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 »
UNRRA war-relief. DC-4 flights to Prague three times and Warsaw twice with poultry hatching eggs.
2nd Prague Crew departs for home. 2 May 1946 UNRRA Read More »
First DC-4 in the fleet makes first over-flight of Russian occupied territory enroute to Warsaw, Poland, with Captain William Jakeman in the left seat.
Russia demands 1946 Warsaw overflight permit Read More »
By the time these eggs arrive in Warsaw, chicks from the first May delivery will have hatched. Both are historic flights.
2nd-ever civilian flight to Warsaw. 20 May 1946. Read More »
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 »
This photo shows christening of the DC-4 about to fly two UNRRA flights to PRAGUE – the same aircraft later flown to WARSAW by Captain Morgan Cooper Walker and crew.
2nd 1946 Warsaw Crew Walker and Fagan named. Read More »
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.
DC-4 converted at Sebring FL ops base 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.
1946 film of UNRRA Prague crew arrival Read More »
Here we have the first cargo revenue flights and ton-miles, plus passenger miles information. December ’45 – June ’46
Growing a 1946 non-sked airline Read More »
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 »
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 »
John J. Noll was a core founder of Veterans Air with six (maybe seven) other WWII vets, including Saunie Gravely, my Dad.
John J Noll among Core Founders Read More »
