(2:53 min.) (09 of 12) People's lack on interest in Statehood and politics; airplane business; dedicated mother; Toast Mistress Club; education; Alaskans -- not interested in regulations or laws; citizens -- some felt effects; Lathrop, Cap --...
(3:09 min.) (10 of 28) 10. Fighter planes
About 50 P-40's (fighters) were shuttled across by the aircraft carrier "Ranger". These planes were destined to replace the worn planes in China. One plane landed hard and lost a landing gear.
(3:09 min.) (27 of 28) 27. Pilot for Governor Egan George used to fly Gov. Egan back and forth to Juneau. Egan liked George's harmonica version of "Springtime in the Rockies". George then flew the Seattle run, which he had always wanted to...
(3:28 min.) (13 of 28) 13. Whitehorse and Fairbanks
George stayed awhile in Seattle and saw Boeing in full wartime production. Eighteen to twenty B-17's a day were produced. He went to Whitehorse, YT. Bill Lavery was a pilot for Morrison...
(3:32 min.) (03 of 28) 3. Mid-air fire On a shake-down flight over Manhattan, the engine caught fire. George's father turned the controls over to his mother and climbed out of the plane. He sprayed the flames with a fire extinguisher. ...
(3:36 min.) (09 of 28) 9. WWII in North Africa
George worked his way across North Africa. He describes air raids in Cairo, how Rommel was pushed back, how war was declared while he was on the ship to Africa. Bombers ferried across the...
(3:36 min.) (23 of 28) 23. DC-3 aircraft
George and Merrill Wien got a Stinson ready for instrument flight. George loaded up the family and flew to New York. He started training with the DC-3.
(3:43 min.) (15 of 28) 15. Getting air time
George and a man named Grant Ruth trained as flight mechanics. George did some flying of the DC3's. He wanted to fly other aircraft but there were few civilian planes available for sale or...
(3:47 min.) (28 of 28) 28. 737 200 series
George praises the 737 jets, and describes how much he liked the passengers. They liked him playing the harmonica. George also talked about what it takes to make a great career in the airlines.
(4:08 min.) (17 of 28) 17. Virginia comes to Alaska
Virginia was given the chance to come to Alaska as a flight instructor; if she didn't like it she was told she could fly home for free. She only instructed for one summer. She came up,...
(4:15 min.) (06 of 28) 6. WWII Some of his friends went to Canada to fly with the Royal Air Force [RAF]; many of them did not come home. George went to Africa to build runways and supply aircraft. He was with Pan Am/World Airways (Pan Am...
(4:18 min.) (14 of 28) 14. Pacific Alaska Airways
Joe Barrows set up this airline; he wanted Pan Am to take it over for him. He wanted to fly clipper flying boats. His wife stayed in Alaska and was the first woman (Mary Barrows) to get...
(4:25 min.) (01 of 28) 1. Early years -- Grandfather's influence. Grandfather was involved with early aviation and meteorology. Grandfather flew in a balloon from St. Louis to New York in 1908. They almost landed on Long Island. ...
(4:26 min.) (19 of 28) 19. Women pilots Virginia wanted corrections made on a display at the airport, adding mention of early women pilots in Alaska. Virginia speaks of things absent in her life and how becoming a Jehovah's Witness helped.
(4:39 min.) (02 of 28) 2. Early years -- parental influences Father flew in World War I [WWI] and after war, he bought Navy surplus flying boat and flew on the weekends. His mother also got interested in aviation and they flew weekend tours...
(4:41 min.) (08 of 28) 8. Getting to Africa The ship shuddered, then listed and water came in the portholes. They had run into a submarine [u-boat]tender. The Santa Paula was eventually sunk by submarines.
(4:46 min.) (11 of 28) 11. Back to the U.S.
Military wanted them to stay and offered George a commission as a 2nd Lieutenant. He wanted to get back home for at least a visit, so he flew back with a cargo of latex rubber. Engine problems...
(4:57 min.) (05 of 28) 5. Parents flying His father got out of the weekend flying business and flying for the Naval Reserve. He died in a flight during the 1930's. His mother could fly but wasn't licensed. George took awhile to get back...