Marilyn Gries and I spent the better part of two days together in July. What a giggle. What a treat. Besides Veterans Air Express, we share many things in common. Come read about this spunky, gracious woman and our special connection.
Research begins again for the1945 Veterans Air crews and non-flight personnel who helped Saunie Gravely, my Dad, establish the air line. While still in pursuit of undiscovered families, my current adventure takes me across the country to meet a few of the families I’ve located since April 2015. Come read about my new venture and meet Gracie, my magic “carpet.”
Veterans Air Express Navigator Edward Martz regaled me with stories I have not heard before. In our face-to-face meeting last month in New Jersey, Ed Martz shared vivid memories from his 1946 flights behind the Iron Curtain. You don’t want to miss the full story!
(POST UPDATE 9/19/2016: Constantine J. Keloss (Kaless) just identified in 1946 Veterans Air photo.) On 10 November 2015, I launched my second-ever “road trip” to meet crew members. The result? Face-to-face meetings and first-hand details from 1946 Veterans Air Express crew: flight engineer Thomas Cowart and navigator Ed Martz. Plus I received grand old photos taken by VAE pilot Richard Broughton. Come see.
Timing is everything. Veterans Air Express needed a major maintenance and repair facility. And Florida seemed a location ideally suited to their growing cargo and passenger business. Hendricks Field, an AAF Pilot School during WWII in Sebring, FL was being deactivated and transitioned into Sebring Air Terminal. Photos & news clips from archives unfold the story.
Update: WWII photos added to story of Robert Gries. Read about Bob as told to me by his wife, Marilyn. About his WWII 392nd Bomb Group. About his Navigator & business management role at Veterans Air Express.
UPDATE 8/30/15: Mid-August, I spent hours with Marilyn Gries in Florida. First at breakfast and then in her home. She is vivacious and wonderful. Yesterday and today, I updated two Posts with photos of Marilyn & her husband Bob on the website. He was one of the Veterans co-founders, a navigator & manager. Yesterday Marilyn & I spoke on the phone. For now, come see the first of my photos of Marilyn. And read (or re-read) HER story — the Veterans Air Express first unofficial “hostess” and a new and now dearly cherished friend of mine! What a Treasure!
