Covering their bases as they plan to cover the globe. Veterans Air applies to CAB for routes.
Impressive plans. Complex routes.
Thankfully, John Greenleaf, Sr. kept a copy of this CAB (Civil Aeronautics Board) application for a permanent Certificate of Public Necessity and Convenience that included an impressive route map. Greenleaf, Jr. found it among his father’s papers. Unfortunately, it is not dated. And we have no idea if or when it was submitted.1 However, in creating this Post and more recently updating it with Footnotes, indications are that this Application may have been the third CAB Application – based upon the intended Signatory and a September 2, 1946 press clipping. Read on.
On the other hand … it almost doesn’t matter – almost! Because the very fact that this document ever got researched and drafted is a huge disclosure of the seriousness of Veterans Air Express’ intentions and expectations.
My “discovery.”
O.K., I was almost ready to “publish” this Post the first time. Was just formatting the Application as a PDF for easy navigation and legibility. And I finally realized what we have here! Remember that Veteran Air Express started life (as this CAB application states in Section 4) “engaged in Air Transportation as a non-scheduled and contract carrier.” But this application was looking toward their next stage of service. And I totally missed it! When I first read the document, I totally missed the two most significant words — permanent and scheduled. 2
Most unfortunately, this was a stage Veterans was not destined to attain.
But take a closer look…there’s more!
The Application proves startling. The Cover indicates that the document is being submitted by Harvey G. Stevenson, Attorney for Applicant. But the document is also set up for Stevenson’s signature as President, Veterans Air Express Company!3 This is the first I hear that my Dad was not President of his company until the last day. All the more unfortunate that the Application is not dated. However, and again, perhaps the September 1946 clipping below is telltale.
Definitely something to untangle.
A perfect demonstration of how “Chronology is not a researcher’s luxury,” the next five news releases were published in March, July, September and December 1946,and March 1947. The clippings “surfaced” during my research in June 2016, October 2017, and February 2023. [This Post is dated for the earliest of these news releases, published March 18, 1946.]
A release dated March 18, 1946, announces that Veterans Air Express and Veterans Airlines joined eight other “Uncertificated Operators” to organize the Institute of Air Transportation, Inc. 4 NOTE: As early as March 1946, the Non-Skeds felt the need to “forestall criticism” about their safety and maintenance standards. Still, it took until December for the Institute to create a Maintenance Advisory Board – headed by Saunie Gravely. [Keep reading, Dear Reader.]
The July 22, 1946 issue of Aviation News carries two mentions of Veterans Air Express. The first referencing them as among the “larger [non-scheduled] operators” and “the only carrier listing DC-4s…two of them.” The second reference lists Personnel (including Saunie Gravely as President and Harvey Stevenson as Executive Vice President), and the most detailed reporting so far of any Company revenues – between April 15 and June 15, 1946 – and that were submitted to the CAB.5
This 13-line clipping dated September 2, 1946, reveals Veterans Air’s clear intention for their “future” and their tenacity regards the CAB.6
Their intentions also prompted their August and September 1946 surrender of their two DC-4s to Matson Navigation in Oakland, CA, for transoceanic passenger flight upgrades. It’s not far fetched to believe they were preparing for and in anticipation of CAB approval of at least one of the two – or three? – Applications they had submitted… approval of which might have allowed the company to generate cargo and/or passenger revenue trips and pay Matson for trans-Pacific outfitting. In fact, within seven months of the first DC-4 delivery to Matson, March 1, 1947, the Veterans Air co-trustees told the creditors and the press that they expected that exact scenario. 7
The clip dated December 23, 1946, reveals Saunie Gravely, former president of Veterans Air Express, would be head of a maintenance advisory board for the Institute of Air Transportation.8 Thus confirming that, at least by this date, Saunie was no longer with the company he founded. We have no clue of a separation date – or cause.
But, despite Veterans Air’s efforts, expectations, and possibly the potential to fly themselves out of debt, the Civil Aeronautics Board had the final words – Order Dismissing Applications.9
And, finally, Dear Reader, after all of this, if you have any idea or any “connections” for me to track down any of the “dated and signed” Veterans Air Civil Aeronautics Board filings, especially the third one (if such exists), I’d greatly appreciate hearing from you.
My best,
Gaye Lyn