Tonight's feature is:
Based on the semi-autobiographical writings of the late great Ernest Gann, who not only was a brilliant writer but a superb pilot of the old school, who started in WWI and retired from airline flying in the twilight of pioston-powered airliners.
It's the story of an Air Transport Command crew, all civilians hired to fly cargo and personnel in support of America's entry into the war in Europe. These guys flew overloaded and overworked aircraft of every description into what was then a mostly uncharted frontier: NE Canada. They also flew many missions to England and beyond, and of course the ATC was involved in supporting China in its fight against the Japanese.
The story begins in Presque Isle, Maine...in Gann's original story, the ship in question was a C87, on its way to Thule. But C47s were used quite a bit on the shorter trips, such as to Goose Bay.
Lots of yummy air-to-air footage of the legend of Douglas... enjoy.
Her five-man crew... typical of the group: older and wiser than the kids who were going to the front lines, and rebellious in that special airline-pilot way. They grumble and goof off and claim they're in it for the money, but of course many of them were quietly very proud of what they were doing.
The navigator (uh-oh, he looks puzzled):
The radio man (catching up on some technical reading):
The flight engineer (all systems go at the moment):
Next: Part 2
