70 years ago, Broughton and Martz and Cowart were there! Together ! On the same first crew to Prague.
This photo-feature is captioned CLEARNING CUSTOMS. It ran in The Newark Evening News.1 Fortunately, it was clipped out by First Officer Dick Broughton’s grandmother. She cut off the masthead, but we still know what day the photo was taken, even if we don’t know the exact publication date of the story. While rummaging through Ancestry.com in search of a totally different document, I discover an as-yet unknown type of document – a Crew Manifest. This one reveals the men responsible for the first of three Veterans Air Line UNRRA flights to Prague, plus the fact that a UNRRA Observer accompanied the flight. And it gives us the date of their return to Newark Airport – 23 April 1946.2
First-hand details & photos from 1946 crew
Two weeks and four days ago today, I launched on my second-ever trip to meet Veterans Air crew members face-to-face. I flew 3,945 air miles and drove 650 land miles — to, from and within New Mexico, South Carolina and New Jersey for some first-hand, unbelievable meet-and-greets with two captivating men. 1946 Veterans Air Line Flight Engineer Thomas Cowart and Navigator Ed Martz. And, during the same time period, I acquired some way-cool Veterans Air photographs via email from Navigation Officer and 1st Officer (Copilot) Dick Broughton’s two sons, Craig and Bob.
The research was successful for all but the first flight to Warsaw4 and for a flight to Vienna reported by the media as scheduled that remains unconfirmed by this Researcher5.
These men lived this history with my Dad.
They were there, making it happen. Sometimes together as part of the same crew. And, now, 70 years later, I was there…in South Carolina listening to Thomas Cowart and in New Jersey listening to Ed Martz tell me about their roles in this great adventure. Thomas’ two daughters, Angie & Joy, are hearing these stories for the first time. So are Ed’s wife Marie and two of their four daughters, Sue and Marie. The information and stories are amazing!
Oh! so much better than my usual solo research…
See how wondrously different this is from visualizing the internet searches I normally conduct by myself!
However…not a natural investigative reporter.
My notes from my trip are only semi-copious and sometimes illegible. And, only a few of any photographs taken were snapped by me! Try as I might, I’m not a natural investigative reporter. I am truly there to meet and share stories. I get involved in listening and absorbing the person – and I forget to write or click. You’ll just have to forgive me for missing some of the facts. But, ah! these faces and the accompanying laughter! I hope I captured even an n-th degree of this to share with you.
Thomas Cowart and Gaye Lyn doing some research together.
Thomas Cowart and Gaye Lyn reviewing VeteransAir.org on the website which chronicles the company’s unfolding research. PHOTO by Angie Cowart.
Edward Martz and Gaye Lyn during her New Jersey visit to meet this man who crewed for her Dad in 1946.
Thomas Cowart and daughter Angie Cowart-Cheek on 11 Nov 2015 in South Carolina.
PHOTO by Gaye Lyn.
Marie Martz sits with Gaye Lyn during November 2015 visit to Ed & Marie’s home in New Jersey.
Dear Reader, I never expected such an emotional, rewarding experience when I started my research in late April this year (2015).
Gaye Lyn