG) facility. It covers about 1,052 hectares and is home to 4,400 retired aircraft from all branches of the U.S. military, including U.S. planes flown during World War II, and 13 aerospace vehicles. It is here that planes such as the F-4 Phantom II, the F-16 Fighting Falcon and the F-14 Tomcat come to end their lives. Also here are the B-52 Cold War era bombers, retired in the 1990s. The fleet contains aircraft once valued at a total of $35 billion (U.S.) The site has been called "The Boneyard" because the folks at AMARG are responsible for reclaiming spare parts and the eventual disposal of spent airframes. It also refurbishes many planes, returning them to flying status and preparing them to be transported overland. A Google Earth view of Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, Ariz., (below) shows The Boneyard in high-resolution for the first time ever. On the left, I've captured an image of a B52 (I think) broken up for scrap. The site's low rainfall and humidity make it perfect for keeping aircraft indefinitely. From far above it looks a bit like an impressionist painting - all dots, crosses and lines. But zoom in and it becomes a picture of thousands of retired aircraft. Please note: the link below leads to Google Maps version, but for higher resolution you would have to visit http://earth.google.com and download and install the program (it's free) Davis-Monthan Air Force Base

Canadi>n/CPAir/PWA, Wardair, etc. Events & People Over the past months we have been publishing various photographs from earlier in-house magazines, should any photos prompt a memory in seeing one of them, feel free to send us your comments and thoughts. From the "Transition Times" magazine - Issue dated August 4th 1994 - Training for the Canadian Holidays' transition are Cornwall, Ontario. Sales Agents from the left: Celine Charlebois, Julie Bourget, Allison Morris, Carmen Masson. Training for Canadian Holidays Vancouver branch From the left: Nicola Marsh, Angela Soucie, Jill Barbarie. Checking through the "CP Air < NEWS" magazine - Issue dated July 1982 - Paulette Duguay dispatching Flight 227 Paulette! You're an A-I flight dispatcher! Paulette Duguay, an administrative clerk in the maintenance department at Mirabel, developed an intense desire to dispatch a flight shortly after joining CP Air in February of 1979. It would be the thrill of her lifetime if she could do it just once, she let her friends know. So her friends got together to make her dream come true. Joe Boulos, air engineer II at Mirabel, taught her the necessary terminology for ground-cockpit communication. 'On the morning of June 17, Miss Duguay was introduced to the captain of Flight 2836, Montreal Manchester, fin # 907," Boulos told CP Air News. 'The captain was very cooperative about her dispatching the flight providing of course I stand by in case of any problems. Everything went well, Miss Duguay dispatched the flight without any difficulty.' So well, in fact, that she performed an encore, dispatching DC-8 A/C 905 on Flight 227 from Mirabel to Toronto on July 5. For Duguay, two thrills of a lifetime, in little more than two weeks! Don Buchanan has the job of selecting movies suitable for passengers. Traveling to LAX frequently to review the latest releases. Our Jasper-to.Banff relay team. . . "a unique, exciting, rewarding event" Standing, from left, Barry Ditson, computer services; Peter Nitzschke, in-flight services, quality; Tony Dunn, sheet metal; Fred Zapf, financial evaluations; Al Fraser, flight attendants; Ray Robichaud, cargo automation system; Rolly Greczmiel, avionics, all Vancouver; Tom Maters, training supervisor, Edmonton airport. Kneeling, from left, Art Everton, avionics; Dave Hills, ramp, both Vancouver; Kurt Bertsch, passenger service director, Toronto; Stan Sierpina, sales; Winnie Wiggs, computer services; Serge Cote, avionics; Carolyn Berthelot, reservations; Kwan Tam, avionics; Will Snihur, flight ops, all Vancouver. Missing: Willi  Germann, mechanic, Vancouver ramp. (We are not sure if Willi got lost and is still running - eds) B-737 pilots were introduced to the new log books to report mechanical faults. Walt McGregor on the right is the technical instructor. This photo shows, from the left - F/O Gordon Furgeson,  Capt. Bill Brooke, F/O Garth Harrison, Capt. Wolf Poepperl.

Len Kruller sends us these url's  Just in case your team members or N.L. readers are interested in past history of airships or on the present largest airship that has been operating for a little over one year in Central and Southern CA. The following link will give you all of the info on the above.   Enjoy ! Len K. Fly an Airship over SF Float over the Golden Gate Bridge.  Departures from Oakland and Moffett Field (near San Jose) www.airshipventures.com Now that the initial panic over the H1N1 flu is more or less behind us, we print this information sent by Bill Norberg - The recent fuss about  H1N1 injections, and the number of TV shots we have all seen of people of all ages getting their shots,reminded me of an incident in 1948. I was to be going on the Caribbean exploratory flight in 1948 and needed to have quite an array of immunization shots. I was working the midnight shift at the time and would report to the Dorval medical clinic when I got off shift to get the shots. I remember standing in line with the others who were also getting the shots when I noticed the person ahead of me. The nurse had injected the hypodermic to inject the vaccine and when she tried to withdraw the hypodermic, the needle  portion stayed in his arm. After I had my shot, I said to the nurse there must be something wrong with the needles to have that happen. She said that it happened often. I asked her to let me have some of the needles so I could examine them. Under a powerful magnifier I immediately saw the problem. The ends of the needles were bent over in the shape of a hook.No wonder they didn't want to come out! I used a fine sharpening stone to re-sharpen the tips solving the problem. We often forget how much things in the medical field have changed. We never re-use  needles now.....unless a person is injecting street drug and we all know what happens as a result. Regards Bill Norberg

This n That. We continue the story of Prestwick from our NetLetter nr 1109 - On September 29th, 1940, a lone Hudson bomber slipped down upon the lush grass runways of Prestwick to herald the arrival of the first ferried aircraft from Canada. From that time, until the cessation of hostilities, 40,000 aircraft were to follow, Liberators, Boston's, Mitchell's, Fortresses, Dakotas, Curtis's Commandos, Canadian built Lancaster's and Mosquitoes, famous names in the annals of World War II. During the early spring of 1941, the return ferry service, 'ATFERO' was conceived and commenced operations, the Canadian terminus was operated by CPA and Prestwick by Scottish Aviation. During June, 1941, a "hush-hush" run called the "Arnold Service" commenced operations between Washington and Prestwick, using Liberators. Named after General Arnold, USAAF, its primary purpose was to give experience and train American crews in trans-Atlantic flying. In the spring of 1942, a return ferry service commenced operations, run by TWA and North East Airlines, American Airlines later replacing NEA. This service used Strato-Liners and DC-3's over the North Atlantic via Iceland. Hard surface runways were opened up in 1941 and aircraft arrivals rose to a peak of 300 per day, forming a veritable bridge across the Atlantic, indeed the original Air Lift. Through Prestwick passed the entire Eighth and part of the Ninth U.S. Army Air Forces. And so the momentum grew as the war progressed. During the winter of 1943-44, the United States, ATC operated 13 daily flights in each direction across the "pond." In 1944, the USAAF established an evacuation hospital at Prestwick for the seriously wounded. In the early days of the war, the Engineering Palace at the Glasgow Exhibition was dismantled and moved to Prestwick. In this building, 1400 fighter aircraft and 1600 Liberators and Fortresses were repaired and modified for active service. It was during the "Battle of Britain" days that many fighter squadrons came north to Prestwick for rest and reforming. Among the many pilots who knew Prestwick in those days was one Squadron Leader Gordon R. McGregor, D.F.C. We have been given to understand that one day he playfully "shot-up" the airport. Unfortunately, his keen skill in maneuvering the latest type aircraft about the sky was not entirely appreciated by certain airport authorities, a fact of which he later became aware. In 1944 the famous No. 168 Squadron RCAF, commenced operations to Prestwick carrying Canadian Services' mail, at which time the main Post Office for our troops in the United Kingdom and beyond was established here. Early in 1943, TCA were asked by the Government to organize a North Atlantic service for the purpose of carrying official and Canadian Army mails and a very limited number of Government passengers. This service was commenced in July of that year, the first flight leaving Dorval for Prestwick on the 23rd. Old "100" Lancaster on the ramp in the early forties with, in the centre of the group Capt. Jack Barclay. The North Star arriving on the ramp at Prestwick. (More next time - eds) FIRST FLIGHT FOR NEW TWIN OTTER The last of the original Twin Otters flew off from the de Havilland factory back in 1988, but this week a new version, produced by Viking Air in Canada, flew for the first time.  "Flying the first new Twin Otter in 22 years is the culmination of many months of hard work and determination by our staff and supply-chain partners," said Viking CEO David Curtis. He crewed on the first flight, along with Steve Stackhouse, manager of flight operations. "The aircraft performed exactly as expected," Curtis said. "It felt very stable, fast, and even with my thousands of hours on type, this new Series 400 Twin Otter brought a smile to my face." The airplane is equipped with Honeywell's Primus Apex IFR digital flight deck and configured with a commuter interior. It will be flown by Zimex Aviation, of Switzerland, throughout North Africa to service the oil and gas industry

Terry's Trivia & Travel Tips World Airlines Club Association (WACA) has the following trips planned - Lovely weekend in the Holy Land. April 28th - May 01. Visit Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. Hosted by the Israel Interline Club. US$389.00 Deadline dated March 29th. Check www.waca.org for more details.