On 10/26/2018 2:23 PM, Bobinsky, Steven J. wrote:
Gaye Lyn,
Thank you for sharing your site and your story. We are happy
to be involved with your project and assist as we might be able.
I have included Dr. Sally Blomstrom, Chair of Humanities & Communication
& Professor of Communication at Embry-Riddle’s Daytona Beach Campus.
She continues to manage the NonSked History Project at Embry-Riddle and
as student interest arises, she has the students update and can connect
your website with Embry-Riddle’s website. I am not sure the details,
however I suspect links of each other’s sites could be included in the
respective websites.
Thanks again and I look forward to seeing and catching up with you, as
our paths may cross again.
Steve
Steve Bobinsky
Executive Director of Philanthropy
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Prescott, Arizona
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From “Gaye Lyn”
To “Blomstrom, Sally”
Cc “Bobinsky, Steven J.”
Date 3/20/2019 5:20:13 PM
Subject Re: [EXTERNAL] Take a peek…
Dr. Blomstrom, good evening to you,
Back in October, Steve Bobinsky generously introduced Veterans Air and
my name to you in the email above. Very tardy though I am, I’ve come
today to see if I may pique your interest in the unfolding history of my
Dad’s 1945 air line…enough to then bend your “educated ear” (Steve’s
description) about my research project.
It started out as a personal curiosity, Dr. Blomstrom, but my findings
defy my wildest expectations. And I’m beyond honored to have enjoyed
face-to-face time, hugs and ice cream with four of my Dad’s men, emails
with a fifth, meals and laughter with three Veterans Air widows, and
friendships with 11 other families whose fathers had already passed
away. They are Veterans Air “kids” like me!
In April 2017, I even acquired an RV specifically to extend my research.
To date, I’ve driven over 14,000 miles on my own, visiting families and
research sources in TX, FL, KY, MD, PA, NJ, AZ, OR and Washington DC,
and to meet Steve Bobinsky and ERAU’s Professor Alan Bender…all in
pursuit of more families, our aircraft histories, routes flown, the
legal and anecdotal details of the company’s non-sked travails, etc.
With increasing frequency, however, I feel compelled to aim toward some
sort of befitting objectives. I loved presenting the story in person at
Aviation Hall of Fame of New Jersey and at Airliners International
Convention. But that’s fleeting. Yet, a book does not appeal. A
documentary scares me financially. And, more importantly, so far, I’ve
no place to put a final period. All of the above and the “thumbnail”
below are why I am contacting you.
- Saunie Gravely, my Dad, founded a non-sked air line in 1945. He was 22.
- It was one company with two names: Veterans Air Express and Veterans Air
Line. Based at Newark and Teterboro airports, for transport of cargo and
passengers. - Short-lived (1945 – 1947-ish), nonetheless, they made history.
- Flew war-surplus DC-4s under contract with the UNRRA – 5 flights to
Prague and Warsaw, delivering 55,000 hatching eggs each trip to restore
the countries’ war decimated hatcheries. A 6th UN flight to Athens with
three young dairy breeding stock donated by The Borden Company. - Flew cargo & passengers domestically in war-surplus DC-3s — the first
one named Gaye Lyn the week I was born! - My research cornerstone was a 3-page, July 1946 Air Transport magazine
article that featured my Dad, the airline, and a list of the 22 veterans
who founded the endeavor. - In December 2015, I discovered Aviation Pioneers Association online.
That, fortunately, led me to Steve Bobinsky and later to your Alan
Bender.
Sorry, Professor, this got long. Can you tell it’s my favorite subject??
I would welcome your questions, encouragement, and doses of reality if
time permits. And I invite you to my website:- veteransair.org/
Best regards,
g.
Gaye Lyn
Gaye Lyn Gravely
Current day Researcher
Saunie Gravely, Founder, 1945
Veterans Air Express & Veterans Air Line
w: VeteransAir.org
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