Category Archives: History

“Like a Sack of Potatoes”

Posted on June 17, 2011 by Joe Clark

When Charles Lindbergh flew across the Atlantic Ocean in May of 1927, he ignited the imaginations of many. One enthralled by the idea of being the first woman to fly across the Atlantic was Amy Phipps Guest. Amy Phipps was … Continue reading →

Posted in Aviation, Aviation History, Flying, History | Tagged a suitable girl with “the right image”, a ticker-tape parade, airplanes, airspeed, altitude, Amelia Earhart, Amy Phipps Guest, barnstormers, Captain Hilton H. Railey, Charles Lindbergh, copilot Louis Gordon, discipline, England, flying, Frederick Edward Guest, Friendship Trepassey Harbor Newfoundland Burry Port in Wales, instrument flying, Lockheed Vega, New York City, Pilot Wilmer Stultz, President Calvin Coolidge, publishers, the Atlantic Ocean, the Fokker F.VIIbb/3m, “Like a Sack of Potatoes”, “Maybe someday I’ll try it alone.”, “Would you like to fly the Atlantic?” | 5 Comments

Cedar Key

Posted on June 13, 2011 by Joe Clark

One of my favorite places to fly for an afternoon or evening visit is a place in the crook of Florida’s Big Bend region. Where the coast turns more southerly, there is a sleepy little town called Cedar Key. I like … Continue reading →

Posted in Aviation, Flying, History, Life in General | Tagged a word of caution for the aviators, airplanes, airspeed, altitude, artists, artwork, bird watching, boating, Cedar Key, Cessnas, floating down the runway, Florida, Florida's Big Bend region, flying, friends, important port in the South, inexperienced pilots, instrument flying, instrument rated and current, judgment, kayaking, Las Islas Sabinas, no lights in the Gulf of Mexico, original Florida natives, relaxing, Spanish explorers, the island, the restaurants on Dock Street, the USS Hatteras, the walk into town is only a mile and a quarter or so, the War Between the States, trying to fly in the dark, writing | 3 Comments

D-Day + 66 Years

Posted on June 6, 2011 by Joe Clark

It is difficult to think of the Normandy invasion as having taken place 66 years ago today. Today, a young soldier who hit that beach as an 18-year-old kid is 84 years old. His second lieutenant division officer is now … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Life in General | Tagged 66 years ago today, an enormous debt of gratitude, anti-aircraft fire, D-Day + 66 Years, German machine gunners, landing craft, LSTs, oral histories, paratroopers, Sainte-Mère-Église France, surviving the war, the 101st Airborne, the 82nd Airborne, the Allied invasion force, the generation who saved the world, the Normandy invasion, the survivors, the Utah Beach landing, Vierville France, we who value our freedoms today, young soldiers, young warriors | Comments Off

Memorial Day

Posted on May 30, 2011 by Joe Clark

Today is a day set aside for remembering and giving thanks to the women and men who have served and died in our military so that we may live the lives we live. I could have been one of those, … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Life in General, Personal | Tagged a lucky one, a new generation, a three-day weekend, Air Force, Army, ask yourself serious questions, Coast Guardsmen, discipline, doing the job, independence, keeping the faith, Korea, Marines, Memorial Day, memories, military service, Navy, paid the ultimate price for the freedom, paying homage to squadron mates not as lucky, Pearl Harbor, questioning why, remembering and giving thanks to those who served and died in our military, sailors, soldiers, standing guard for us, that we may sleep peacefully this night and every night, the force protecting America, the pointy end of the spear, Veterans Day, Vietnam, World War I, World War II | 2 Comments

The Luscombe

Posted on May 29, 2011 by Joe Clark

After the war, another little airplane that had quite the following was the Luscombe. It came in a variety of flavors; the 8A and 8F were very popular. When the airplane came out, it was powered by the typical engine … Continue reading →

Posted in Aviation, Aviation History, Flying, History | Tagged airplanes, airspeed, altitude, flight training, flying, friends, inexperienced pilots, judgment, learning to fly, memories, pilots, professional pilots, student pilots, taildraggers, training aircraft, World War II | 3 Comments

The World’s First Flight Attendant

Posted on May 15, 2011 by Joe Clark

In 1930, Ellen Church was a newly licensed pilot who wanted to fly. She went to Boeing Air Transport, the predecessor to United Airlines, and applied, even though she knew her chances of flying as a pilot were not good. … Continue reading →

Posted in Aviation, Aviation History, History | Tagged Army Nurse Corps the Air Medal, Boeing Air Transport, Cresco IA, Ellen Church, Ellen Church Field, Ford Tri-motor, Iowa, passengers fearful of flying, reassuring frightened passengers, scared and airsick passengers, Steve Stimpson of BAT, stewards, the fledgling airline industry, the very first flight attendant in the world, The World’s First Flight Attendant, United Airlines, World War II | 4 Comments

The Mighty Mississippi

Posted on May 13, 2011 by Joe Clark

The first levee has failed in Louisiana. The Mississippi River continues to rise and now officials throughout the area are concerned other levees will not hold unless they take pressure off the entire system. How are they going to do … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Life in General | Tagged Baton Rouge, Cajuns, fishing camps, friends, Governor Bobby Jindal, judgment, levee failure, losing everything, Louisiana, New Orleans, small businesses, small farms, the Army Corps of Engineers, The Mighty Mississippi, the Mississippi River, the Morganza Spillway, “the water is coming” | Comments Off

May 4, 2011

Posted on May 4, 2011 by Joe Clark

Tomorrow is Cinco de Mayo, which makes today the fourth of May. Cinco de Mayo is a holiday in which Mexico celebrates their victory over the French at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. Throughout Mexico and the … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Life in General | Tagged Battle of Puebla, Britain, C-3PO, Chewbacca, Cinco de Mayo, France, General Ignacio Zaragoza Seguín, Hans, her penchant for puns, Luke, May 4 2011, Mexican President Benito Juárez, Mexico City, Napoleon, R2-D2, Spain, The Federation, the last European invasion of the Americas, Veracruz, victory over the French, “May the fourth be with you.” | 1 Comment

More Books About Flying

Posted on April 21, 2011 by Joe Clark

After finishing yesterday’s blog about books on the subject of the Doolittle Raid, I began thinking of other books written of flying that all serious pilots should read. There are so many great novels and historical accounts written of flying that once … Continue reading →

Posted in Aviation, Flying, History, Life in General, Personal, Reading | Tagged a very unconventional life, Beryl Markham, British East Africa, England, Ernest Hemingway, flight training, flying, friends, great novels and historical accounts about flying, inexperienced pilots, judgment, Kenya, learning to fly, memories, More Books About Flying, mountains, Mt. Kilimanjaro, one of the most talented writers ever, open cockpit biplanes, pilots, professional pilots, student pilots, taildraggers, West with the Night, writers | 3 Comments

Books About the Men and the Mission

Posted on April 20, 2011 by Joe Clark

Over the last couple of days of writing about General Doolittle and his raid, many who know me have stopped and talked specifically about the men and the mission. To each, I have recommended a couple of books. The first … Continue reading →

Posted in Aviation, Aviation History, Flying, History, Reading | Tagged Air Force, airplanes, aviation in America, Bob Considine, Books About the Men and the Mission, Carroll V. Glines, discipline, Doolittle’s Raid, Florida, flying, friends, General Doolittle, I Could Never Be So Lucky Again, instrument flying, Jimmy Doolittle’s autobiography, judgment, memories, military service, Navy, Pearl Harbor, Phyllis Thaxter, pilots, professional pilots, Spencer Tracy, Ted W. Lawson, the first raid against Japan, Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo, Van Johnson, World War II | 3 Comments

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Category Archives: History

“Like a Sack of Potatoes”

Cedar Key

D-Day + 66 Years

Memorial Day

The Luscombe

The World’s First Flight Attendant

The Mighty Mississippi

May 4, 2011

More Books About Flying

Books About the Men and the Mission

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