Saunie Gravely. Founder, Board Chairman, President. My Dad!
WWII GIs, war surplus DC-3s and DC-4s, produce and passengers: Saunie’s 1945 non-sked air service.
Saunie Gravely. Founder, Board Chairman, President. My Dad! Read More »
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Glider on the horizon
A scheduled cargo flight of ice-packed turkeys in a DC-3-towed-glider. A historic flight?
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Stettner logbook verifies 1946 non-sked history.
Research project of 1945 history gets huge boost with face-to-face visit in August 2015 with 92-year old Jack Stettner. His logbook contains the “missing” third DC-3.
Stettner logbook verifies 1946 non-sked history. Read More »
Florida ideal secondary maintenance location
Growing business. VAE’s 2nd ops base. WWII Hendricks Field to transition to Sebring Air Terminal. Archives tell the story.
Florida ideal secondary maintenance location Read More »
“Experimental” DC-4 expedited for UNRRA war relief flights
An “experimental” DC-4. A high-energy group of hardworking ex-servicemen. A Veterans Air Express UNRRA contract for cargo flights behind the iron curtain. And Newark/Miami winter passenger flights. By mid-1946, the all-veterans organization was becoming recognized and starting to thrive.
“Experimental” DC-4 expedited for UNRRA war relief flights Read More »
15 May 1946. Bill of Sale for DC-3, N86583
DC-3 War Assets Admin. Bill of Sale. $20,000 Note and Aircraft Chattel Mortgage.
15 May 1946. Bill of Sale for DC-3, N86583 Read More »
2nd UNRRA flight departs for Warsaw 20 May 1946
By the time these eggs arrive, chicks from the first UNRRA May 1945 delivery by Veterans Air will have hatched.
2nd UNRRA flight departs for Warsaw 20 May 1946 Read More »
DC-4 converted at Sebring FL ops base
Company techs convert an Army C-54 to second cargo DC-4 in just 13 days. But too slow military-to-civilian airfield negotiations hinder FL ops plans.
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Carole Landis christens non-sked DC-4. July1946
Hollywood star Carole Landis christened Veterans Air Line DC-4 on July 24, 1946. The aircraft and attending celebrity Mrs. Gloria Vanderbilt both got champagne-splashed. Still searching for press photo coverage of event.
Carole Landis christens non-sked DC-4. July1946 Read More »
1948 Legal Action drops the “Final Curtain.”
Court decision No. 6582a naming lawyers for petitioner Matson Nav Co, trustee for Veterans’ Air Express Co, and a slew of U.S. Attorneys and General Counsels for the Government. Dated March 19, 1948. Ironically, it was Saunie Gravely’s 25th Birthday. Preparation for potential international passenger contract leads to unforeseen outcome. Being a non-sked air line was not
1948 Legal Action drops the “Final Curtain.” Read More »
DC-3 Gaye Lyn joins ABCDlist.nl Gallery of DC-3s
My favorite photo of Dad and Veterans Air DC-3 the GAYE LYN just posted on ABCDlist.nl in a DC-3s gallery frequented by DC-3 loyalists & crews. Hope for contact from those familiar with Veterans Air Express.
DC-3 Gaye Lyn joins ABCDlist.nl Gallery of DC-3s Read More »
1946 Greek War Relief flight makes history
The Borden Company donates three pure-bred American Jersey breeding stock to UNRRA Greek war-relief. DC-4 “loading” for flight to Athens gets press attention.
1946 Greek War Relief flight makes history Read More »