the hijacking of eastern flight 1320, march 17, 1970

Honor, integrity, pride, fellowship — The rEAL Flight Crew!
The Official Newsletter of The Silver Falcons
Volume 18, Number 4 www.silverfalcons.com Fall 2014
THE HIJACKING OF EASTERN FLIGHT 1320,
MARCH 17, 1970
Story on page 4
The rEAL Word | Fall 2014 1
Greetings to all Silver Falcons,
P.O. Box 71372
Newnan, GA
30271
Board of Directors
Wally Drage, President
Tel: (770) 487-6914
[email protected]
Tia Robertson, Secretary
Tel: (678) 521-6266
[email protected]
Walt Brill, Vice President
Tel: (907) 339-2367
[email protected]
Dick Borrelli, Communications
Tel: (770) 254-1748
[email protected]
Stuart Hughes, Database
Coordinator
Tel: (770) 229-2784
[email protected]
Hank Sanak, Convention
Coordinator
Tel: (770) 487-4255
[email protected]
Sandy McCulloh,
E-Mail Editor, Director
Tel: (770) 491-0727
[email protected]
Joe Zito, Financial Officer
Tel: (770) 252-0761
Cell: (678) 523-1235
[email protected]
Scott Gressler, Director
Tel: (770) 432-2410
[email protected]
Madeleine Brill, Official Mascot
Can be found at her daddy’s house.
The opinions expressed in The rEAL Word are the opinions of individual members
and do not express the opinions of the BOD or the organization.
Newsletter layout by KFD&P; 678 386-4472; [email protected]
The Silver Falcons is a group of former Eastern Airlines Pilots and Flight
Attendants who honored the picket line in 1989. It is incorporated and registered
as a nonprofit organization in the State of Georgia. The Silver Falcons is also
registered as a tax-exempt organization with the IRS.
Dues are $30 per year for Charter Members and Family Members. A life
membership may be purchased for $600. Dues and all correspondence should be
mailed to: The Silver Falcons, P.O. Box 71372, Newnan, GA 30271.
A quarter page ad for one year (Four issues) is $250. A half page ad, either
horizontal or vertical, is $500 a year. Every attempt will be made to put these ads on
the outside of the page rather than toward the middle. The back cover and the inside
of the front cover will be offered for full page ads only and will cost $1000 a year. If
you have a special event that needs attention for a short time, we will accept single
issue ads at $62.50 for a quarter page, $125 for a half page, and $250 for a full page
(If available). We will not decrease the content of the newsletter, but will increase
its size to accommodate our advertisers. Every attempt will be made to insure that
there is no more than one ad per page. The editor will have the right to reject any
ad that he deems objectionable, although we do not anticipate this as a problem. All
ads must be in black and white since we do not have color capability at this time.
It will be the responsibility of the advertiser to supply a print-ready ad to the editor
at least 30 days prior to publication of the newsletter. Every effort will be made to
accommodate any specific requests you may have.
Publication dates are January 15, April 15, July 15, and October 15 each year. All
materials can be mailed to The Silver Falcons, P.O. Box 71372, Newnan, GA 30271,
or contact Dick Borrelli at this address, by fax at (770) 254-0179, or by E-Mail at
[email protected] if you plan to participate. Deadline for ads is at least 30
days prior to the publication dates stated above.
2 The rEAL Word | Fall 2014
First and foremost I would like to thank the folks
who attended the Silver Falcons Annual Convention
in Charleston, SC. From my perspective the
experience was most enjoyable, made so by
the planners; Hank and Darlene Sanak, Dick
Borrelli, Joe Zito and most especially by the staff
of the Charleston Marriott, led by our coordinator
Ms. Sarah Joerger. The facility was superb and our needs were
handled with expert care and enthusiasm by the hotel’s personnel.
The restaurants we visited were excellent and our thanks extend to
Hyman’s and to the Charleston Crab house for making our dining
experiences memorable. Charlestonians lived up to their welldeserved reputation for unexcelled hospitality.
The highlights of our annual business meeting included the election
of three new board members (Dave Laskey, Barry Davis and Tom
Parks) and their positions will be determined at our next Board of
Directors meeting in October 2014. Sincere thanks were extended
to departing board members Walt Brill, Tia Robertson and Scott
Gressler for their service to The Silver Falcons during their tenure.
We also changed our by-laws to include a new classification of
membership to The Silver Falcons as “Sponsored “ Membership,
wherein a current member may sponsor a former Eastern Air Lines
employee or family member to “non-voting” membership within
the organization. Please check the amended by-laws for the exact
language. Additional business conducted at the convention can be
viewed in the official minutes.
After research and initial contact by Darlene and Hank Sanak,
Mobile, AL was chosen for the site of our convention in 2015,
with the dates of 27-30 September. The folks at the Marriott on
Airport Blvd were anxious and enthusiastic to host our convention
which will be a “Mardi Gras” theme. Note: a lesser known fact is
that the Mardi Gras celebration in the U.S. began in Mobile, and
not in the wilder atmosphere of New Orleans. Additionally, Byron
Ellis volunteered to host the 2016 convention in his home town of
Oxford, MS. Many thanks to Byron for stepping up to the plate and
aiding our long-term planning.
Our next planned event is the annual Christmas dinner at Petit
Auberge in Atlanta on Friday, December 5th at 6pm for cocktails
and dinner following. We look forward to seeing you there to
launch the holiday season.
One last personal note, it was a pleasure to host the Charleston
Convention which was a success due to the efforts of all who
volunteered, Karyn and I are most grateful.
Regards,
Wally Drage, President
Dues are due by
January 1 each year.
Beat the rush and pay now!
You Have Options!
The newsletter is now available as a
PDF format in your E-Mail as well as
the paper version. If you would rather
receive the online version please send
an E-Mail stating your preference to
Dick Borrelli at conob@newnanpc.
com. If you want to continue receiving
the paper version then no action is
necessary.
Keep up with us online at
www.silverfalcons.com
and Facebook:
The Silver Falcons rEAL Eastern Flight Crew
Help Us Complete
Our E-mail List
We currently do not have E-Mail addresses for
the following members. If you currently have an
E-Mail address or if you have recently changed
your E-Mail please let us know.
Sandy McCulloh
[email protected]
Joe Zito [email protected]
Dick Borrelli [email protected]
Tim M. Ashbaugh
Don B. Bonner
Carol Bremer
Arthur H. Buckley
Raymond T. Burke
Ron Busch
Mrs. Nancy Cale
Mrs. Joy Crane
Sharon Crisal
Wayne O. Dailey
Mrs. Sylvia
Danielson
Robert G. Dawson
Mrs. Dee Dean
Don’t Forget Our 2014
Christmas Dinner
at Petit Auberge,
Friday, December 5
Cocktails at 6 P.M.,
Dinner at 7 P.M.
The Silver Falcons Convention
will be in Mobile, AL
starting Sept. 27, 2015.
It’s not too early to
make your reservations!
Call the hotel at 251-476-6400
and be sure to mention
The Silver Falcons Convention.
Mrs. Sandy Deyton
Mrs. Joan Drobny
Fred Garcia
Mrs. Gisele Garrity
John B. Gotta
William L. Grieme
Russell G. Hanley
Jeanie Hansen
Mrs. Janice Harrington
Chris Head
Mrs. Vicki Jorgensen
John Knepper
Bruce Larsen
Jim Lauderdale
Linda Lauderdale
Lawrence A. Link
Dustin Madala
Chuck Maner
Ken Mattis
Arvil W. Miller
Lee Mingus
Robert L. Myers
Gordon A. Nelson
Robert B. Nichols
Dorma Pomeroy
Vance B. Riley
John S. Roche
Janice Rogers
Mrs. Dolores Shelton
Mrs. Cathleen
Stephens
John Sullivan
William H. Symmes
J.P. Vandersluis
John G. Watson
The Welch Family
Robert M. Wilbur Jr.
Donald R. Witt
Kenneth V. Wolters
Mrs. Lisa Yost
The rEAL Word | Fall 2014 3
The Hijacking of Flight 1320 and the
Heroism of Captain Bob Wilbur
and First Officer Jim Hartley
On Tuesday March 17,
1970, the first death
caused by air piracy in
U.S. history took place in
Massachusetts air space. A
lone gunman, with a bullet
still lodged in his head
from an earlier incident,
brandished a .38 revolver
and demanded to be taken
to the cockpit of an Eastern
Airlines DC-9. The flight
attendant complied. The
pilot and copilot struggled
with the hijacker, and the
copilot was shot in the
chest. The copilot was
able to disarm and shoot
the gunman three times
before passing away. The
pilot amazingly landed the
aircraft after being shot
twice himself.
Captain Wilbur radioed the
tower and said “My pilot is
shot—shot. Where the hell
do you want me to park this
thing?”
It is a great tragedy that
James Hartley lost his life
in an effort to protect the
passengers and crew aboard
Flight 1320. He was the
first person killed during
a hijacking in American
airspace. James Hartley
and Captain Wilbur were
proclaimed heroes, and on
March 24, 1970 the U.S.
Senate passed a resolution
that commended them both
for “extraordinary heroism
and competence.”
Jim Hartley
John DiVivo boarded the
Eastern Airlines shuttle bound for Boston in Newark, New Jersey.
The 73-person flight was completely normal until passing over
Franklin MA, about 30 miles south of Logan Airport. DiVivo had
smuggled a .38 revolver aboard the plane, and when the flight
attendant asked for the $15.75 fare, he said he had no money, and
pulled out a revolver and told her to take him to the pilots. On
entering the cockpit, DiVivo just stated “take me east.”
Captain Robert Wilbur Jr. and Copilot James Hartley were in final
approach for landing. The flight attendant was told by the Captain
to go back to the rear compartment and calmly let the passengers
know that everything was fine with the flight. After a struggle,
DiVivo shot Hartley in the chest and mortally wounded him, and
also shot Captain Wilbur twice, once in each arm. Hartley fought
DiVivo, disarmed him, and then shot him three times with the
revolver. The entire event took place only 10-15 miles away from
Logan, at an altitude of between 3,000 and 5,000 feet.
While Captain Wilbur was returning to Boston the hijacker revived
and attacked him and Captain Wilbur, although wounded, subdued
him by beating him with the pistol while continuing to fly the
airplane. Captain Wilbur landed the DC-9 safely. A passenger later
stated that he heard two pops that sounded like shots from a “cap
gun.” He also said the plane fluttered a bit and dropped steeply and
quickly, but the result was a smooth landing. Once on the ground,
4
The rEAL Word | Fall 2014
DiVivo was charged with
murder, and arraigned
at East Boston District
Court. He was sent to
Bridgewater State Hospital
for mental evaluation and
then to Suffolk County Jail
at Charles Street. While
awaiting trial in jail, DiVivo
killed himself on October
Anita & Bob Wilbur
31, 1970. He had tied a
neckerchief to his cell bars
and hanged himself at about 3:00 in the morning.
Bob Wilbur
To honor the bravery and sacrifice of First Officer James Hartley
Eastern renamed the Miami training center “The James Hartley
Training Center” and a bronze plaque was installed detailing his
heroism. At some time after the beginning of the strike in 1989 the
plaque was removed and has disappeared and is probably in the
possession of one of the scabs. If anyone has any knowledge of
the current location of the plaque please let us know and we will
attempt to see that it is presented to his surviving family members.
The rEAL Word | Fall 2014
5
MoBile, AL • 2015 Convention
Mark Your Calendars Now!
Mobile, AL Welcomes 2015
Silver Falcons Conventioneers
Our 2015 Silver Falcons Convention will be held in beautiful Mobile, Alabama,
home of Bellingrath Gardens, the original Mardi Gras, and an easy day trip to
Biloxi for the gamblers and Pensacola, the home of Naval Aviation and the
Naval Aviation Museum, for the aviation history buffs. The convention will be held
September 27 - 29 and will be hosted by Hank and Darlene Sanak with the help of
Mary Lloyd as our on site coordinator. This should be one of our best conventions
ever and we would like to see a massive turnout. It is centrally located and a
reasonable drive for just about anyone in the Southeast. Hank and Darlene are
planning an old fashioned Silver Falcons party with no holds barred and good
times and surprises for everyone. Mark your calendars now and lets all gather for
the party in September! In the January newsletter we will announce the restaurants
for our pre-convention dinner and the Spousal luncheon as well as all the other
planned activities. Our hotel rate is $119 a night and is good for three days before
and three days after the convention. We are in the hotel data base and you
may make room reservations now. Call the hotel at 251-476-6400 and be sure
to mention The Silver Falcons Convention. We recommend that you make your
room reservations now since the hotel list is our primary source of information for
meal and event planning as well as for our operating budget and we check it at
least once a week! The hotel is located directly across the street from one of the
largest outdoor shopping malls in the area with upscale restaurants and stores for
your convenience. The location is ideal, the weather should be perfect, all of your
Eastern friends will be there, and there is just no excuse for not attending.
6
The rEAL Word | Fall 2014
Mobile, AL • 2015 Convention
Mark Your Calendars Now!
Mobile, AL Welcomes 2015
Silver Falcons Conventioneers
Located at the center of Alabama’s shopping and entertainment district, we’re
one of the only hotels to offer elegant style and easy access to area attractions.
To make travel simpler for you, we’re only 7 miles from the Mobile Regional
Airport and across from Colonial Bel Air Mall. So it’s always easy to find our hotel
in Mobile, AL. Feel free to stay in one of our more than 200 hotel rooms, perfect
for a soothing weekend away. While you’re reconnecting with yourself and loved
ones, you can enjoy a peaceful dinner at the all new Sage Restaurant. Our
Mobile hotel also offers 10,000 square feet of flexible
meeting space to accommodate a wide variety of
events. See the hotel at: http://www.marriott.com/
hotels/travel/mobmc-mobilemarriott/
Join Us in
Alabama
the
Beautiful!
The rEAL Word | Fall 2014
7
The Editorial
Once, a long time ago, pilots were hired to fly airplanes and assume
all the responsibilities of being the Pilot in Command. All decisions
pertaining to the flight were the Captain’s and he was the final authority. No one in the company could or would supercede his decisions.
The Captain decided the route that would be flown, the altitude the
plane would fly at, how much fuel would be carried, and what airport
would be the alternate. Dispatch was simply an advisory service for
the Captain. They could recommend and he would decide! He was
trained to be a reasonably proficient instrument pilot and could hand
fly the airplane through a thunderstorm if necessary, which was pretty
often since most airplanes had no radar or autopilot. Pilots were paid
to fly airplanes safely in adverse conditions, make schedule, and
handle any emergency that arose. All of this was simply part of the
job! Fortunately there were no cell phones, cell phone cameras, and
internet.
At one time or another most of us had engine failures, the occasional
fire, blown tires, turbulence, loss of cabin pressure, lightning strikes,
hydraulic failures, and a variety of other mishaps. When one of
these things happened we simply landed the airplane, had it fixed or
transferred to another plane and got on with the job. There was no
fuss and there was no bother and there was generally no publicity. It
was part of the job! We were satisfied, the company was satisfied,
and the passengers were transported to their destinations, generally
without complaint. Although the perception of pilots was that we
were in the cockpit to get sunburned, drink coffee, try to date the
stewardesses, and complain about our pay, we were really there to
handle the abnormal, unusual, and emergency situations that might
arise and that is exactly what we did! There was no radar following
and we were supposed to know where we were, what we were doing,
where we were going, and what time we would arrive! We knew that
we were on our own and that our skill and experience was all that we
needed to reach our destination safely. It was just part of the job! If
there was a disturbance in the cabin one of the pilots would go back
and resolve it and that would be the end of it. I cannot recall one of
our flights ever being diverted and landing simply because a passenger would not behave! Usually seeing the Captain walking back
through the cabin was enough to shut anyone up.
That was then and this is now! Today automation has taken over the
actual workload in the cockpit and the “Pilots” are simply systems
monitors. Most airlines require their flight crews to use autoflight at
all times and autoland is now the standard way to land an airplane.
Pilots are discouraged from hands on flying and the new hire pilots
entering the cockpit today have never really learned to fly. The cock-
pit crew is no longer allowed to leave the cockpit except to relieve
bodily functions and the Captain no longer has authority in the
cabin. Dispatch has complete control of the aircraft and the flight
crew is simply the hands on extension of someone on the ground.
All critical decisions are made by someone outside the airplane and
“Pilot In Command” has no meaning at all! The pilots are no longer
allowed to speak in the cockpit! Two prime examples of the current
lack of flying skill are the Air France Airbus in the Atlantic and the
Korean flight in San Francisco. In both cases a relatively minor
situation turned into a major disaster simply because none of the
pilots in either cockpit had learned how to fly or had forgotten how.
Both were caused by a simple lack of pilot skill and an inability to
recognize or react to a recoverable situation. There were, I believe,
four pilots in the Korean aircraft including two check airmen and no
one recognized that the aircraft was too slow and about to stall. The
pilot flying simply did not have the skills required to make a visual
approach and landing. The Air France airplane had a more complex
failure, but basic flying skills, which neither pilot apparently had,
could have prevented the disaster.
Compounding this entire situation is the cell phone and the cell
phone camera. Now, every time there is an engine failure generally followed by a momentary pressurization drop and the oxygen
masks deployed, one hundred cell phone cameras come out and it
becomes a lead item on all three networks complete with video.
What would have normally been a landing and a plane change has
now become an emergency in the air complete with videos of panic
stricken passengers and fifteen passengers giving expert opinions of
what happened, why it happened, and how the flight crew screwed
everything up.
I know I have ranted and raved in the past about the current state
of the industry and how the piloting profession has gone downhill
along with the disappearance of basic piloting skills, but frankly I
am sick of this crap! Our job responsibilities have been diminished,
our flying skills allowed to disappear, safety has been impacted
(No more flight engineers, twin engine extended overwater flight,
loss of positive throttle control), no authority in the cockpit, total
dependence on automation, and every time the captain farts it’s on
the evening news!
When pilots stopped running flight operations and the bean counters
took over control of the airlines then safety, piloting skills, common
sense, and passenger comfort all became secondary to the bottom
line! This is a great time not to be an airline pilot and I don’t think
it’s a job I would want any more. I realize this is probably the way
aviation will be in the future and the current situation is in no way
the fault of the professional airmen and women manning the cockpits today, but I regret that they did not have the opportunities we
had to be alone in the sky, confident in our skills, able to fly as we
wanted, and knowing that “Pilot In Command” meant exactly that,
that we were solely responsible for the plane, the crew, and the passengers, and that full responsibility for all this was ours alone!
The opinions expressed in the editorial are mine and do not reflect
the opinions of the Board of Directors or The Silver Falcons. I
will be happy to publish rebuttals, guest editorials, and opposing
opinions, and will only edit to eliminate political content and for
excessive length.
— Dick Borrelli, Editor
8
The rEAL Word | Fall 2014
Layabed
The following Silver Falcons and family members are currently under the weather and would appreciate calls, cards, and visits from
friends. A card or a friendly voice can do wonders when a person is really hurting!
It’s easy to get on the Lay-A-Bed list. All it takes is a bad headache and a big mouthed friend. Getting off the list is another matter
altogether! No one ever tells us when they get well!
Therefore we have had to make rules to control this situation. In the future:
1. When the flower dies, take your name off the lay-a-bed list whether you are sick or not.
2. If you are still sick, put your name back on the list and we will send you a new flower!
3. When the new flower dies, go back to rule one!
Capt. Tim Chase
109 Carols Lane
Locust Grove, GA 30248
(770) 320-8576
[email protected]
Capt. Bill Vaden
8465 Avalon Ct.
Cumming, GA 30041-5724
(770) 939-2774
[email protected]
Mrs. Ardy Chase
Wife of Capt. Tim Chase
109 Carols Lane
Locust Grove, GA 30248
(770) 320-8576
[email protected]
Capt. Bill Bennett
Iris Place #208,
75 Epps Bridge Pkwy
Athens, GA 30606-6990
[email protected]
Letters
Great Editorial
Hello Dick,
Greetings to you and your wife. It has always been my opinion that
you do a great job as editor of the SF newsletter. I know it is a big
job, and involves much hard work. In that regard I say, Thank You!
This summer edition is especially good with, among other things,
the great article about Captain Eddy.
Now a comment on your editorial. You may or may not remember
me, or the fact we did not always see ‘eye to eye’ on some aspects
of our group. It was never personal, nor ugly, just a professional
difference of opinion. The editorial in this one is really good! It
very much hits home with me (and I’m sure with many). This
editorial rather hits the nail on
the head, my compliment to you for producing it.
Keep on keeping on.
Regards, Windy Wingate
A New Book: Final Destination: Disaster. What
Really Happened to Eastern Airlines
Dick.
My name is George Jehn, and I was an Eastern pilot from 1970
until 1988, when I left Eastern to work as a pilot for US Air. During
Obituary
Mrs. Dolores “Dee” McKinney
We regret to inform you of the passing
of Mrs. Dolores “Dee” McKinney, 83,
of Roswell, GA, on July 16, 2014.
Dee was a flight attendant for Eastern
Airlines then went on to Rich’s to work
in their fine jewelry department. She
took great pride in being a Eucharistic
Minister at St. Brigid Catholic Church
and loved spending time with her
grandchildren. Dee is survived by her
husband of 57 years, Captain Clancy
McKinney; sons, Mark McKinney and
Scott (Jane) McKinney; grandchildren,
Ali and Matt McKinney. A memorial
mass was held at 11:00am on July 25, 2014 at St. Brigid Catholic
Church. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Catholic
Charities USA, www.catholiccharitiesusa.org.
my time at Eastern I served 3 terms as an MEC Member from the
New York base with Skip Copeland, was a member of the Pilots
System Board for approximately 10 years and was also the pilot
member on the Employee Involvement Committee. After leaving
Eastern, after the strike began I walked the picket line at LGA many
times with the Eastern pilots.
I am writing to you because I have a book that is being published
tomorrow, October 1st by Changing Lives Press entitled, “Final
Destination: Disaster. What Really Happened to Eastern Airlines.”
What precipitated my book was a meeting held between Skip
Copeland, myself and Frank Borman, late on the afternoon
before the Eastern BOD meeting when Eastern was handed over
(please note that I did not use the word “sold”) to Lorenzo’s
Texas Air. At that meeting, Skip offered Borman every thing that
was being demanded at the time, including total capitulation by
Charlie Bryan, the head of the IAM, with absolutely no caveats
attached except for the stipulation that Eastern not be handed
over to Lorenzo. But Borman turned us down. The details of this
meeting are delineated in my book. After that meeting, I vowed
to discover why our airline was delivered to Texas Air, and this is
the subject matter of my book. I’m sure that what is contained in
it will come as a surprise to many, as I explored and verified many
items that were never previously looked into. I was wondering
if you could pass along to your membership that the book is
out there in hardcover, and available in most large bookstores,
The rEAL Word | Fall 2014
9
Letters
as well as on http://www.amazon.com/ and http://
www.barnesandnoble.com/ It is also available for
download as an e-book on both Kindle and Nook
devices.
George Jehn
Thanks For Your Donations
Dear Silver Falcons of EAL,
Thank you so much for your generous contribution
to the Curtis Whaley Memorial Scholarship Fund.
Knowing that his grand daughter would be starting
medical school this fall made my Dad proud. She was
with him in hospice care in our home and held his hand
at his last breath. Dad loved his family. Thank you for
honoring his memory. He was buried in his uniform.
Fondly,
Sandy
Reconnecting
Afternoon Dick.
I thought I’d share a picture (above).
This was taken right after Captain Rob Hunter, a fellow Eastern
Pilot and I had just finished the Parking Checklist on his Line
Check flight to qualify as an AIRBUS Captain at United Airlines.
Rob did a nice job on his IOE, but this wasn’t his first time
checking out. He was a Captain on the 737-300/500 fleet before
UAL got rid of the whole fleet in the mid-2000’s.
And as I’ve said before, I don’t get too many chances to work with
fellow Eastern Pilot’s, so I have to document the event when I can.
All the best,
Duncan Flett
10
The rEAL Word | Fall 2014
2015 Convention Coverage
Silver Falcons in Charleston, SC
Our Charleston convention started off with a bang with a preconvention dinner at Hyman’s Seafood restaurant. About fifty
people showed up early for the dinner and we had our very own
private dining room. The food was delicious and we were able to
return to the hospitality suite and continue the party later in the
evening. The next day was devoted to sight seeing around and
about Charleston, partying in the ever open hospitality suite, telling
lies about flying, and generally enjoying ourselves. That evening
we had our traditional cocktail party/ buffet at the hotel followed
by, what else, another party in the hospitality suite! The next day
was a busy and activity filled day. We had a group continental
breakfast outside our meeting room and the ladies departed for a
carriage ride through the Charleston historical district followed
by a delightful luncheon at The Charleston Crab House. While
they were gone we had our annual business meeting, transacted
all the necessary business to keep The Falcons in operation, had
Dick & Jane Borrelli
Suzete & Byron Ellis
a delicious deli lunch and then went to — THE HOSPITALITY
SUITE! Later we dressed in all our finery and met at our banquet
room for our final dinner. We had an interesting speaker who
gave a humorous and interesting discourse on the history of
Charleston, awarded our retirement posters, had the drawing for
door prizes, gave away our 50/50 money, and then all went to —
THE HOSPITALITY SUITE! The next morning most of us met
in the dining room for breakfast and then gradually departed for
home. Once again this was a delightful gathering and it was such
a pleasure to see so many of our old and faithful friends again,
tell old and new lies, drink and relax, and generally relive our
fascinating and adventurous at Eastern and after Eastern. Wally
and Karyn Drage did a marvelous job putting all this together long
distance and are to be congratulated for doing such a magnificent
job. When you see them please express your appreciation for a job
well done!
Tia & Phillip Robertson
Betty Piland & Fraye Stokes
The rEAL Word | Fall 2014
11
2014 Silver Falcons Convention Coverage continued
Alison & Madeleine Brill
David Leaphart, Suzete Ellis,
Elizabeth Wenner and Byron Ellis
Wally & Karyn Drage
12
The rEAL Word | Fall 2014
Darlene & Hank Sanak
Eileen Zito & Jack Waterbury
Joan & Dennis Aquilino
2014 Silver Falcons Convention Coverage, continued
Don Girod & Ken Andersen
Len & Nina Seifert
Joe Zito & Paul Fischer
Lynda & Bill Frank
Dennis & Joan Aquilino
Ron Mussig & Fred Yarbrough
The rEAL Word | Fall 2014
13
2014 Silver Falcons Convention Coverage continued
Eileen Zito & Jane Borrelli
June Kusciuszko & Don Girod
Linda Lauderdale, Mona Locey, Jim Lauderdale
Karyn & Wally Drage
Stuart & Ann Hughes
Madeleine & Alison Brill
14
The rEAL Word | Fall 2014
Denny & Kathy Schaar
2014 Silver Falcons Convention Coverage, continued
Jack Waterbury & Donna Mergele
Shirley & Jack Gordon
Darlene Sanak & Ethel Sales
Dave Laskey retirement poster
Mr. & Mrs. Harry Benedict
Diane & Travis Dugger
The rEAL Word | Fall 2014
15
2014 Silver Falcons Convention Coverage continued
Ethel & Cecil Sales
Duane & Paul Fischer
The Brills
Joe Wolbert and Donna Mergele
Sleeping Beauty
16
The rEAL Word | Fall 2014
Duane Fischer & Eileen Zito
2014 Silver Falcons Convention Coverage, continued
J-Ron Wheeler &
Mona Locey
Jack Waterbury retirement poster
June Kusciuszko, Rachel Anderson, Kristin Massey
Jim & Linda Lauderdale, Shirley Gordon
Jack Waterbury, Joe Wolbert, Len Seifert
Virginia Hoffman &
Doug Brablec
The rEAL Word | Fall 2014
17
2014 Silver Falcons Convention Coverage continued
Scott Gressler &
Joe Wolbert
Ken & Rachel
Andersen
Joe & Eileen Zito
Lil Ayars & Betty Piland
18
The rEAL Word | Fall 2014
Shirley Gordon & Linda Lauderdale
Walt &
Madeleine Brill
Lynda Frank & Diane Dugger
Mona Locey & J-Ron Wheeler
The First Flight of an Honorary Member
The following is from Silver Falcon
Captains Joe Wolbert and Phil
Hutchinson. Chuck Maner has been an
Eastern Airlines fan since he was a small
child and has an extensive collection of
EAL models and souvenirs. Over the
years he has corresponded with a number
of Eastern pilots and was formally
nominated for honorary membership
in The Silver Falcons by Captain Bill
Frank a number of years ago. His
nomination was approved by acclimation.
Chuck Maner’s father would take Chuck,
as boy, to the Rome, GA airport where
the Eastern crews would make a fuss over
him, take him aboard the Convair and put
him in the pilot’s seat. Chuck never forgot
Eastern’s hospitality and became a big
fan. Through the years he amassed quite a
collection of EAL memorabilia, news clippings and is very
knowledgeable about our once great airline. Chuck is an honorary member of the Silver Falcons but
had not flown in an airplane, that is, until Aug 7, 2014.
Phillip Hutchinson and I gave Chuck his first airplane ride
in RMG boarding the plane only a few feet from the spot
where the Eastern
Convair would
park. Eastern’s
last flight to RMG
was on May 29,
1969 an Electra
# N5506; I know
this because of
Chuck’s data.
Here is a photo
of Chuck beside
his pristine 1983
Chev and one
as he leaves the
airplane on his
very first flight.
The rEAL Word | Fall 2014
19
Minutes from the September 3rd 2014 Business Meeting Charleston, SC
The Silver Falcons held the annual business meeting during the
convention in Charleston, South Carolina. President Wally Drage
presided. Board members Walt Brill, Scott Gressler, Tia Robertson
and Wally Drage were present. Board member Sandy McCulloh
was unable to attend due to health reasons.
President Wally Drage called the meeting to order at 10:00 AM.
The current board members were introduced.
A motion was made by Denny Schaar to approve the minutes from
the 2013 Meeting as published in the newsletter and waive the
reading of them. Joe Wolbert seconded this and a unanimous vote
followed.
Joe Zito gave the financial report. He stated that we are financially
solvent and the bills are being paid on time. He reported 59
convention sign ups with Marriott and 200,000 points to be
awarded the Wounded Warrior fund had been earned. Joe reports
the Silver Falcons membership is currently 410 consisting of: 328
Annual, 32 Life, 42 Widows, 4 Complimentary, and 4 Honorary.
President Wally Drage read a thoughtful Letter of Appreciation
to outgoing board members Scott Gressler, Walt Brill, and Tia
Robertson written and delivered with his trademark blend of
sincerity and humor.
Hank Sanak presented the 2015 Convention plans for Mobile
Alabama. The date of the Convention will be September 27-30
at the Marriott Hotel. The theme will be Mardi Gras and a rate of
$119.00 a night has been secured.
Byron Ellis graciously volunteered to host the 2016 Convention in
his hometown of Oxford, Mississippi.
President Wally Drage asked the membership how best to handle
the golf trophy since we are no longer hosting a golf match. After
much discussion Dick Borrelli made a motion to award the golf
trophy to the member who won it the most times. Collins Bomar
was recognized as being the current member who had the most
wins. Congratulations to Collins!
New Business:
President Wally Drage presented the slate of new officers for the
2015-2016 Board:
Dave Laskey, Barry Davis, and Tom Parks
Stuart Hughes made a motion to approve the board as presented;
Denny Schaar made a second. New Board members elected by a
unanimous show of hands.
Dick Borrelli presented a Sponsored Member Motion:
Be it resolved that a new membership category be established for
the Silver Falcons to be known as “Sponsored Membership”.
Membership in this category will be restricted to those former
Eastern Airlines Employees who did not cross our picket line
20
The rEAL Word | Fall 2014
in 1989 and who were not cockpit crewmembers. A member
in this category must be sponsored by a charter member of the
organization.
Dues for a sponsored member will be the same as dues for a Charter
Member.
A Sponsored Member will have all the rights and privileges of a
Charter Member and will be allowed to attend our annual business
meeting, but will not be allowed to vote.
There was discussion on how to determine if a person crossed the
ALPA picket line and if membership would be automatic upon
sponsorship or require a vote. Membership would be automatic
and the ALPA date of the picket line coming down would be used
to determine suitability.
The motion was made by Dick Borrelli and seconded by Joe
Wolbert it passed by a unanimous show of hands.
Denny Schaar made a motion to make permanent the awarding of
Marriott points to the Wounded Warriors. Hank Sanak explained
how the program uses points to provide rooms for wounded
Veterans and their families in times of need. Ron Mussig seconded
the motion. The motion carried with a vote of 17 for 9 against.
President Wally Drage recommended a Change to Association
By-Laws regarding annual Convention expenses. Secretary Tia
Robertson presented the following: I propose a motion to remove
the requirement for the Convention to be self-supporting from
the By-Laws. A budget for the convention shall be presented by
the planners and approved by the Board. She went on to say that
this would still require fiscal responsibility and allow convention
costs for the members to remain at the current level. Dick Borrelli
explained that many years ago corporate sponsors that are no longer
available subsidized the costs of the convention and that we should
adopt the new policy. Ron Mussig moves to Call the Question. The
Motion passes unanimously.
Joe Wolbert told how well attended the Spring Fly-In/Drive-In
at Peach State Aerodrome was and made a motion for the Silver
Falcons to sponsor the event in the future. The motion was
seconded by Dick Borrelli and passed unanimously.
President Wally Drage reported on the progress of the formation
of the Eastern Pilots Memorial Foundation LLC, 501(3) c. formed
to protect the Bronze Plaque in the ATL terminal. The history of
how the board was selected was explained. Currently Wally Drage,
Jim Gardner and Jennifer Teel comprise the Board. They are in the
process of having an additional plaque cast for names that were
unintentionally omitted in the first cast.
Motion was made to adjourn by Stuart Hughes and seconded by Joe
Wolbert. The motion was passed by acclimation.
Submitted by Tia Robertson, Secretary
From Building Gliders, to Test Pilot,
to EAL — A Lifetime of Flying
Captain Charlie Meyers
The information and pictures in this article were sent to me
by Captain Charlie Miller and were provided to him by Mr.
Bill Barrow. Bill’s dad, Hugh Barrow, took Charlie Meyers
to Atlanta to get the parts to repair the plane after the forced
landing then hauled the wreckage to Atlanta after the aborted
take off.
Charlie Meyers was born May 29, 1896 in Columbus
Junction, IA. As a teenager he built gliders big enough to
carry himself. His first solo flight with one of them was on
June 29, 1913, which qualified him as a member of the Early
Birds.
His application for Early Birds membership is in his NASM
biographical file. It includes a brief autobiography as follows:
“Building Gliders 1911, 1912, 1913. Aero Marine Plane and
Motor Co. 1914 to late 1916. Royal Flying Corps. and AAF
1917 to spring 1919. Barnstormed to 1924. Engineering test
pilot Waco Aircraft Co. to 1928. Engineering test pilot Great
Lakes Aircraft Co. to 1931. Eastern Air Transport and Eastern
Air Lines [he held seniority number 30 with Eastern, having
joined the company on November 11, 1931]. Was Capt for
25 years on those Lines. Retired Nov. 1956. Hold First Class
Airman Certificate #1142. Scheduled Air Transport Rating,
on DC3, DC4, DC6 and 7 and all Lockheed multi-enting
Transports. Won 1st place Class B New York-Spokane Air
Derby, National Air Races Sept. 1927.”
Indeed, in an article from the Montclair Times of May 5,
1913 we find him, “...pinned under the wreckage....” of one
of his monoplane gliders. “Meyers was quickly freed from
the wreck, and to the relief of all it was found that, although
stunned by the fall, he had sustained no serious injury.” At
an altitude of 40 feet, a wing bracing wire broke, causing the
glider to plunge into the ground. Meyers was 17 years old.
Asked if he would fly again, he said, “You bet I will, just as
soon as I can make a new one.”
Charlie Meyers flew West October 1, 1972, age 74.
The rEAL Word | Fall 2014
21
Charlie Meyers, continued
22
The rEAL Word | Fall 2014
Charlie Meyers, continued
The rEAL Word | Fall 2014
23
Charlie Meyers, continued
24
The rEAL Word | Fall 2014
Charlie Meyers, continued
The rEAL Word | Fall 2014
25
2014 Christmas Party
December 5 • Petit Auberge
2935 N. Druid Hills Rd NE Atlanta, GA 30329
Cash Bar 6:00 PM, Premium Brands
7:00 PM Dinner
Atlanta’s Original French Restaurant.
Since 1974.
Starters
For over 30 years, Petite Auberge has served
fine French cuisine and Continental classics to a
discriminating Atlanta clientele. Nestled away in
a quiet corner of the Toco Hill Center, this Atlanta
French restaurant keeps its guests coming back with
such distinctive favorites as Beef Wellington, Coq
au Vin, Rack of Lamb and many more.
Creamy Broccoli & Cheese Soup
Classic Caesar Salad
Served with Caesar dressing, Shaved Parmesan &
Garlic Croutons
Entree choices:
1. Chicken Pesto
2. Medallions of Pork Tenderloin
3. Veal Parmesan
4. Sea Bass “Florentine”
Fresh Sea bass topped with Sautéed Spinach
5. Grilled Filet Mignon
White Peach Créme Brulée
Our Famous Créme Brulée accented with our
Peach Balsamic
Coffee and Tea
Price $47.50 including tax and gratuity
26
The rEAL Word | Fall 2014
It was 1974 when the Gropp Family fulfilled a
lifelong dream and opened Petite Auberge. At the
heart of Petite Auberge is our distinctive cuisine
and renowned service. Guests enjoy their meals in
a romantic, candlelit dining room with the attentive
service of our professional staff. A spectacular wine
list, boasting over 100 varieties from France, Italy,
Australia and California, offers perfect companions
for any dish.
Explore our website to discover all that Atlanta
French restaurant Petite Auberge has to offer, from
classic cuisine and seasonal specials, to catering
services and banquet facilities.
The Life & Times of the N401EA
N401EA, the last remaining Eastern DC-9 51, has finally ended its flying career and has been parked in the desert
waiting for the wrecker. Except for this airplane, the entire fleet has been scrapped. It was our first and oldest of
the -51 fleet and flew the longest, having served with Alleghany, Eastern, Northwest, and Delta Airlines. Here are
pictures of it in the livery of all the airlines it flew for as well as a picture of it resting in the desert before being
purchased by Northwest. N401EA was flown by just about every DC-9 pilot at Eastern at one time or another and
had an aviation life of forty active years. Rest in peace, old friend, you served us well and deserve the rest! You
were flown by pilots at Eastern, the others were just airplane drivers!
Copyright © Jeremy D. Dando
Copyright © Corey W. Watts
Copyright © John P. Stewart
The rEAL Word | Fall 2014
27
Retiring the Last Mailwing
Captain James Shelly Charles
On October 14, 1935 Eastern
Air Lines Captain Shelly
Charles took off from
Chicago, Illinois, in a Pitcairn
Mailwing for Atlanta, Georgia.
Eastern had operated a fleet
of mailwings for a number
of years flying airmail only
flights under government
contracts. With the advent of
newer and more modern aircraft such as the Lockheed model 10,
the Douglas DC-2, and eventually The Douglas DC-3, the open
cockpit Mailwing biplane became obsolete. It was now possible
to carry the mail on regularly scheduled passenger flights and the
airmail only flights were no longer practical. When Shelly landed
in Atlanta an era was over. Eastern retired the entire Mailwing
fleet and the open cockpit airline days were over. This was a very
significant event and it was celebrated nationwide and Shelly
was honored as the last open cockpit airmail pilot. The envelope
pictured was carried on this flight and is significant in that it
has flight history and date as well as the
autograph of the pilot. Shelly went on to a
long and glorious career with Eastern.
James Shelly Charles was born in WinstonSalem, NC on August 1, 1900. He learned
to fly in 1920 with the U.S. Army at March
Field, Riverside, CA. He held an Army
commission as Lieutenant in the reserves.
Shelly was hired 1 December 1930 by
Eastern Air Transport with seniority number
21. Capt. James Shelly Charles retired from
Eastern Airlines on April 1, 1959. He died of a heart attack on
August 22,1959.
They just don’t make them like Shelly any more!
28
The rEAL Word | Fall 2014