2005 - 2006 Started the year with a wonderful Salad Toss at the home of Sharon Graham. Bunky Westbrook and Betty Brindley brought 4 of their gorgeous angels for auction. All 4 sold and raised money for the bus trip to Waxahachie in April. Next was the sherry Party at the lovely home of Aggie Clark. She went all out for the event and turnout was great. We raised a huge amount of toys for the Marines Toys for Tots drive. The March business meeting was held at the home of Amber Laws for election of new officers. The dedication of the Braniff Chapel at Terminal B (OUR terminal) was on March 3, 1006. Thanks to the exhausting work of Liz Walquist and Dona Martinez the chapel was finally realized. Over 200 DFW executives, Chaplains, and former BI employees and friends were in attendance. The silver stars with the names of major donors were a big hit. Please stop in and see it as it serves over 162,000 passengers and 50,000 employees daily. A

delayed garage sale was held in March. Our proceeds were disappointing, but we had lots of fun. April was our annual bus trek to the wonderful luncheon in Waxahachie hosted by Bunky and Betty. As always the food was delicious, the visiting noisy! May 5 (Cinco de Mayo) brought our annual Spring Luncheon at beautiful

Bent Tree Country Club with a Latin theme. What fun! Marcella, once again, reigned as champion organizer! Door prizes and certificates were given to the hard working and dedicated B's who slaved at the garage sale. We donated over $3,400.00 to Frontiers of Flight Museum for our BI exhibit. We had 723 members at the fiscal year's end, 650 or so in the Dallas base. Susie and Bud have simplified the database so now their time consuming work is less! Keep up the good work, you two!

 

2006 - 2007 The year started off with our trip to Fort Worth and the Salad Toss. It was hosted by Linda Austin at her beautiful new lakeside home. Over 40 Bs enjoyed the fabulous weather and yummy eats and were even "saluted" by the jets from nearby Carswell AFB! Next came our annual Sherry Party at Sharon Graham's delightful home. Once again the Bs outdid themselves in gathering items for the TOYS FOR TOTS drive. While we are still missing the handsome Marines, who usually picked up the toys, we were able to donate 14 huge hefty bags overflowing with gifts to the Marine Recruiting Center in Arlington. There was a rousing reception complete with picture taking and thanks for our efforts. In February, nearly 70 Clipped Bs packed up and headed to Galveston for a 4 day cruise to Cozumel sponsored by the Houston Chapter. A BIG THANK YOU to Sylvia Hanna, Leslie Roque and Nancy Toy for working so hard to get this done and to Sarah Welch-

travel/cruise agent extraordinaire!!! Our special Braniff exhibit at the Frontiers of Flight Museum is now on its way to completion due to meeting a $30,000.00 challenge to match from former Braniff Captain Orville Rogers and wife, Esther. Challenge letters were mailed in March and by the end of April the funds were rolling in. Lastly, our Spring Luncheon was a huge success due to the special efforts of Marcella Gleason, our VP super star. The theme was "Fat Albert Goes to Hawaii" and the room looked like a luau!! Over 95 Bs and guests attended and 3 new members joined. Our donation to the Museum was over $3,500.00. Membership closed at 644.

 

2007 - 2008 Our new year began with the annual Salad Toss at the Frontiers of Flight Museum. The Clipped Bs Silver Service, a gift from Braniff, was donated to the Museum. Once again the Hospitality Committee headed up by Mary Mark Welch did a fabulous job. Marianne Gwinn hosted the Sherry Party. The party was a roaring success! Fourteen or fifteen bags of toys were collected for the Toys for Tots drive. New officers were elected at our March meeting and once again, Judy Giles stepped up to the plate to lead our group. Barbara

DeMoulin was recognized for her outstanding publishing skills for our Buzz Notes. She passed the baton to Paula Metcalf. The Spring Luncheon was at Brookhaven CC and the theme was "Puttin' on the Ritz". Marie Soloman wowed us with her clever table decorations of top hats, champagne bottles and white satin gloves. The membership closed with 644 members.

 

 

September 17, 1945 Not An Employment Contract

BRANIFF AIRWAYS, INC.

Love Field, Dallas 9, Texas

INFORMATION CONCERNING THE POSITION OF AIR HOSTESS

 

QUALIFICATIONS: Only applicants meeting all the requirements will be considered.

1. Two years of accredited college work (60 semester hrs.-transcript required upon employment) - Better than average intelligence.

2. Single (never married).

3. 21-26 years of age at time of employment.

4. 5'3" - 5'5" in height with proportionate weight (125 lbs. Maximum).

5. Perfect physical condition, well proportioned, no disfigurations.

6. Satisfactory vision; the wearing of glasses while on duty is not permitted.

7. Must be tactful, gracious and resourceful; have poise, present a well-groomed, attractive appearance; be emotionally stable; have a friendly interest in people and warmth of approach.

8. Unquestionable family background and irreproachable character.

9. Business experience desirable, preferably involving public contact work, or other experience indicating ability to deal with people.

DUTIES AND TRAINING:

Through courteous, personalized service, a Braniff Hostess makes our motto "friendly transportation" an actual reality on B-Liners. She puts passengers at their ease, makes them feel welcome and that she has the same genuine interest in them a hostess would have for a guest in her home.

After applicants are selected and employed, to prepare them for the many duties they must perform, Braniff Airways conducts a training class lasting approximately five weeks. During this time, the trainee in intensive classroom work is taught the nomenclature of the airline industry, is given sufficient study in meteorology and air navigation to answer in layman terms most questions passengers ask about flying. She is instructed in the handling of tickets, manifests and other forms necessary in her work. She learns her general duties aloft - how to render services designed to add to the comfort and enjoyment of passengers; how meals are prepared and served; how to give extra assistance to mothers with small children, air sick passengers and elderly people; how to anticipate a passenger's wish for a magazine or pillow. She is also instructed in the principles of first aid. The trainee memorizes the Braniff system, including all flight schedules, and also becomes familiar with the routes of other airlines and the points at which connections may be made. Through observational flights, she becomes acquainted with points of interest on the Braniff System. In the final phase of the training period, the trainee goes on familiarization flights and performs the hostess duties under the supervision of an experienced hostess.

 

REQUIREMENTS:

Before the training period, Air Hostesses selected must pass a prescribed physical examination given by the Company Examiner in Dallas. This will cost $8.00, which sum will be refunded after 60 days of employment. An air hostess is employed on a six months' probationary basis, and must agree to remain with the Company at least one year if her services are satisfactory. A uniform must be furnished by the hostess, but may be paid for at a reasonable price by salary deduction. There are vacation and sick leave arrangements in accordance with Company policy.

 

HOSTESS BASE:

Air Hostess are based, subject to change, at Dallas, Texas, and fly between Dallas and cities within the area of the following terminal cities: Chicago, Brownsville, Nuevo Laredo, Denver and Memphis.

RATE OF PAY:

Beginning pay - $125 per month After 2 years - $155 per month

After 6 months - $140 per month After 3 years - $160 per month

After 1 year - $150 per month After 4 years - $165 per month

After 5 years - $170 per month

Necessary expenses, including meals, taxi fares and hotel bills, are paid by the Company on all flights away from base station.

 

 

With the hiring of the first Hostess Classes in 1937, the Company named Bobbie Burton Turnbull to the position of Chief Hostess. She served until 1938 when Willie Peck was appointed to the position and she served until 1944. Maxine Keir Roper was the next Chief Hostess until 1946 when Dorothy Brindley Richards took the position. She retired in 1959 and was followed by Dorothy Macdonald who served until 1962. Dotty Mac was the last to hold the title as the Company created other job titles in the In-flight Department.

In 1962 Sam Miguel was named Director of Hostesses and in 1969 Dean Dahlin was named Director of Hostess Programs. In 1972 Guenther Beck was named V.P. Customer Service and was assisted by Andy Hoffman who was Director of In-flight.

Over the years, a number of Supervisors and Instructors were assigned to the Hostess/Flight Attendant bases. Unfortunately, the BN records have been destroyed, but here are some familiar names you may remember. We regret that we may have omitted some of you, but appreciate the input we received from many members.

Supervisors 1940's and 1950's

John Herron Helen Lynch

Lori Neale Mary Magee Strom

Annabel Schiesher Marsh Melba Inglish Busby

Guy Williamson Laura Taylor

Eugene Drake Helen Hopkins Adair

Dona Daniel Martinez Camilla Hunt

Nelle Howell McMurray Peggy Howard Nadolski

Pamela Archer Murphy Lois Wilcox Mitchell

Dorothy Dendinger McIlhaney V. J. Lynes Keywan

BASE MANAGERS

Nancy Randall, Betty Green Atchison, Carolee McWhorter, Reba Jay and James O'Donnell

MSP Base

Base Managers

Pat Brown Kimm Joan Postlewaite

Evie Bruske Specht Mary Gallagher

Haydee Dempster Peterson Norma Lundin (Mid-Continent)

 

Supervisors 1960's to 1990's

Bill Cartwright Tom Maloney

Sandy Paschall Gerre McGeeney Waterson

Clo Cloud Susan Moloughney

Margie Evans Harriett Stranathan

Pepper Bartholow Kelly Williams

Eileen Russell Charlene Williams

Nannell Casburn Mary Sowka

Sharon Crosley Nelleke Keller

Elaine Irby Quita Hoggard

Linda May Kathy Karl

Ginny Linder Janice Lucas

Jerry Cotton Susie Mohr

Donna Johnson Pat Dixon

Bettylee Jones Cindy McMinn

Karen Ralston Maxine Stone

Irene Parker Peggy House

Tina Mays Francine Swindle House

Cindy Smart Jill Yoder

Mary Alice Harfoush Patsy Rountree Miller

Marcia Luce Eva Van Enk

Judy Underwood Sandy Cram

Katie Kirby Larry Hockman

Ray Hinkel Barbara Burnett

Pam Shelton Sadler Bill Climmons

Maxine Smith Martha Conley

 

Supervisors - MSP

Jeanne Skarda John Frasca

Vicki Howland Pat Donovan Oakes

Mary Ann Kehoe Fash Ginny Smith Wenande

Supervisors - MKC/MCI Base

Chief Hostess - Pat Partin Kruger

Mary Shelton Brown Donna Passantino

Sandy Paschall Jackie Gibson

Gail Johnston Nancy Blosser

 

INSTRUCTORS

1940's to 1960's

Betty Bohner Judy LaCroix Cooper

Marianne Snyder Gwinn Jean Duncan

Dottie Elmore Kidd Mary Moffett

Libba Sinclair Kimmerling Vicki Mansheim

Lucy Field Belknap Barbara Clark

Janice Peters

1960's to 1990's

Tom Johnson Anne Coston

Leasel Richardson Margaret Kinkaid

Harriett Monroe Francis Evelyn Eubanks

Mavis Kimball Winans Helen Brown

Kay Felts Ron Bowser

Bill Holyfield Ron Dean

 

 

 

Braniff approached the DAL Bs in 1969 about the club offering volunteer hours in return for free transportation over the expanding system. What a wonderful offer and how could we refuse? Mavis Kimball Winans and Aggie Clarke coordinated the work programs in the beginning; as time went on, the role of timekeeper was assumed by Marianne Gwinn and the DAL scheduler was Ann Ruff. Many others system wide gave of their time in administering the program.

No job was too big nor small for the Bs and we gladly gave our time. We counted passengers at upstart Southwest Airlines at Love Field (trying to be invisible at their gate was a challenge); we served coffee to enplaning passengers at many stations; filled in at Council Clubs and completely staffed the DFW Surfer and London departure rooms. We helped the B-Liner editor send out the newsletter at BN #2 and we also manned the "Frequent Flyer Club" at BN #2. We assisted in lost luggage until the IBT filed a complaint. The terminal at DFW was beautified by the B's.

In the Personnel Department we worked in the Pass Bureau, acted as receptionist, did most of the records filing, handled F/A and Pilot applications and did most of scheduling of interviews. We learned to do picture ID cards for employees.

From CEO level down, secretaries were in demand to fill in for vacations and illnesses. Regular "Girl Friday" assistants offered help on special projects. We were to begin an advanced typing course in June 1982 to hone our skills! We covered the system with sales blitzes, manned travel and convention booths, presented "Pack-A-Bag" programs to interested groups and assisted at Career Day programs. We showed travel films (did you know that BN was the first airline to produce travel films?) and assisted in telephone promotional calls. The "Parade of Uniforms" was presented system wide under direction of Eve Henger and Dolores Olson. The latter did the narration in Spanish to the delight of the Latin Americans. This style show was the only one in the industry, and was created, modeled and maintained by our Bs. The last performance was on May 12, 1982 in San Antonio and got a standing ovation and shouts of "Bravo Braniff".

One year in the late 1970's we gave 70,000 hours to the company and more than 400,000 hours of service was given during the entire volunteer programs. At the close of business on May 12, 1982, a total of unused work hours benefits was 37,169 hours. Even though our work program ended, we were never happier than offering our time and we loved being able to fly the "B-Line" again...to places like London, Hawaii and Hong Kong ... these had only been dreams when we were working our way to Fargo, Minot and Waco...we were wowed by "Fat Albert," movies in-flight, real pate and truffles, scones and clotted cream, Baked Alaska, breakfast cooked to order and no English peas! We were truly lucky to have been offered this opportunity and it was good to feel part of the Braniff family again. Heartfelt thanks to all who made it possible!

 

 

… counting the salad croutons during an austerity program

… learning to pronounce Chef Rossel's menus - a far cry from "mystery meat" and English peas!

… landing at SPS with most of the trays on the galley floor - serving 44 people in 45 minutes was too much

… The three MOST feared words in the '50's were "Please see me" (signed D.B.)

… Anyone remember girdle checks and/or weigh-in days?

Remembering Dallas - - - -

Who could ever forget the view from the lofty tropical perch at Ports O'Call atop the Southland Building. It transported us to the islands even before BN dreamed of flying over there.

We were in awe of the turban-clad Ike Sekhon who greeted diners at the Safari Steakhouse in 1956. It was located in the new Preston Royal Center; a date who asked you to dinner there moved "up" in your estimation.

The most exotic spot was the lush La Tunisia in Exchange Park. Being greeted by the 7-foot Watusi in his 5-foot hat was awesome! Dining in the Sultan-tent atmosphere was great , but hearing "Happy Birthday" sung in Spanish brought you back to reality!

Other spots drew their share of BNF hostesses and dates - such as the Luau Room at Love Field and the Town Pump on Lovers Lane where we all sang and thought we were great sopranos!

Then there was the Tabu Room on Loma Alto where the beer was cold and the jazz was hot! (Still is!)

If dancing was your thing, there was Lou Ann's on Greenville Avenue - dancing under the stars was really big time in the 1950's.

Little Bit of Sweden's smorgasbord and Sammy's in Inwood Village were big favorites and the prices were right! The Southern Kitchen - The Spanish Village by the Melrose Hotel - The Pilot's Lounge on Marsh Lane all had regular Braniff customers.

 

Berghoff's in CHI was worth standing in line for. The butt steak, mashed potatoes, creamed spinach, dark bread and stein beer made flight 22 worth its eight hours and eight stops. The salad and pizza at the Yacht Club was ideal for a quick meal.

 

… Admiring the mosiac sidewalks in Rio

… The steaks at George Diamond's in CHI and the music at the Blue Note

 

… The great food at The Drive-In in Matamoros, to say nothing of paying $1.00 for a bottle of Kahlua at the marketplace!

… Eating breakfast at 0600 at the Toddle House in MEM

… The Swedish pancakes with ligonberries at the small café near the Post Office in DEN

… The Italian food at Mama Leone's in NYC and the big menu at Luchow's.

… The wonderful Mexican food at Casa Rio in SAT on the river

 

… Hoping your hose would dry overnight in Galveston

… Enjoying the steaks and dark beer at Berghoff's in CHI - made Flight 22's 8 stops in 8 hours worth it!

… Trying to find your room at the Conrad Hilton in CHI on your first trip!

… Exploring the Zona Rosa in MEX for great bargains and admiring the Diego Rivera mural in Hotel del Prado

… Downing the oysters at Kelly's in HOU across from the Rice Hotel

… Finding your high heels stuck in the asphalt ramps at LRD and SAT due to the heat!

… Coping with the varmints at "Roach Motel" in HOU - ugh!

… Shopping the International Market in HNL

… Enjoying the Christmas decorations in NYC

… Eating great steaks at Joe Awful Coffees in DEN

… Coping with the snow and wind in Minot and Fargo - Brrrrr!

… Enjoying the great breakfasts at the Driscoll Hotel in Corpus

… AMA layovers offered the chance to eat at Mrs. Matthews (Matt's mom's) restaurant

… Admiring the holiday lights at the Plaza in Kansas City

… Riding the Wiki-Wiki in HNL

… Learning to cope with cerviche and Pisco Sours at The Crillon in LIM

… You would think we did nothing but eat while on layovers but we had to keep our strength up for those arduous trips home.

 

 

 

Dumpy Gilby related the time we had just debarked from the crew bus in Honolulu when she went into the lobby snack shop to buy a soft drink and two black ladies approached her and said "I thought you just left". She said no, she was a member of the incoming crew; they must be thinking of someone they had seen boarding the bus as the outbound crew. They said "well you all look alike to us, so it's an honest mistake".

From Linda Austin:

The cabin crew on Flight 501 to HNL will never forget a trip with Mary Moffett as Senior Flight Attendant. A female passenger seated in the First Class lounge asked Mary for a needle and thread to fix a button. Mary gave her one from her purse; with that the passenger whipped off her blouse and sat in stark nudity while she sewed her blouse! For once, Mary was speechless - she asked the cockpit crew what she should do and Capt. Longino replied "he wouldn't touch that with a 10 foot pole" - but Mary could feel three pairs of eyes through the cockpit peep hole! The other passengers in the lounge kept their composure but what tales they must have told in Hawaii!

From John Olson

When Pappy Reed was being questioned for wanting too much fuel, Pappy's logic was, "You can't have too much fuel - unless you're on fire".

One of our more outspoken hostesses once commented that spraying Pine Sol deodorant in the blue rooms only made them smell like poop in a pine tree!

Racing to finish her P.A. on a Convair flight between DAL and SPS, a harried hostess told her passengers they had an entree choice of "feet or mish". (That was the one time they all paid attention!).

In the 1950's training classes we all wondered why Miss Moffett warned us about crew members Lockey, Brockie and Steen - - now we know.

We all remember Capt. Lee Abbott and how reserved he was. He was in Houston and became impatient to deplane before the stairs were rolled up to the DC-6. Unlatching the emergency rope in the door frame, he grabbed it as he went out the door and promptly drilled himself into the tarmac. (The rope was not spring loaded, you see). Needless to say, the ground crew was in shock. Capt. Lee brushed himself off and continued on to the Ops office as though nothing had happened.

Only Shirley Brans could ask passengers to "fascinate their seat belts" - one too many South Texas shuttles in a day perhaps!

 

From Betty Engle:

As I was boarding a DC-6 from ORD-DAL, this tall, tall man came walking out to the tarmac to board. That was in the days we wore the black penguin uniform and stood at the bottom of the stairs. Well, when this giant reached the bottom step, I uttered, "Golly, Sir, with your height, have you ever considered playing basketball?" He looked down at me and said, "Young lady, with your pretty face, have you ever considered being an Airline Hostess?" That tall son of a gun was George Miken from the original Lakers world-winning basketball team. I actually saw and served him at a nice restaurant in Minneapolis after our demise and when I recognized him between rounds of drinks, I reminded him of our original meeting and we both had a great laugh 25 years later. By the way, he left a gigantic tip!!!!!

And now my most favorite story and it ACTUALLY DID HAPPEN just the way I tell it…Once again, boarding Flight 50 from DAL-MSP, this limo pulled up onto the tarmac and out popped Senator James Connelly and a small pin-stripped suited little man with a cane and straw hat walked over to board my plane. Senator Connelly was assisting this person and when they reached the top step, I recognized the gentleman. He spoke to me and said most cordially, "Good Evening, young lady, and how are you?" I smiled and replied ever so nicely, "Republican, Mr. President and how are you?" It was Harry S. Truman and a nicer passenger I never carried. He called me "Sis" all through the trip to MKC and when he departed, he thanked me for a wonderful trip on Braniff Airways. (In all honesty, I told him at the door that if he were running again for office, I would definitely break tradition and vote Democrat). He flashed that million dollar smile, shook my hand and preceded down the stairs in MKC.

More from John Olson:

Carrying animals on an airplane used to be highly precarious, for the animals that is. We're sure you remember some flights of yours when you had animal cargos on board. The usual consignments of cats and dogs were to be expected unless they had been boarded by Billy Freeze. There is an account, which is believed to be true for who would ever tell something about Billy that wasn't gospel? History has it that Billy threw a stray cat in the baggage bin of a DC-3 bound for Corpus Christi. It was a message for the station people in Corpus who Bill felt deserved a lesson in manners. You know the results of this prank don't you? The hapless agent who opened the bin was overwhelmed by a terrified feline who leapt for the first sign of light right on the man's head. The next instant both the agent and the cat were setting speed records in opposite directions.

One DC-6 crew said never again would they accommodate baboons in the cockpit. These babies, the baboons that is, have nasty habits and are not reluctant to dispense all kinds of biological functions at frequent intervals. The results of such conduct after a two hour

John Olson (continued)

flight produced aromas that only another baboon could endure. Can't blame these asphyxiated aviators for registering a solid "never again" can you? Once an enterprising theatrical man conned one of our ticket agents into selling him a ticket for his partner in the act. The unfortunate agent was to learn that passenger Chuck Chimp was indeed a Chimp and in spite of his coat and tie that qualified him for 1st class the agent should have known better. There was the usual amount of smuggled pets in the cabin. One resourceful passenger wrapped her furry dog around her neck insisting it was only a rare fur piece. It almost worked until a tiny bark suggested something else.

We even had a pet mouse on Fat Albert. Any attempts to trap it were met with failure. Soon, as unbelievable as it would seem, the flight attendants would feed it and after weeks of flying back and forth to London he became tame, sleek and at home. One day at Gatwick, Chick Smalley was doing his F/E preflight in the cockpit when a member of Her Majesty's royal sanitation service presented himself. "I understand you have a mouse on board", he challenged. "We have an English mouse on board" Chick replied in his slow Texas drawl. "How do you know it's not a Texas mouse" barked Her Majesty's servant. Whereupon Chick turned slowly in his seat saying, "because I can't understand him any better than I can understand you. Three hours later, after a Royal edict delaying the flight, the Queen's agent triumphantly marched off the plane displaying a mouse hanging by his tail. Chick took the delay.

I have one story that was told to me by a former flight attendant. Years back when Braniff flew a converted DC-4 on night cargo flights, a shipment of parakeets, often called love birds, was loaded on a flight bound for Chicago with an intermediate stop in Kansas City. These birds were in the usual cardboard containers, perforated with holes around the sides to provide sufficient air. These boxes held anywhere from 24 to 36 birds. A cargo handler was loading some boxes when he accidentally stumbled forward and stubbed his toe through the side of one of the boxes. He reasoned that if he put the box snug up between two others the birds could not get out as the flight was close to running late and he had better do so. The cargo door was closed and the DC-4 soon was on its way to MKC. On the climb out it encountered some moderate turbulence causing the cargo to shift and the container with the birds moved apart from the two boxing it in sufficiently to allow 36 parakeets their freedom. They flew wildly about in the dark cabin completely bewildered. Shortly after leveling off the copilot left the cockpit to go to the blue room leaving the cockpit door open. The light from the cockpit attracted the birds like a magnet and they swarmed forward. You can imagine the chaos as the crew was overwhelmed with these frightened darting birds. They swatted at them as if they were mosquitoes trying anything to rid the cockpit of this menace. To make matters worse the captain was allergic to feathers and his sneezing added all the more to the disaster. The crew finally turned the lights down, shooed the last bird out and eventually made the first stop at MKC. The baggage crew was particularly speedy this night and before a word of warning could be said they opened the cargo door to be attacked by frightened birds

John Olson (continued)

looking for safety. The surprise scattered the baggage handlers in every direction. This eventful trip was thereafter named the Love Bird Express and the crew was teased for being members of the Bird Watchers Society.

From Jacquie Copeland Coen (MKC)

One of my most unforgettable events was on a rough flight. On the planes then, we had quart ice cream cartons that fit under the seats, that we affectionately called "urp cups". Ten passengers used them that flight and one man lost his upper false teeth in the cup. I had to go through five before I found his teeth in the sixth..I will leave it to your imagination how I got them out, but I did.. washed them off and gave them back to him. At that point, I was ready to "urp" myself.

More Humor (source not identified)

The traveler, agitated to the utmost, wrote Customer Service to complain that the Captain of her flight had been speeding. . as evidence, she stated that the flight arrived 10 minutes early!!

A nervous traveler, after hearing a pilot reading out football game scores over the PA system, urged that the company consider the safety aspects of allowing a TV set in the cockpit.

An infrequent traveler wrote to the Company as she was concerned over the bird droppings on the wing..she wondered how much of such matter is allowed before it becomes an issue of safety.

A travel agent reported that one of her customers was distressed by the term "Saturday night stayover required", which she took to mean she had to sleep in the airport overnight.

As you may recall, Miss Brindley was known to use the term "we" in addressing her employees, as in "we need a haircut, don't we?" YOU knew it was YOU who needed to get to the beauty shop at once. However, when she asked Purser Bob Tennison "Have we shaved today, Bob?". He replied "I don't know about you, but I've shaved".. she had no comeback.

Marianne Snyder Gwinn loves to tell the tale about the little old lady on her Convair flight who tried to mail her letters in the air-conditioning slots!!

Another Bob Tennison story, which is supposed to be true, relates the time on a DC-6 that a haughty lady boarded with a full length mink coat; Bob offered to hang it for her, but she said she didn'' want it out of her sight..the upshot is that Bob wore it during the flight.

 

Airplane Steaks Always Gave Me Indigestion And Flying With Judy

Shepard Would Always Get You Into Trouble

by John McFarlane

Steak Anyone?

It was a late evening departure on a DC-8-62 charter from New Orleans to Rio. I was working the back galley, carefully counted my meals, and found the 144 steak sandwiches and breakfast trays that I was suppose to have. When the boarding process began, almost immediately I found myself the victim of a very angry passenger, who rudely complained that this isn't a 747 like advertised by the tour operator. I explained that I had nothing to do with the type of aircraft on the flight and referred him to the tour director.

On take off I looked across the aisle to find that the crashing noise I heard to be 15 meals flying out of the oven because the door had come open. You know that "reserve" must have forgotten to lock it. (Wasn't that who always got the blame?) Since we were full I didn't know what to do. (You know if they had just fallen on the floor we would have served them anyway, but these had broken glass in them.) We proceeded with our service hoping for refusals. No such luck! However, we did manage to feed everyone. How you ask? I'll get to that later. Shortly after the meal service I was enjoying a cup of coffee following the stowage of trays and hosing the galley down with a can of club soda.

At this point the man who had been so rude to me came back to apologize. Just as I took a big swig of coffee, he said he wanted me to know that was one of the best airline meals he had ever eaten! I immediately choked and began to spew coffee all over myself and the galley! My co-workers quickly ducked into the lavs laughing. What this passenger and the last 15 others served didn't know was that they had eaten reheated leftovers off of other passengers entree dishes!

Judy Shepard and men's hair pieces

On this trip Judy was in the dog house! On a previous charter Judy, during her departure announcement, had stated, "If you would please now give your attention to the semi-masculine flight attendants standing in the aisle they will demonstrate the safety features aboard our DC-8". This produced roars of laughter as Ron Dean, Walt Brindell and John McFarlane stood in the middle of the aisle red faced. John always was a firm believer in Karma and told Judy she would get hers and boy did she!

On a trip after the charter Judy was in the aisle on a 727 with a full beverage tray in her hand. A very impatient passenger asked her for the magazine in the rack next to her. With her free hand she tried to grab it and proceeded to pass it to the gentleman seated next to the window. (Does anybody remember those black binders with the clear plastic covers? Remember the metal rod in the middle? Judy will never forget them!) As Judy

John MacFarlane (continued)

passed the binder over the man's head seated in the middle seat, she did not know that the metal rod had fallen out and had completely removed the gentleman's hair piece in the middle seat. Once the passenger started laughing, they all started. Guess who stood in the middle of the aisle red faced this time?

(Note: At Judy's Southwest interview, they asked her to tell one of her funniest flying stories. The above was it. She got hired!