The daring young men of Transoceean Airlines

<body> The Daring Young Men Of Transocean Airlines In 1951, the Saturday Evening Post ran a three-series-article on the airline, titled, "The Daring Young Men of Transocean Airlines. Transocean Airlines was the world's largest supplemental airline operating from 1946 to 1962 and one of the originators of discount airlines. It was forced into bankruptcy by action of the Civil Aeronautics Board. Transocean airlines operated many different type of aircraft, including for instance: Curtis C-46. DC-3. DC-4. DC-6. Convair 340. Martin 202. Lockheed Constellations. Boeing Stratocruisers. Transocean Airlines pilots flew over much of the world, being given cash to cover expenses and then on their own handle the endless variety of events that occurred. The pilots had to be resourceful. Pilots could be flying Muslim pilgrims to the holy cities of Mecca and Medina during the Hajj, next month flying plane-loads of monkeys (1600) from India to the United States for the Salk polio vaccine program, and the following month flying loads of tourists to Hawaii. Transocean Airlines started up Japan Airlines after World War II, furnishing pilots and aircraft. Ernie Gann, the writer of numerous books, including Island in the Sky and thee High and the Mighty, was one of the pilots for Transocean Airlines. Endless Types of Pioneering Flights The airline flew all over the world under conditions that would be primitive today. Pilots flew into places where there were no company handlers, encountering conditions requiring the pilots to be extremely resourceful. The captains were sometimes given a wad of money to pay for expenses where credit cards were not accepted. In 1952, the Saturday Evening Post ran three articles about the airline with the title, “The Daring Young Men of Transocean Airlines.” All Types of Flights Throughout the World Among the various types of flights that I flew were the following: · Military charters throughout the United States using C-46, Martin 202, and DC-4 aircraft. · Military cargo and passenger flights to and from Tokyo from Travis Air Force Base in California. · Monkey flights to and from Manila and New Delhi, flying monkeys to the United States to be used in the Salk polio vaccine program. · Navy cargo flights from the West to the East Coast, landing at various navy bases enroute. · Army and air force cargo flights from the West to the East Coast, landing at various army and air force bases enroute. · Regular passenger runs from California to Hawaii and Guam. · Regular passenger flights from New York to Washington, D.C. and Chicago with Lockheed Constellations and Boeing Stratocruisers. Because of CAB restrictions, the supplemental air carriers, like Transocean Airlines, were limited in the number of flights that they could schedule a month between any two places. · Regular passenger flights from New York to various places in Europe during the busy summer travel season using DC-4, Lockheed Constellation, and Stratocruiser aircraft. · Flying Muslim pilgrims to Mecca and Medina, Saudi Arabia, from various locations in the Middle East during the holy period known as the Hajj. · Providing pilot crews to start up Philippine Airlines after World War II. · Providing pilot crews and aircraft to start up Japan Airlines in 1950. Captain Rodney Stich and a copilot at Japan Airlines in 1953. Copilot at Japan Airlines, former Japanese military pilot, flying with American Captain, Rodney Stich. Captain Rodney Stich hard at work on a Japan Airlines flight over Japan. Japan Airlines flight attendant. Cockpit of Curtis C-46, flight in Middle East. Cockpit of Boeing 377 Stratocruiser. Boeing 377 double-deck Stratocruiser/ Captain Rodney Stich, Japan Airlines, hard at work. Captain Rodney Stich, Japan Airlines, also hard at work. More pictures of airline activities. The following is a list of pilots for Transocean Airlines for which information has been accumulated. Rodney Stich. Charles "Chuck" Sisto. Ernie Gann. Rand Reid. John Russell. Others will be added as the information becomes available. After the airline's demise, one of its pilots, Rodney Stich, sought to obtain information from the various crewmembers on their fascinating experiences. Unfortunately, none cooperated, so much of the rich history has been lost. Segments will be added as information becomes available, including some of the experiences encountered by Rodney Stich (which are described in the book, David vs. Goliath: 9/11 and Other Tragedies.) More Internet sites related to Rodney Stich's activist activities: www.defraudingamerica.com www.unfriendlyskies.com www.druggingamerica.com Engine failure, Japan Airlines, over Japan. Japan Airlines mechanics working on the failed engine. </body>