In this section we will place requests from REPA members and others as well as announcements of importance to our membership. If you are looking for an EAL employee, relaying sickness status, seeking information of EAL history, announcing reunions and other general requests, this would be the page to post such messages. Please send your request to Jim Holder via the contact information on the Contact Us page of this website, and it will be posted.
Can you help this fellow find out what the Eastern Pilot saw?
(clearly a long shot!!!)
Hello!
Currently, I am engaged in research concerning the second cruise of the German unterseeboot U-123 along the Georgia coast on 8 April 1942.
For your guidance, U-123 spent the daylight hours submerged south of Savannah, off the coastal barrier island in Wassaw Sound, then surfaced at sunset, and cruised on the surface toward the port city of Brunswick, GA; where it encountered and sank two tankers, SS Oklahoma and ESSO Baton Rouge, respectively.
A log entry dated 8 April 1942, 0305 hours, made by J. F. Maloney, Lt (j.g) USNR, in the U.S. Navy's Eastern Sea Frontier daily war journal stated:
At 0305 12 miles N/E of Brunswick, Georgia an Eastern Airlines pilot saw gunfire and explosions below. Planes were sent to the vicinity immediately and at daybreak at 31°-22'N; 80°-53'W a still smoking hull with no personnel aboard was sighted. Three boatloads of survivors and one dead person were landed at St. Simons Island. Name of ship may be WILMERDING.
This ship was in fact not the Wilmerding, but the Texaco tanker S.S. Oklahoma being subjected to twelve rounds from the 10.5 cm deck gun of U-123, which sent her to the sea floor.
This region of Georgia was situated along the Richmond - Jacksonville - Miami air route.
I am trying to learn:
1.) Which Eastern Airlines Flight this might have been
2.) Who the pilot was
3.) Which type of aircraft was he flying, DC-2 or DC-3, and finally,
4.) Where might I obtain a copy of the flight log for this voyage.
Can you help me, or point me to a source which might contain the answers to my questions?
Thank you for your time and consideration in this endeavor. I look forward to your reply.
Sincerely,
Michael P. Higgins
Message from Bill Schulz of Pensacola
This is to inform you that, after almost 24 years, I am regretfully suspending our local “three times a year” lunch at McGuire’s Irish Pub, in Pensacola, due to both declining numbers and general lack of response from the few that are left.
Bill Schulz
A special request from REPA Affiliate Member Le Anne Ottmann....
Hello to everyone!
My name is Le Anne Ottmann. I am a former f/a for Southern, Republic and NWA. I am married to Bob Ottmann, a retired pilot who worked for the same airlines as I did. About the time NWA filed bankruptcy I became aware of how the magic was disappearing from aviation. Aviation has given so much to me and my family that I felt compelled to defend it's honor. It is not an easy task or a quick fix but I have taken a couple of classes on writing, enlisted my husband and our longtime friend and co-worker, Richard Speer, and embarked upon a project I hope will reflect what separates aviation enthusiasts and pilots from the rest of the world.
I believe we have found an easy way for each of you to participate. Below you will find 3 questions. Clearly there are no wrong answers. Please take a few minutes to read the questions and send us a quick response at: margville3@aol.com .
1. Imagine that you died and when you got to the Pearly Gates EVERY airplane you ever flew sat proudly by.........St. Peter tells you you can have an hour in one of them. Which airplane do you choose and why?
2. Do you have any specific memory of knowing that a flight was either your last flight or an airplane’s last flight? How did that feel?
3. Did you ever take an airplane to the boneyard? What was that like?
Capt. Speer is a second generation airline retiree ( his father, Sim, flew for National). When I asked him to join me, he agreed and said he wished his father's generation had done this. The time has come for our generation to speak up, so please take this opportunity to help save aviation's magic.
Our REPA Editor and Webmaster, Jim Holder, has already responded to the questions and we hope all REPA members will do likewise!
Le Anne Ottmann
620 Franklyn Ave.
Indialantic, Fl. 32903
321-863-7472
Margville3@aol.com
Visitors for Retired EAL Attendant Joyce Gibson
Folks…..
We received the below message from retired Eastern Flight Attendant Alexa Conway…. While we don’t recall Ms. Gibson we do hope some of the Eastern Family in the Fort Lauderdale and Miami area might be able to help….
Jim Holder
Hello everyone.
I am looking for some help for a flight attendant. Jim, I am sending this to you in the hopes of finding someone in the Lauderhill area who might be willing to extend themselves.
This lady is Joyce Gibson. She flew for us out of JFK and ATL. Trying to find out when but I gather she flew in the 60s-70s.
She is completely alone, in a medical facility in Lauderhill. She is in early Alzheimers. She has no family, no husband. Totally alone. Evidently her EAL stuff is long gone.
One of her docs has asked me if anyone would consider paying her a visit, possibly sending her anything to do with EAL. He feels it would help trigger some good memories, and brighten a spot for her before she’s totally gone. Be aware, she is not doing well at this point. Sometimes she recognizes people, many times she does not. He believes that her career with EAL was a long one and that memory would trigger some happiness for her, plus help her find some missing memories.
I’m hoping someone in that area would consider a group visit, taking a deck of cards, wings, or something. Maybe a flight attendant scarf or purse even.
This man has been corresponding with me for a couple of months. I kept making him prove things to me. naturally, he was not able to give out a patient name but I wasn’t willing to send anything out w/o a name and a base. I have asked him for approx years of service. Her only friend left is her accountant, who has known her for about 20 years. She is the best info we get. I have asked for a bit more.
Meanwhile, I would be so appreciative if all of you would forward this note to everyone you deal with at EAL. Time is of the essence. And, it’s the season of giving and love.
Alzheimers is rampant in my family so this hits home. I no longer have family. No husband. And a damaged brain. I hope someone would care to do something kind for me if they knew (don’t worry—you’ll never know! lol).
We have so many EAL’rs in Lauderdale and Miami. Surely someone could make an excursion. I know it’s asking so much. she was part of our family.
So, pls circulate. Maybe someone knows her. maybe they can fill in more blanks that would make it easier for someone to visit her at some point.
While I continue gathering information, pls have people get in touch with me for the time being if they are interested or recognize her name. I believe this is a maiden name and she never married. Will find out more about that eventually.
As I get more info I will share it with anyone who has been in touch with me about her. I won’t keep bothering the rest of you. but, if you think you can help, if you want more info, pls let me know.
All of my EAL stuff is in storage while I am relocating so I can’t participate at all other than to compile info.
Many thanks. hope all of you are well.
Alexa, alexaconway@earthlink.net