WWII CPTP – Plains Airways
WORK IN PROGRESS!
PLAINS AIRWAYS, INC.
WWII CIVILIAN PILOTS TRAINGING PROGRAM
Plains Airways 1939 LUSCOMBE 8A
Aunt Virginia – Granny – Uncle Bob – Cousin Jimmy Lee Osborn – Granddad (Greeley Airport 1944)
N-80201 Jackson Hole, Wyoming 1945
First Twin Engine Airplane into the Jackson airport.
Pic Walker far left.
Aunt Lenore – Cousin Jimmy – Uncle Bob with Plains Airways Luscombe (1944)
Pop’s Studebaker “company car” w/sisters MJ and MM
Luscombe 8A “Silvaire” in flight
WACO UPF-7F
Plains Airways Chief Pilot, Ray Johnson doin’ some ‘splainin’!
Plains Airways Laramie Base
10 of 33 Luscombes
2 of 14 Waco UPF-7Fs
Waco YKS
Charlie Hirsig, Manager: Plains Airways Laramie Ops
1939 Ford “Woody” lost in the crash killing Instructor Johnnie Hart
Charlie was the father of one of my closest friends from childhood, Jimmy Hirsig. Jim was lost to cancer a few years ago.
Frontier Captain, Dave “Boom Boom” Canon, was Plains Airways Army Air Corps liaison during WWII. “Boom Boom” shown here after taking Colorado Senator, “Big Ed” Johnson, for a flight in an L-2 located at Plains Airways Ft. Morgan pre-glider training school.
Captain Everett “Ev” Aden, Frontier Airlines. Ev, Warren Heckman, and Fred Hart learned to fly with Plains Airways.
Cessna “Bobcat” often called the “Bamboo Bomber” was a UC-78 or T-50 multi-engine trainer used by Plains Airways during WWII.
Pic Walker at the controls of Plains Airways UC-78 “Bamboo Bomber” Cheyenne, Wyoming 1942
Post WWII Plains had one of the very first Model 35 Beech Bonanzas built. Plains was the first Beechcraft Dealer West of the Mississippi.
WACO YKS Cabin airplane like that used by Plains Airways during WWII.
1937 C-37 “Airmaster”
Pic took these ladies aloft on their first flight. The lady on the left had come west on an immigrant wagon train. Seven of her “party” was killed by Sioux Indians. Three more were lost to disease. One lady succumbed during child birth. She wanted to fly over the Oregon and Overland Trails. She was able to see the wagon wheel ruts (still visible t’day!)
WACO UPF-7 like those operated by Plains Airways during WWII.
“Staggerwing” Beechcraft Model 17
The military designation is the YC-43 “Traveler”
My father’s was an earlier version, the C-17 which used the Jacobs L-6 with 330 HP. Later D-17s used the Pratt/Whitney R-985 with 450 HP.
Walter Beech visiting the Walker Family on our Wyoming Ranch near Laramie. Over time, we had several pets such as this orphaned Antelope fawn.
What appears to be a fatal crash of a Luscombe 8A is an amazing story of the only Plains Airways accident during WWII. The student walked out the front with only a bandaid cut on the bridge of his nose! He thought it would be fun to fly thru a dust devil! …I don’t know ’bout that!
Pic Walker with one of 7 WACO UPF-7s they operated during WWII. They had seven more new WACOs in crates at wars end. All bought and paid for thru the War Assets Office for $1.00 each.
Pic Walker taking delivery of a new Beechcraft Model 18S in 1945. This airplane, N-80197, is now being restored by the Commemorative Air Force in Guymon, Oklahoma.
Buzzin’ the ranch 1940!
Frances & Pic Walker departing on their honeymoon flight October 1938 in a, then new, 40 horse power Piper Cub.
In 1939 Pop built Mom a home he’d designed himself. 3816 Capitol Avenue, Cheyenne, Wyoming. Pic is holding sister Martha Jo while Mom has sister Mary Margaret. I must have been out of sight getting into some mischief!
Frances & Pic Walker after Fifty Four years of happiness in 1992
Pic Walker receiving the Elder Statesman of Aviation Award in Washington, DC in November of 1992.
Martha Jo – Pic – Frances – Billy
FLYING MAGAZINE 1941 URL LINKS:
https://books.google.com/books?id=EBtlM-bYTLEC&pg=PA98&dq=Plains+Airways+CPTP&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiY_P3v_NnSAhXKjlQKHR69BLAQ6AEIKDAD#v=onepage&q=Plains%20Airways%20CPTP&f=false
https://books.google.com/books?id=EBtlM-bYTLEC&pg=PA98&lpg=PA98&dq=Plains+Airways+CPTP&source=bl&ots=ajg_vnA64Y&sig=WjxukELhAXGoxJKYdy151bY4Ta0&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwicyNmG-dnSAhXJwlQKHax7BpMQ6AEIHTAA#v=onepage&q=Plains%20Airways%20CPTP&f=false
https://books.google.com/books?id=EBtlM-bYTLEC&pg=PA98&dq=Plains+Airways+CPTP&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiY_P3v_NnSAhXKjlQKHR69BLAQ6AEIKDAD#v=onepage&q=Plains%20Airways%20CPTP&f=false