Aviation Memorabilia Newsletter

Isn't it great to live in an age when so much history is readily available to view on platforms like YouTube?

Below are links to two 'Story of' documentaries videos that we found chronicling the lifecycles of two now defunct airlines, TWA and Pan Am.

Both videos are very entertaining and offer insight on the early years of transcontinental travel. Click the images below to view. 

First we have, 'Sky High: The Story of TWA' a PBS documentary. 

This documentary looks at the history of Trans World Airlines, an airline company that was based in St. Louis. TWA was bought by American Airlines the same year this documentary was released in January 2001. The story goes back to the very beginning of planes, and ends with the sale of TWA to American.

Next is 'Come Fly With Me - The Story of Pan Am'

Documentary telling the story of how Pan American World Airways kickstarted the jet-age and shrank the globe. Real-life 'Pan Am girls' recall a high-life of luxury and glamour; rubbing shoulders with celebrity passengers, international romances and having to wear the now infamous girdle. Stars of the jet-age such as Robert Vaughn and Mary Quant remember the food, fashion and girls that made them regular Pan Am passengers.

Narrated by actress Honor Blackman.

Issue dated April 1982

CP Air Holidays sales reps (from left) Janet Campbell, Nanettee Kyle, Penny Stevens, Melanie Watts and Anna Miller are busy spreading the word around London's travel agents about the newest charter flight program between the U.K. and Canada.

Many early retirements - Suddenly, we're different.

The inner character of CP Air is taking a sudden and dramatic turn this spring with the early retirement of many veteran staff members, along with the grounding of the DC-8-63 fleet.

Between 50 and 60 employees are taking early retirement this year under the company's staff reduction plan, brought about by a fickle economy which continues to adversely affect the airline business.

These employees have a combined experience with CP Air of slightly more than 1,000 years. Many have been with the airline since its earliest days and have participated in its evolution from a collection of 10 founding bush airlines into one of the world's major international jet carriers.

Below is sampling of the early retirees, left to right:

Vic Geisler, Bill Klompas, Bob Howrie, John Wullum, Clyde Matheson, Don O'Grady, Bill Konowalchuk, Pete Howard, Karl Schaefer, Ed Lindsay, Red Stark, Miller Waling, and the Empress of Quebec.

CP Air leased several B-737's in the mid-80s; some received their full colours and a couple, like this Britannia one, barely received more than new titles.

Registration C-GXCP was delivered to Britannia Airways in April 1982. It was leased to CP Air in November 1985, returned April 1986 (resumed its original registration, G-BJCV) and then leased again by Canadian Airlines in October 1987, this time registered as C-GCAU.

It was again returned to Britannia in April 1988 and went through several leases. Last operator was Peruvian Airlines, acquired in July 2009.

Photo by Gary Vincent at www.airhistory.net

Posted by Joe Gipp

The Vancouver International Airport has sure changed over the decades. This is the one I remember the most, shown here around the end of the 1960's.

Photo credited to BC Archives

Posted by Peter Luzny 

The 21-seat Douglas DC-3 joined CP Air's fleet in 1946, replacing many of the smaller, older aircraft on the more important routes across the system.

Considered one of the most successful airliners, over 10,000 DC-3's were built for civilian and military use from 1936 - 1946.

A whimsical tale of volunteering by Terry Baker, member of The NetLetter team.

In NetLetter #1500, in his column "Wayne’s Wings", Wayne told us about his volunteering efforts.

This prompted me to tell of my volunteering, which goes way back, to 1954, together with Jack Morath, social games for the Douglas mechanics repairing the DC-8 of the 'Cabbage Patch' fame, including a memorable evening on the river Thames.

Social events for my Purchasing & Supply co-workers, horseback riding, ten pin bowling, golf. There was no ACRA formed at LHR during that time.

When I transferred to Montreal, I was secretary/treasurer for the housing development I lived in, fighting the builder, CMHC and city for better completion of homes. A winter carnival involving professional husky race teams, and the building of a swimming pool, which enlisted twisting resident's arms to sign a promissory note for $200.00.

I volunteered to referee the P & F pick-up hockey games, usually at midnight, also weekend canoe trips, BBQ's.

While on secondment to Antigua, I volunteered to make arrangements for social events for the UK mechanics doing the spar change to HS748 aircraft of LIAT, the local commuter airline.

In recent years, I volunteer in a senior’s independent complex, where I now reside, called 'Berwick on the Lake' in Nanaimo, British Columbia.

I live in an ordinary suite on the top floor of a four story building. I call my suite a penthouse. To those who know better, after all most penthouses are on the top floor, and mine overlooks a park - albeit the car park.

For my exercise, each day, I walk the hallways on all four flours, a total of four times, which equates to 3.12 miles approximately. During the early walk I drop off the daily newspaper at the door of those residents who have ordered one, making me Nanaimo's oldest paper boy - unpaid I might add.

I also monitor the "Tuck Shop" which has most of the necessities of life, such as toilet paper, Kleenex, chocolate bars, for those physically challenged and don't get to the local stores.

I also monitor the library, labelling the spine of the books with the first alpha of the author, shelving returned books, tidying up the books, relocating misfiled books. Although it is a library, it is surprising how many residents who use the library do not know their alphabet nor the difference between a hard cover and paperback which are separately shelved.

I have volunteered for many years and enjoyed it and get great satisfaction in helping others. What goes around comes around is my philosophy.

Our cartoon, by Dave Mathias, is from the 'Between Ourselves' magazine issue dated September 1955, with the caption "Nothing, thanks, I'm just browsing!"