Mom's Log
Day 15
Saturday, June 11
Oklahoma & Texas
[Morning flight 9:25 - 10:40 a.m. with Bill Porter in his 1948 Cessna 195 from Will Rogers Field to Denton, Texas.]
Joe Roselle 1941 WACO UPF7 at the Denton, TX air show Martha met correspondents Gary Neeley from Austin and Mark Hagan from Wichita Falls, TX. Both had written from the TRADE-A-PLANE ad. Gary flew Martha to Edna Gardener Whytes’ home in Roanoke, TX in his 1943 Stearman and Mark or Joe flew alongside in his 1940(1941?) WACO UPF-7. Martha photographed Mark Hagen as he flew alongside. He flew in super close formation very decisive flying.
M is staying the night at E.G. Whyte’s home. A very interesting place, with walls lined in air racing trophies she won in 1920’s and 30’s and since. Edna is famous in aviation world and has her 120 Cessna and 140 Cessna in her garage-hanger. (She parks her car outside.) Edna is 87 yrs old and has taught 5,000 pilots and is still teaching flying. She has logged 34,000 hours in air time.
Gary Neeley is picking Martha up in the morning and taking her to Waco, Texas. Edna gave Martha her biennial flight check-up.
Day 16
Sunday June 12
Texas
M stayed in Neeley’s guestroom after Waco, Texas Airshow.
Day 17
Monday, June 13
Texas
Day off [did not fly anywhere today] – swimming with Gary in Austin, Texas.
3 TV stations had good coverage at Austin Airport, showing Gary’s beautiful (WWII Army colors) – also newspaper in Austin.
Day 18
Tuesday, June 14
Texas
Martha called from FBO in La Porte, TX. Gary flew M to Houston where Anita De Villegas a French woman flew M in a 1946 AT6 600 HP warbird at her airport to La Porte, TX where Martha tried to get a ride out to De Ridder, Louisana. No ride was available and the TV station and newspaper people were waiting in Louisiana at 7:00 PM for her. Bob Frazier will fly her out tomorrow at 9:45 AM in his Stinson Voyager 1947.
Day 19
Wednesday, June 15
Texas to Louisiana back to Texas
Arrived at DeRidder, Louisiana at Bonnie Swamp Smith’s elegant home. M met he and his wife, Sharon at the Stearman Convention in Pensacola on her stop there on May 29th. Bob Frazier and Martha landed on Smith’s grass strip amid cow pastures, steers, bulls and horses and the mayor of De Ridder was there and gave M the key to the city! Newspaper man interviewed them. Smith’s lovely home has Persian rugs – also two huge bear rugs – from their world travels. Smith flew M to Lufkin, TX in AT6 – 600 h.p. warbird. It was her third AT-6 warbird ride.
They arrived at Angelina City Airport in Lufkin, TX at 4:45. Were greeted by news people and air traffic controllers and Sandra Rathbun (see letter 4-6-88 to Lee Spencer). She is editor of “The Southwest Flyer” and area supervisor of Lufkin FAA Flight Service Station. Sandra and Martha are going Honky Tonking tonight and two-stepping - different from the Florida dancing. Texans do side to side dancing.