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.”
Read more →
You know what? This is tough business, emotionally precarious – doing Veterans Air Express research. It’s full of adventure. But it’s also inextricably tied to passing of time and loosing “loves” that I find in the men who joined my Dad’s dream. They built an air line in 1945 that rattled the big boys – Pan Am, TWA, American. These were brave guys, full of bravado and determination. Like Michael Frome. Come read about him again, or for the first time.
Read more →
Thomas Cowart, our Veterans Air DC-4 Flight Engineer, died on December 20, 2016. He crewed during the 1946 United Nations post-war relief flights to Prague, Warsaw and Athens. Thomas and I shared many hours, many stories and much laughter in person and over the phone. Today I share the immediacy of my emotions at his passing.
Read more →
It is with profound sadness that I write of the passing of Jack Stettner. This man of adventure helped my Dad found the airline in 1945….as co-founder, investor, pilot, and ops-manager And 70 years later welcomed me with open arms into his home. So did his wonderful family. It was my deep honor to know him. God speed, Jack.
Read more →
Michael Frome, Veterans Air navigator to Prague and Warsaw in 1946 passed away 4 September 2016. He was 96. So privileged and honored that his exuberant life touched mine — and helped shape Saunie’s dream. God speed, Good Sir.
Read more →
What an exquisite honor to introduce our newest Veterans family member. Our Veterans Air Express navigator Michael Frome presents his own story, in his own words. I’m beyond excited to share two of Michael’s articles written on location for The Washington Post from April 1946 in Prague with Veterans Air. How’s that for impressive!!!
Read more →
He said “…I am not selling anything. Don’t hang up!” I had to laugh. That’s my line when I contact people about Veterans Air Express for the first time. So I promised I wouldn’t hang up. Glad I didn’t! Here’s the story of my first contact with John Schaus, DC-3 pilot for Dad’s company in 1946.
Read more →
When a Reading Air Show announcer asked for a “volunteer” C-47 pilot to help crew a fly-by, of course, Veterans Air DC-3 pilot John Schaus didn’t hesitate! Don’t miss the punch line of his story!
Read more →
A pride hard to verbalize shudders through me every time I see this film footage of my Dad’s crew members disembarking from the Veterans Air Line DC-4 in Prague. Saunie Gravely was 22 when he got the idea of an all-Veterans air service. And this amazing footage is proof of his dream-become-reality. Come watch. Sorry, no popcorn today.
Read more →
Veterans Air Express. Proper procedures, safety emphasis and insistence on professionalism. That’s an insight reinforced by DC-3 training ops documents. I know because DC-3 Chief Pilot Robert Chambers kept them and his son Bruce gave them to me!
Read more →