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Hello everyone! It's been a long 2 years but the time has come for a meeting of the MDW Historians. Rob Bitunjic, Head Librarian of the Clearing Library and President of the ClearRidge Historical Society has offered the use of one of the rooms of the Clearing Library (6423 W. 63rd Place, Chicago) for a gathering to include any interested residents of the Clearing and Garfield Ridge neighborhoods. The meeting will take place Sunday April 3, 2022 from 1-3 pm at the Clearing Library.
—Bob Russo
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Today, September 1, marks the 60th anniversary of the crash of TWA Flight 529. N86511, an L-049 Lockheed Constellation, departed Midway at 0200 en route to Las Vegas. The aircraft crashed at 0205 in Clarendon Hills killing all 73 passengers and 5 crew on board. At the time, it was the deadliest single airplane disaster in U.S. history. The CAB concluded the probable cause was "... the loss of an AN-175-21 nickel steel bolt from the parallelogram linkage of the elevator boost system, resulting in loss of control of the aircraft." Tonight, WGN Channel 9 News will air a special report on the accident during their 9 pm broadcast. One of our members, the late Elmer Maze, lived a short distance from the accident site and as an 11-year-old boy, heard this aircraft crash. Bob Russo 9/1/2021  N86511  Crash site, just west of 6100 Clarendon Hills Road. It is with a sad heart that I announce the passing of one of our own historians, Elmer Maves. Elmer "flew west" on July 5, 2021.
Elmer was champion of commercial propliners and had the dubious distinction of having been eyewitness to a terrible aviation disaster, that of TWA Flight 529, early in the morning on September 1, 1961. Along with Elmer, who was 11 at the time, was his brother Charlie, who is today an expert on propliners and an aviation enthusiast. The accident haunted Elmer for 60 years and he was elated to recently learn of the new memorial marker being erected close to the site of the disaster, for which there will be a memorial ceremony marking the Flight 529 crash 60 years ago, Sept. 1st. — Dave Kent 7/21/2021 I regret to inform the Midway Historians of the passing of two of our members: John Daraska the holder of the Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award has Flown West. John, spent the majority of his career at MDW, having started as a fueler with TWA in 1957. In 1958, John enlisted in the Air Force and served 4 years maintaining B-47's, B-52's, and KC-135's. Returning to civilian life John went to work for B&M Aircraft as an A&P at both Elgin and Rosell. He also served as Director of Maintenance for Graubart Aviation VPZ. In 1966 he was hired as Director of Aviation for MDW Mooney dealer Illinois Aircraft, then Morgan Aviation and Arcy Aircraft Sales. As a Commercial pilot, he also flew as Co-pilot/Mechanic for Chicago & Southern Commuter Airlines, Executive Airlines and Rynes Airlines. In 1973 John started J&D Aircraft Maintenance in 1973 at MDW and for many years had his business in the original TWA Hangar/ CHA Hangar 5240 W. 63rd St. Our condolences go out to his family. May you have a smooth ride and tailwinds, John. Will Martin has also Flown West. Will was the owner of P-51"El Gato Rapido." El Gato was based at MDW for a number of years. Will was the author of the book "So I Bought an Air Force: The True Story of a Gritty Midwesterner in Somoza's Nicaragua". Will attended our Spring meeting in 2014 and entertained us with his stories of buying and flying P-51's and P-47's from the Nicaraguan Air Force. At the same time he was selling A-26's and flying them down to Nicaragua — many of these aircraft passing through MDW. This book is a great read capturing the excitement of dealing with a dictator in the "Wild West" of a Central American country and living with continually changing "deals". Will founded the Squadron 4 Warbird Chapter of the EAA. The EAA has established a scholarship fund in Will's name that will provide young people the chance to learn to fly. If you wish to donate, visit www.eaa.org/donate and select "Other Named Scholarship" then enter "Will Martin Flight Training Scholarship." Our condolences go out to Will's family. May you have a smooth ride and tailwinds, Will. Until we meet again, Bob Russo President -- The Midway Historians
In Memory of Our Friend Clifford Eugene "Gene" Smith |
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It's with great sadness that I report the passing of one of our early members and all-around good guy, Captain Gene Smith. Gene passed away last night, June 4.
Gene earned his A & P rating at the U of I Champaign. He was employed as a mechanic for TWA at both MDW in the late 1950s and ORD during the early 1960s. His first corporate job as a pilot/mechanic was with International Minerals & Chemical (IMC) in Houston flying and maintaining an Aztec and Howard 350. Gene joined Sears at MDW in the late 1960's just in time to get a right seat checkout in the DC-3 just before Sears transitioned to an all turbine fleet. During his career at Sears, Gene rose to the Chief Pilot position. With the Sears spinoff of Dean Witter, Gene became Chief Pilot at Dean Witter, based at PWK and ultimately Dean Witter/Morgan Stanley from which he retired.
I remember Gene as a Connie trivia expert with knowledge gained while working on TWA Connies. His photographic memory could recall Connie N-numbers and fleet numbers on which he had worked along with 707 trivia gained working on the early 707's at ORD. His photographic memory applied to ALL Sears aircraft be they piston or turbine. We had quite a few discussions on all these trivia subjects and I always learned something I hadn't know before our discussion.
I remember Gene telling us at one of our meetings that when he was working at MDW for TWA, one of the TWA fuelers always carried a camera with him and always took pictures during his shift. Gene said if we could ever find Charlie Feigel - the fueler, we would have a treasure trove of MDW photos taken during the late 1950s. At a subsequent meeting, I remember Gene almost choking on his soup at the Kerry Piper when he looked up as Charlie Feigel walked into the Kerry Piper with Bob Jesko to attend our meeting. And yes, Gene was right, Charlie's photos provided us an irreplaceable photographic history of all the airlines serving MDW in its 'heyday' of the late 1950s. These photos captured not only all the majors airlines, but the non-skeds and international carriers too including the first Caravelle, a Varig, which diverted from ORD on a demo flight.
Gene will be greatly missed but not forgotten. May you have clear skies and smooth air on your Flight West Capt. Smith.
Until we meet again,
Bob Russo
President -- The Midway Historians
Gene earned his A & P rating at the U of I Champaign. He was employed as a mechanic for TWA at both MDW in the late 1950s and ORD during the early 1960s. His first corporate job as a pilot/mechanic was with International Minerals & Chemical (IMC) in Houston flying and maintaining an Aztec and Howard 350. Gene joined Sears at MDW in the late 1960's just in time to get a right seat checkout in the DC-3 just before Sears transitioned to an all turbine fleet. During his career at Sears, Gene rose to the Chief Pilot position. With the Sears spinoff of Dean Witter, Gene became Chief Pilot at Dean Witter, based at PWK and ultimately Dean Witter/Morgan Stanley from which he retired.
I remember Gene as a Connie trivia expert with knowledge gained while working on TWA Connies. His photographic memory could recall Connie N-numbers and fleet numbers on which he had worked along with 707 trivia gained working on the early 707's at ORD. His photographic memory applied to ALL Sears aircraft be they piston or turbine. We had quite a few discussions on all these trivia subjects and I always learned something I hadn't know before our discussion.
I remember Gene telling us at one of our meetings that when he was working at MDW for TWA, one of the TWA fuelers always carried a camera with him and always took pictures during his shift. Gene said if we could ever find Charlie Feigel - the fueler, we would have a treasure trove of MDW photos taken during the late 1950s. At a subsequent meeting, I remember Gene almost choking on his soup at the Kerry Piper when he looked up as Charlie Feigel walked into the Kerry Piper with Bob Jesko to attend our meeting. And yes, Gene was right, Charlie's photos provided us an irreplaceable photographic history of all the airlines serving MDW in its 'heyday' of the late 1950s. These photos captured not only all the majors airlines, but the non-skeds and international carriers too including the first Caravelle, a Varig, which diverted from ORD on a demo flight.
Gene will be greatly missed but not forgotten. May you have clear skies and smooth air on your Flight West Capt. Smith.
Until we meet again,
Bob Russo
President -- The Midway Historians
In Memoriam
Midway Historian member Jon Proctor passed away April 22, 2020. John was a wealth of knowledge about TWA and the golden years of Midway Airport. His insights and friendship will be greatly missed by our group.
The following obituray is from Jon's website: www.jonproctor.net.
The following obituray is from Jon's website: www.jonproctor.net.
Jon Proctor, aviation historian and 'Oh Lucky Man,” passes at 78
Renowned commercial aviation historian, photographer and author Jonathan “Jon” Hibbard Proctor, 78, died April 22, 2020, four months after suffering a stroke, in Sandpoint, Idaho. A celebration of his life will be held in the Lee Hangar at Sandpoint Airport on a date to be announced, and a private family service will be held in Florida, where his ashes will be interred.
Jon was born April 18, 1942, to Capt. Willis Heath Proctor and Lucena (Wood) Proctor in Chicago and lived in River Forest, Ill., until 1957. The family then moved to La Jolla, Calif., when his father finished a long career as an American Airlines pilot, the first to retire under the “Age 60 Rule.” A pioneering pilot, his father had the distinction of flying in both World Wars and was one of the earliest commercial pilots.
Growing up in an airline family – brother Bill a TWA pilot, sister-in-law Ann a TWA hostess, and brother Bob in various positions with airlines – Jon was destined for a life in aviation. He graduated from La Jolla High School in 1960, earned an associate’s degree from Palomar College in 1963 and then took his first aviation job with Pacific Southwest Airlines in reservations at the San Diego Airport. Further studies at San Fernando Valley State College ended in 1964 when he started working for Trans World Airlines (TWA). His career with TWA spanned 28 years, only interrupted by a brief stint at Pan Am. Until retiring from TWA in 1991, he worked in many departments: passenger service, dining and commissary, and training at LAX; In-Flight service at the corporate office in New York City; Director of Customer Service, an In-Flight management position on the 747 and L-1011; and line flight attendant. Special assignments included NASA’s inaugural Spaceport Tours at the Kennedy Space Center as a tour escort in the summer of 1966, training cabin crews on loan to Saudi Arabian Airlines on that company’s first 747s while based in London in 1977-78, and an around-the-world TWA charter flight.
Working during the early days of jet travel, Proctor witnessed aviation’s exciting transition to the Jet Age and its iconic aircraft types. He had brushes with scores of celebrities, such as Bob Hope, but foremost through his career, he formed hundreds of friendships and many lifetimes’ worth of memories. Jon’s hobby of photographing commercial airliners as a child grew into a lifelong avocation that integrated well with his post-airline career as a writer and editor of commercial aviation publications.
After retiring from TWA, Jon worked for Federal Express in Connecticut as he commenced contributing to Airliners magazine, accepting assistant editorship a year later. That led to moving to Sandpoint, Idaho, in 1993 along with editor John Wegg, who then started a new magazine, Airways. Jon transferred to FedEx in Coeur d’Alene, and later his position with Airways was cut short. Within a few years though, he became editor-in-chief of World Transport Press’ Airliners magazine and Great Airliners Series of books. He wrote the first and seventh books in the series, “Convair 880 & 990” and “Boeing 720.” He went on to co-author the book “From Props to Jets” and co-edited “Trans World Airlines – A Book of Memories.”
Retiring again in 2005, Jon lived in Florida for 18 months before returning to Sandpoint and taking a job at Home Depot in Ponderay. In his final retirement, Jon volunteered as a docent at Bird Aviation Museum and Invention Center in Sagle, Idaho, beginning in 2010, where he enjoyed close association with Drs. Forrest Bird and Pam Riddle Bird and his family of museum employees and volunteers. He was a member of the local chapter of EAA, Sandpoint 1441, and a Festival at Sandpoint volunteer for many years. Jon was affectionately known as “Uncle Jon” to many and was dubbed with titles such as “Mr. TWA” and “Oh, Lucky Man.”
Jon was notified in March that he will be the inaugural recipient of the World Airline Historical Society’s “Paul Collins Award” at Airliners International 2020 for his outstanding contribution to the preservation of airline history. He was president and webmaster of TWA DCS Alumni Association, attended Airliners International conventions for decades, and shared his expertise through various speaking engagements. He was known for his kindness, loyalty, humor and encyclopedic knowledge of the commercial airline industry, particularly TWA. He loved a good road trip and would map a route around the country to see family, friends and high points. True baseball fans, Jon and brother Bill made it a tradition to cover spring training and attend MLB games together. Jon faithfully rooted for the Chicago Cubs, in addition to Gonzaga men’s basketball and Clemson football. Jon enjoyed his daily walks on the Dover Trail and keeping in touch with his wide circle of friends from around the globe.
He donated his immense collection of commercial airline photography, framed artwork and memorabilia to the World Airline Historical Society, where his legacy as an airline historian is cemented.
Jon was preceded in death by his parents and brothers Dick, Bill and Bob Proctor. A lifelong bachelor who had “a few close calls with matrimony,” as he put it, he is survived by his sister-in- law Ann Proctor; nephew Rick Proctor; nieces Penny Beebe, Joanne Proctor Spevack and Susan Proctor; cousin Dennis Brent and great nieces and nephews.
Memorial donations may be made in Jon Proctor’s name to Sandpoint EAA Chapter 1441, P.O. Box 1301, Sandpoint, ID 83864. Look up www.jonproctor.net to learn more about his illustrious careers, books and collection of airline research material.
- By Billie Jean Gerke
Renowned commercial aviation historian, photographer and author Jonathan “Jon” Hibbard Proctor, 78, died April 22, 2020, four months after suffering a stroke, in Sandpoint, Idaho. A celebration of his life will be held in the Lee Hangar at Sandpoint Airport on a date to be announced, and a private family service will be held in Florida, where his ashes will be interred.
Jon was born April 18, 1942, to Capt. Willis Heath Proctor and Lucena (Wood) Proctor in Chicago and lived in River Forest, Ill., until 1957. The family then moved to La Jolla, Calif., when his father finished a long career as an American Airlines pilot, the first to retire under the “Age 60 Rule.” A pioneering pilot, his father had the distinction of flying in both World Wars and was one of the earliest commercial pilots.
Growing up in an airline family – brother Bill a TWA pilot, sister-in-law Ann a TWA hostess, and brother Bob in various positions with airlines – Jon was destined for a life in aviation. He graduated from La Jolla High School in 1960, earned an associate’s degree from Palomar College in 1963 and then took his first aviation job with Pacific Southwest Airlines in reservations at the San Diego Airport. Further studies at San Fernando Valley State College ended in 1964 when he started working for Trans World Airlines (TWA). His career with TWA spanned 28 years, only interrupted by a brief stint at Pan Am. Until retiring from TWA in 1991, he worked in many departments: passenger service, dining and commissary, and training at LAX; In-Flight service at the corporate office in New York City; Director of Customer Service, an In-Flight management position on the 747 and L-1011; and line flight attendant. Special assignments included NASA’s inaugural Spaceport Tours at the Kennedy Space Center as a tour escort in the summer of 1966, training cabin crews on loan to Saudi Arabian Airlines on that company’s first 747s while based in London in 1977-78, and an around-the-world TWA charter flight.
Working during the early days of jet travel, Proctor witnessed aviation’s exciting transition to the Jet Age and its iconic aircraft types. He had brushes with scores of celebrities, such as Bob Hope, but foremost through his career, he formed hundreds of friendships and many lifetimes’ worth of memories. Jon’s hobby of photographing commercial airliners as a child grew into a lifelong avocation that integrated well with his post-airline career as a writer and editor of commercial aviation publications.
After retiring from TWA, Jon worked for Federal Express in Connecticut as he commenced contributing to Airliners magazine, accepting assistant editorship a year later. That led to moving to Sandpoint, Idaho, in 1993 along with editor John Wegg, who then started a new magazine, Airways. Jon transferred to FedEx in Coeur d’Alene, and later his position with Airways was cut short. Within a few years though, he became editor-in-chief of World Transport Press’ Airliners magazine and Great Airliners Series of books. He wrote the first and seventh books in the series, “Convair 880 & 990” and “Boeing 720.” He went on to co-author the book “From Props to Jets” and co-edited “Trans World Airlines – A Book of Memories.”
Retiring again in 2005, Jon lived in Florida for 18 months before returning to Sandpoint and taking a job at Home Depot in Ponderay. In his final retirement, Jon volunteered as a docent at Bird Aviation Museum and Invention Center in Sagle, Idaho, beginning in 2010, where he enjoyed close association with Drs. Forrest Bird and Pam Riddle Bird and his family of museum employees and volunteers. He was a member of the local chapter of EAA, Sandpoint 1441, and a Festival at Sandpoint volunteer for many years. Jon was affectionately known as “Uncle Jon” to many and was dubbed with titles such as “Mr. TWA” and “Oh, Lucky Man.”
Jon was notified in March that he will be the inaugural recipient of the World Airline Historical Society’s “Paul Collins Award” at Airliners International 2020 for his outstanding contribution to the preservation of airline history. He was president and webmaster of TWA DCS Alumni Association, attended Airliners International conventions for decades, and shared his expertise through various speaking engagements. He was known for his kindness, loyalty, humor and encyclopedic knowledge of the commercial airline industry, particularly TWA. He loved a good road trip and would map a route around the country to see family, friends and high points. True baseball fans, Jon and brother Bill made it a tradition to cover spring training and attend MLB games together. Jon faithfully rooted for the Chicago Cubs, in addition to Gonzaga men’s basketball and Clemson football. Jon enjoyed his daily walks on the Dover Trail and keeping in touch with his wide circle of friends from around the globe.
He donated his immense collection of commercial airline photography, framed artwork and memorabilia to the World Airline Historical Society, where his legacy as an airline historian is cemented.
Jon was preceded in death by his parents and brothers Dick, Bill and Bob Proctor. A lifelong bachelor who had “a few close calls with matrimony,” as he put it, he is survived by his sister-in- law Ann Proctor; nephew Rick Proctor; nieces Penny Beebe, Joanne Proctor Spevack and Susan Proctor; cousin Dennis Brent and great nieces and nephews.
Memorial donations may be made in Jon Proctor’s name to Sandpoint EAA Chapter 1441, P.O. Box 1301, Sandpoint, ID 83864. Look up www.jonproctor.net to learn more about his illustrious careers, books and collection of airline research material.
- By Billie Jean Gerke
Author
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