MEMORIES OF EASTERN

visits since the start of this page on March 4th, 2001.

This page is copyrighted. Please don't remove any information without my permission. ENJOY! Alexa

This page is new. It will be written by the people who visit and choose to leave a story, their 'footprints' about Eastern Airlines, Inc. So, give it a shot. Tell us your favorite memory of Eastern. Tell us about your first day, week or month. Tell us about your funniest experience or worst day of your life. Just tell us.

In '72 I had a spiritual awakening and in '75 while in EWR I began to study the Bible. With the possibility of changing schedules around gave me the oportunity to enter Seminary in '76 and graduate with the Master of Divinity in '80. I was ordained a pastor and have been since. The experience as an EAL F/A was important for that vocation decision and I thank God for the opportunity He gave me to experience those young years there. Thank you. Ozzie Marino

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I never worked for Eastern Airlines...but the first airplane flight I ever took was an Eastern flight from Atlanta to Boston in 1981. I was 16 years old and that experience of finally flying for the first time is something I'll always remember. I remember the Eastern crew was extremely nice and they all looked like they were happy to be there.

It's too bad what happened to Eastern. Hopefully airlines today can take a lesson from Eastern and not let history repeat itself.

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I flew with EAL for six wonderful years and loved every minute of them. How well I remember working the red-eyes between ATL and SFO on our beautiful L-1011's...the good old days!

I remember one silly incident back around '85. We'd taken off from FLL early in the afternoon, bound for ATL. The weather was stormy, so we had a pretty bumpy ride. The Captain was having a hard time of it, trying to climb above the weather. I was seated in one of the mid-section jumpseats (L-1011) facing aft. Adjacent to me was an old woman who took out her rosary and began reciting the Lord's Prayer. It was funny, because each time the plane would jar back and forth, up and down, she'd break into another verse. "Ouuuur Faaaather Whooooo aaaarrrrt in HEAVEN, haaaalllowwwed be THY NAME..." The other F/A's and I were in stitches. Within minutes, we were above it all and had begun our service. As I reached her with the cart and asked what she'd like to drink, she exclaimed, "A Screwdriver...and make it a triple!" I laughed about that for days.

We sure had some great times at EAL...days I miss. I now fly for Southwest, another great company. However, I'll never forget my days with Eastern, the people (all of them great) or the pride we felt for OUR airline. How sad that Eastern is no more.

Just found this site. As a traveller I miss EAL. I first flew on Eastern in about 1958 from Detroit (Willow Run) to Orlando (or Tampa?). I think we stopped 3 times in route. EAL was a great airline.

If anyone reading this has any route info from the late 50's please contact me. I am trying to create a map of my air travels and am uncertain of the route in my early flights.

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Eastern was great back in the mid 80's flying the L1011 to Miami,today you are either on a 737 or MD-88 !!!! At least the Tri-star was roomy and an experience to fly ..

Of all the airlines I have flown on, Eastern was my favorite. When I was a boy, my parents worked in Curacao, in the Dutch Caribbean. Every two to four years, we went back to the U.S. to visit family and friends. I always remeber being excited that we were going to fly Eastern to Miami, then on to Dallas. There were times when we had to fly other airlines, and I remeber feeling angry and disappointed, but the times we flew on Eastern were great. There was just something about the attitude of friendliness and the optimism displayed by the entire company. I also loved the color scheme of the aircraft. I was inspired to pursue a career in aviation partly because of my love for Eastern.

to even think about sitting on the couch in the shuttle stand by lounge, not to mention eat one of their snacks while they were upstairs boarding a flight until the crew got back to BOS from the last leg from LGA.

The sounds of lighters lighting up from the L2 jumpseat on the 727 when the no-smoking light went out.

Those awful scrambled eggs in the paper cups on the BOS-PHL 38 minute leg. The Moonlight special, the scheduler that hated me and booked me on the BOS-LAX red-eye with the 3 hour min. call out time and time again.

A very short role in my life for me but a role that has left the very best times and memories thanks to a lot of you!

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It took me 3 years to get on with Eastern in Miami. It was then and looking back now best job I ever had, in spite of all the hard times. Everyone would have agree that working for Eastern had a glamour to it that I haven’t seen in this industry for sometime.

In closing I wish that all of us had worked harder to save Eastern airlines and our jobs.

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Let's see if I can do this right this time. I hit the submit button too soon last time.

I interviewed with Eastern in late 1972. After my first flight ever in 1971, and seeing the flight attendants, my mind was made up; that's all I wanted to do.

When interviews were scheduled in my home town (Mobile, AL), I pleaded with my dad to let me interview. He finally let me. I didn't hear from Eastern for a long time and had more or less given up.

As fate would have it, I received my letter of acceptance on the DAY I GOT MARRIED. I remember my dad holding the letter in one hand and my hand in the other showing me my engagement ring, me, all dressed for the wedding and him saying "What's it going to be...marriage or Eastern...marriage or Eastern"? (jokingly, of course).

Since everyone was already at the church I decided to go on with the wedding (that was also a joke, but the truth, too).

Well, guess what? After 25 years of marriage that ended in 1998 and raising two children I tried it again and am now a flight attendant with American Airlines. I love it. And, I knew all along I would. This is the greatest job in the world.

I know there are many of you who are now employed with American and I'm so glad those of you that are, didn't give up. This is a very addictive job, isn't it? Once it's in your system it's hard to let it go.

I hope the airline business stays intact...that we all fly safe...and that fate does not take my dream from me again.

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My first actual IFR x-country I looked at my flight instructer a retired EASTERN Captain Jimmy James and ask "Are we going out with this weather?" and he sad "Sure the best way to learn is by actual IFR flying!".It was my first time braking out the clouds and seeing the sun on a wet spring day in 1979 . 16,000hrs.later : As for me learning with the proes got me to a left seat, carring out all you have taught me ,your spirit still alive in every flight that I do for a person who really got me true .Captain George Smith B767 Rio/Brazil

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I remember when I first started flying in the 70's when a passenger wrote me a complimentary letter. He said the service was great and I was so nice. If the aircraft went down he would love to have gone with me. My supervisor could not beleive some one would write a letter like that and neither could I. Another story. I chose to go to Montreal in the winter for my fan flight. At the time I was in flight school in Miami. I went to Montreal with no coat. I thought Montreal was going to be so exciting little did I know I would see the airplort only. To top it all off I had to layover for 2hours. For two hours I stayed with my face pressed to the glass wandering when my plane was going to come in. That was a wrong choice. If I had to do it all over again I would have chosen Puerto Rico. Peace and Love.

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To start off with i never really worked for eastern but i had my own time card and uniform. My father worked 30 years for eastern and i used to go to work with him on a regular basis. i was of course 6 or 7 when i started going with him. he worked at clt and was a ramp superviser. i used to go in the bellies of the aircrafts, work the bag room etc.( i had more seniority than most full time) haha, but anyway i did it all, back then you could do stuff like that and no one cared. some other employees brought thier kids but never as much as my dad did. i loved it. anyway back to my little story, it was a summer day and i was on the ramp with my father and a dc-9 approached the gate and parked. the pilot came down the stairwell and saw me with a eastern uniform and started laughing and asked me my name, i said matthew and we carried a little conversion and my father came over and joined in the conversation, well the next thing i remember was the pilot asking me if i wanted to fly jumpseat to charlston and back with him. after my heart fell i answerd " YES SIR". and before i knew it we were rolling on the runway and headed for charlston. i will never forget that day when i got to fly up front. for a 9 year old to do that , that was the high-light of my life. i love eastern airlines and all the men that worked at charlotte nc and i will never forget the times and experiences i had....

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Eastern Airlines! In 1973, while I was finishing up my DC-9 First Officer Training, at TNT; my wife was giving birth to our first child Rebecca.Some how the Check Airman found out about the blessed event,and had me do my last approach into MIA. He taxied the DC-9 up to a wating B-727, told me to get my bags and get on board it was going to take me to see my new baby and by the way,you passed! That is what made Eastern Airlines, The greatest Airine in the world.( PS- I think there is a special place in Hell for both Franks.)

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I did not work for Eastern. I was an 'airline brat'. Dad (Joe Sr.) worked for Eastern from 1948 till he retired sometime in the mid 80's. He worked in Houston, New York, Greensboro but mostly Atlanta. Dad worked in communications. My first flt was on a DC-3 when I was about 8 months old. I remember flying on the Martins, Convairs, all the DC's. My favorite was the Connie. We used to fly to Houston from Atlanta to visit my Grandparents. We flew a red eye about 3 AM or so. This one flight I was escourted to the cockpit and sat in the jump seat for most of the flight. I had the same experience on the Martin, the DC-7 and the Electra. God that was fun. We lived in the old Fairfax area by the Atlanta airport. The Delta Jet Base is now located where our house used to be. We lived so close to the runway, us kids used to sneak through the corn field and crawl up next to the runway. What a rush for a 5 yr old. I can remember that as planes ran up to takeoff rpm, Mom (Tiny as she was called. She worked as a phone operator in Atlanta for Eastern) would run to the kitchen and hold on to the cupboard doors. They had a habit of flying open and dishes would fall out. I remember the Qunsent Hut terminal, the wooden concourses and the old 2 story stucco terminal with the tower on top. I also wathced dad go to work. He would walk across that field with his lunch bag in hand, look both ways befor going across the runway and go to work in the old stucco building. I went to work with him a few times. Got in trouble once. I got to playing around with the vacum tub system. Seems I put something in one an apple or something and pretty well shut down the Atlanta Communications department for a few hours. Remember meeting Cpt. Eddie. I most of all remember how proud I was when I was asked what my dad did and I would answer that he worked for Eastern. Those were the best years of my life. I grew up wanting to fly for Eastern, but the army had other plans for me. I eventually got a chance to go to flt school in the Army and became a helicopter pilot. No Big Iron in my life, but flying is a passion. I am still flying. I now fly for Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville. If any of you all remember Dad, drop a line if you want. Dad is no longer with us, but the Eastern memories live on. Joseph L. Bradley Jr aircareone@onebox.com April 2, 2002

I am not a former employee. I am just a simple college student that is interested in the history of some of the great airlines... Eastern, Braniff, Pan Am..... I think back to the late 80's and early 90's and seeing the Eastern logo at Boston... I dont think I ever flew EAL, and from what people tell me, I missed out on a lot. Seems that the airline industry is not the same anymore. From the stories I hear, it seems that there used to be a strong sense of family at each airline. I would love to talk with any former employees of Eastern, if anyone wants to email me... 056236h@acadiau.ca I read the book "Grounded", and that, along with former employee's stories, has led me to believe that Frank Lorenzo was quite possible the devil himself. What a bad man. Please email me if you have time! Thanks so much!

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IN 1977 I WAS AN AIRBUS INDUSTRIE FIELD SERVICE ENGINEER BASED IN MIAMI (IT WAS THE INTRODUCTION OF THE A300B ) I ENJOYED VERY MUCH WORKING WITH THE EASTERN AIRLINE PEOPLE LINE MECHANICS,ENGINEERING, AND PILOTS I REMENBER SOME NAMES CAPT MARSHAL , CHIEF ENGINEER LOU PERNICE AND THE FOREMAN BASILE MIRUCKI COUD I GET SOME NEWS FROM BASILE MIRUCKI? SO ALL THE BEST FOR ALL FORMER EASTERN MEN AND WOMEN IT STILL FEEL VERY SAD AFTER EASTERN AIRLINES BANKRUPCY A GOOD FRIEND OF YOU ALL BERNARD BONNEFOY Email; bernard.bonnefoy6@wanadoo.fr

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I'll never forget returning to NYC from a family trip to MEX in 1967 or 68. Daddy was in command of a DC-8, and the family was sitting in first class. There were two stops along the way (BAL and WAS?). At each stop, the F/A working the front galley dropped a can of soda and it rolled into the cockpit. The second time, the can blew a hole and sprayed the pilots!

Daddy came roaring out of the cockpit! The poor F/A was shaking in her high heels, I'm sure, but Francis S. was laughing too hard to be mad!

name: Ed Bowley
no: ON
Date: Thursday, April 25, 2002
Time: 09:11:22 AM

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I started with Eastern in 1955...after leaving Westinghouse Jet Engine Division in PHL...Having worked jet engine test....Olaf Hansen placed me in engine 'teardown' as it was called in those days..Andy Concanon indoctrinated me with engine oil all over new khakis...That was Andys' style....loved the guy...Built 3350s adn 2800s for 16 years...then to APUs and then to Fuel Metering where I retired...om 1978 ..loved every minuite of it...

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I remember it all. From the first day, Dec 22 1966. Walking out to the Miami counter facing thousands of night coach passengers to the last day in Gainesville when the husband and wife took the DC9 away. Some joyous memorys some so bitter. So many people I helped. I remember 401 and seeing Capt Loft out at the end of "C". The trips I took. The long hours. The huge paychecks. I tried to help KIWI but the same bunch of ner do wells eased their way in and screwed that up too. I have discoverd the Florida Welcome Center. Stop by and see me if you are on I 75. Patrick

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My last flight was into Chicago in 1975 (Christmas.) The in flight movie was "Airport 1975". We hit turbulence over O'Hare, dropped 400 feet, and we all freaked. Bad choice for a movie, but calming everyone else down wasn't pretty.

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WORKED LINE MAINTENACE AT EWR FROM 63-89. CURRENTLY RETIRED AND LIVING IN TOMS RIVER, NJ.

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The best layovers were in San Juan wher EVERYONE got drunk and had plesure as well. You had to be there!! Many stories that can't be printed.

name: Riegels
yes: ON
Date: Thursday, May 23, 2002
Time: 03:02:57 AM

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Hi, Im a 20 year old girl from Norway, brougth up in an aircraft loving fammily, alsow a werry spirritual family I migth add. My father was mecanich at SAS and my mum was a fligth attendant in the 70's

From I was a litthle kid I have been flying across the world whit them and my dad have been keeping telling me tha story about the Ghost Of Fligth 401 who chrasshed in the Everglades.

I have alsow heard that Eastern dosent fly anny more. Thats sad, cause throu dads stories I have fell in love whit this particulare craft and people.

name: Larry Cole
yes: ON
Date: Thursday, May 23, 2002
Time: 03:04:49 PM

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I was blessed to have worked at the Old Hartsfield Terminal from 1969 to 1978. Although almost 25 years have passed, I still think of the times spent working with Mr. Jim Hardin, Irene Brown Hearne, Ed Hearne, Fred Buckalew, Ronnie Buckalew, and too many others to name. We were a family then, and those of you I worked with will forever remain a family in my heart. I think we could all write a book about funny real life things that happened at Old Hartsfield. Like the time I was helping a little old lady down the hall, she and her husband had been on vacation, her husband had passed away while on their trip. Her husband was in a casket and she was escorting her husband home. She was visibily upset. Mary Beth Wilcox, a beautiful groundhostess asked me could she assist with the lady. I said, well Mary Beth, Mrs. Jones is traveling with her husband, he is in a casket. Mary Beth thought I said "he is in a cast", she patted the lady on the arm, and said "oh please don't cry, maybe he will be out of it before too long". To which Mrs. Jones replied, "oh no, he's dead, he won't never get out of there". Was all I could do to keep my composure. Real life happenings are the best. Larry Cole

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"I remember flying from JFK to SJU on a L-10 (cannot remember the flight #), and working the lower lobe galley, I was preparing meals for first class and had burned my finger on the oven, dropping everything on the floor. I preceeded to call the "A" and let her know I had just dropped the "f**king first class meals on the floor", unknown to me I had hit the PA system for the whole cabin!!!!...." I miss my days with EAL, great people, great planes and too many memories....happy and sad. Miss you all, even if I have never met you!"

name: Bob Levy
yes: ON
Date: Thursday, May 23, 2002
Time: 04:08:22 PM

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HI I never worked for Eastern but for a charter airline know as Global International Airways where I was an F/A on B 707-320B aircraft.

Eastern had some great crews and always ready to help another crew member out of a jam.I was dead heading from MIA via ATL to DTW my bace.Anyway when we arrived in ATL the airport at DTW was closed due to snow and low visibility.All the hotels were full with pax from diversions at DTW/MSP/CLE well you get the idea.

As a crew we tried everyplace including the YMCAs but no luck.We were resigned to a night in the terminal untill an Eastern F/A noticed our bags with crew tags on them.We explained our problem and she said she would be back.About an hour went by and she returned to say she found 8 pleople that would take in 8 lost "birds" for the night.We never forgot that act of one crew helping another.None wanted anything in return even though we offered.We did send some gifts latter.

The day my company folded I felt a deep feeling of loss.The second was when I awoke one morning to hear that Eastern had suffered the same fate.

I no longer am in the aviation business but in the marine industry.Still when a plane flies overhead I look up,you never forget where your roots are,never!

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Hey all of you Eastern family! I just wanted to let you know that Frank Lorenzo and his family have free lifetime passes on Continental. I have been a gate agent at EWR for almost 13 years now, and Frank's Bags have frequently travelled to various destinations that were not in his travel plans.... :) Also he will not drink ANYTHING that is offered to him in an open bottle/can (wine/soda/water/etc) and will not eat anything on the flight. (I guess he's had stomach problems from eating something tainted??) But all is well, we still have seat 29e saved for him.........I grew up an airline brat,my mother worked for EAL from 1978-1987. I worked there from 1985-1988...Oh and by the way, Frank looks like CRAP :)now

name: Jim Reed
yes: ON
Date: Friday, June 07, 2002
Time: 09:49:40 AM
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Hi! Just found EASTERN web site & enjoyed pics & stories. We started our organization,the Berlin Airlift Historical Foundation,with one of your (retirees)Chief of Maint with exceptional talent & knowledge & training from EASTERN. VINCE has passed on but HE will always be with us. HE was one of the original founders from day one. The BAHF now ownes & operates as "Flying Museums" two Historic Proptransports from yesteryear/C-54E Skymaster(DC-4) & now a C-97G Stratocruiser(377). We are a nonprofit,all volunteer,membership corporation,dedicated in preserving these 2 RARE Proptransports in Flying condition at all times.We are on a mission of History & Education of the Berlin Airlift & soon to be the COLD WAR YRS with these Aircraft.See us at new web site for info & new pics at www.spiritoffreedom.org Our C-97 STRAT project is now officially underway & we are opening 60 slots in all positions to help us in this project.Only 2 of these STRATS still survive in the WORLD today thatare AIRWORTHY!! We welcome help & support by anymeans to keep this Grand Lady back in the skies where SHE belongs & for all the public to see & Hear those big 4 magnificent P&W 4360 Radial Engines turning in unison once again!

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Two fond memories: Flying roundtrip between Newark and Boston on a student standby fare of $16. And the television advertisement that would send chills down my spine - The winged man launching himself off a cliff in slow motion to the opening measures of "Also Sprach Zarathustra." Does anyone know where I could get a copy of that ad?

name: linda crowe
email: abigailadams90@yahoo.com
Date: Sunday, June 09, 2002
Time: 03:46:07 PM

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Well I was not an employee my late father was as was my uncle and my godfather. I am looking for anyone who worked with them or knew them. My father was David Crowe, husband of Ernie, children David Sr., Steve, and me Linda. He flew out of Miami and then New Orleans. He died in 1964

My "godfather" or dutch uncle is still alive i think and I would like information on him so I can get in touch with him-it has been 27 years since i have heard from him. He worked for Eastern too He name was Loren Englbright.

I can be contacted: Linda Crowe care of Romie Waters 122 Hayter Street Nacogdoches, Texas 75965 or by e-mail: abigailadams90@yahoo.com.

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Browsing this web-site is bitter-sweet. My parents, Wayne Lovell and Joyce Looney, met in the early '60's. Mom was a flight attendant and Dad was a gate agent then, I believe. My mother died in 1980 and my father died in '99. He was one of the last ones to close up shop in Miami. A very sad time--even for me because I had just announced my engagement and poor Dad couldn't swing the big wedding due to EAL's demise and his leeching wife, Nancy, who some of you may remember from FTL, unfortunately. I still have some of the "wings" I received as a kid flying up north for the summer. And my kids eat their ice cream with old Eastern spoons--they're just the right size! If anyone remembers my parents, especially my father, who was much-loved and respected in Miami and Fort Lauderdale, please write with any of your memories.

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Hello every one. My name is Ron Byrd, Jr. My father was employeed by EASTERN from 1966 - until the end. He started iin Miami and transfered to Atlanta when EASTERN had the big move. My most remeberable moments with EASTERN was the picnics we all had together in Miami. EASTERN employees where a very close family. I also remember going to Disney World and riding the EASTERNS ride. I thought that was the greatest thing, that my DAD worked for an airline that had a ride at Disney World. How I miss those days of EASTERN AIRLINES. Those where the GREATEST DAYS. I still keep up with some of the ole EASTERN guys Al Powell, Gill, Don Stevens, Don Manley, just to mention a few. My dad was killed 3 years ago (6-22-99) on his way to work at NORTHWEST. He sure did miss EASTERN AIRLINES and was proud to be a part of the EASTERN FAMILY. Well thanks for listening and hope evryone is doing fine until next time. In memory of RON BYRD, SR.

name: Jerry Stremovihtg
Date: Saturday, June 15, 2002
Time: 05:43:30 AM

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In the early part of 1970 or 71 , after spring break in Daytona Beach,Florida, I flew back to Buffalo, N.Y., Where I had been living since 1969. I had flown Eastern to and from Atlanta and Daytona as I had attended Ga. Tech., but went through junior and senior high in Daytona. They were always pleasant and convenient flights. The last time I flew on Easterb was the return trip to Buffalo, and made the mistake of checking my old Gibson acoustic electric guitar as baggage. It was in a soft case of the almost paper black coated type. Bad judgement on my part, Needless to say, when I picked up my guitar after the flight it had a large hole in the back about the size of someone's foot. I was quite sad, as I had picked up the guitar in Daytona from my family with the intentions of continuing to learn where I had left off a few years earlier. Well, anyhow, I made a report for damages, and took the guitar home. A few months later Eastern sent me a check for $25! Yahoo! I was even more disapppointed as it was an old and in very good shape (at least until the hole was in the back of it)model of Gibson's first electric and acoustic flat top guitars. My next mistake was taking it back to the claims dept. and leaving it with them for evaluation, as they had requested, as $25 was not even close to the repair or loss. Well, I never got my guitar back and never cashed that BIG $25 check! I still have the check(which makes me laugh),and it was never cashed, as a not so fond memory of the guitar incident. The claim was never settled. Who knows? Maybe somebody got it and went on to be a big music star. I eventually became a DJ out of my love for music. Always said I was a "frustrated musician", being that I couldn't play my own music, so I "played" other people's music instead on the turntables. I never did quite learn to play the guitar. Still, I wish I had that ol' Gibson. Darn, almost feels like ..........shoulda, coulda, woulda. Oh well! It was a sad thing the day Eastern Airlines died they were something. With much interest, I had read a biography of, Rickenbacher's life, and I believe he was a major factor in the management or president of Eastern. It seemed like such a success story, Too bad.........

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My Grandfather worked for EAL from I think the very start (or close to it) He was in Miami, Im not really sure what he did (mechanic I believe) ... Karl Zimmermann...I can remember when we would visit, he would take me to Victoria’s Station or Arthur Treacher’s and we would just watch the planes take off...he would tell me where each one was going… He passed away in the early 90s after a long battle with Alzheimer’s.. I really never got to chat with him about his days w/EAL, I have several of his photo albums from the 30’s on (mostly Army Air Corp photos) but several EAL ads and photos…If anyone knew him please feel free to email me

name: Neal W. Belmuth
Date: Tuesday, July 02, 2002
Time: 12:20:18 PM

memories

Everybody remembers their first time. There's something special about it. Mine came in late 1962 when I was twelve years of age. It was Early November. Eastern Airlines had just recently inaugurated "The Eastern Shuttle," between New York's LaGuardia Airport and Washington D.C. I had an Aunt and Uncle with a couple of cousins who lived in Chevy Chase Maryland, and I begged my Father to let me fly the Shuttle to visit them for a weekend. My father consented, although my mother had great trepidations about her little boy flying all by himself. I couldn't wait. The weeks dragged by as long years while I fidgeted through school days which lasted months. Finally the big Friday Evening of my departure arrived. My father, having returned from work in New York City, drove me and my suitcase to LaGuardia Airport. My heart skipped a beat or two as the airport came into view from the Cross Island Parkway. I could see the running lights of planes taking off and landing in the distance.

The Eastern Shuttle was revolutionary for its time: There was no check-in. One went directly from the parking lot, through the terminal entrance, and right to the gate. Once an hour, those who had accumulated at the gate were boarded. No ticket, no boarding pass. I suppose it must be difficult for young people to imagine but there was no security in 1962. Anyone could walk through almost any part of the terminal, and out onto the tarmac for that matter, without being stopped or anyone looking askance.

My father, who was himself a member of the 100,000 mile club, (This being somewhat outdated today, but in the era of Piston-Powered Aircraft was much more of an accomplishment than now.) Escorted me through the door and onto the tarmac and together we walked up the boarding ramp. In those days, there was no other way to board an airplane. you walked outside and climbed the boarding stairs. It was a chilly, somewhat drizzly evening. There in front of me was, without question, the most beautiful aircraft I had ever seen: A Lockheed Super Constellation painted in the traditional Eastern Airlines Colors of the period, with the distinctive red-eagle painted on the Connie's signature triple-tail. I walked up the stairs in front of my father, savoring each step. I was really going to fly in an airplane today!

At the top of the boarding stairs was the most beautiful lady I had ever seen. More glamorous than any Hollywood movie star, she was the elegantly uniformed Eastern Stewardess. (I have always been unhappy with the replacement designation of "Flight Attendant." The American Heritage dictionary defines a Steward as one who is entrusted to manage another's valuables, property, finances or other affairs. Surely this is a dignified and accurate description for the smiling Eastern employee to whom my father was entrusting his oldest son.) The Stewardess knelt down and with a smile more brilliant than the control tower's searchlight, said "Hello young man, welcome aboard." With that she pinned a pair of shiny tin wings on my shirt. As I stood admiring my new wings, my father asked if his son could see the cockpit. (Another traditional term which as fallen to the sword of political correctness: It's now "The Flight Deck.") The Stewardess turned and ushered me into the Super Constellation's nose. There was utterly no security in the early 1960's, and children being allowed a look over the Captain's shoulder was by no means a rarity. I remember a brief, well practiced speech by the Captain explaining what the controls did to make the plane fly, and that there were more instruments than I could comprehend. My father literally had to pull me away and shoo me toward the rear of the cabin to find a seat. There was no assigned seating on the Eastern Shuttle, it was first come, first choice. With a practiced eye, my dad selected one of the most aft window seats for me. Perhaps it seems odd to today's traveler, but it was usual for non-traveling family to accompany children or other relatives aboard an aircraft, sort of like the way they do to see someone off on a cruise ship. At the appropriate time, about ten minutes prior to take off the announcement would be made for "Those not intending to fly with us today to please depart the aircraft at this time." My dad gave me a mock salute, turned and said "Take good care of him." as he squeezed passed the stewardess to toward the exit.

The Super Constellation had a very nice lounge area located in the tail area. I sat in my rear seat, and after we took off, I could run from one side of the lounge to the other so as to have a great view. I felt fortunate that there were very few other passengers on the plane. The Eastern Shuttle flew "Every hour, on the hour," regardless of whether it was full or populated with only a few passengers. The advertising of the day even promised that, should there be more passengers than the plane had capacity, Eastern would roll out another plane!

As I mentioned, there was no ticketing prior to the flight. After take-off, the beverage cart was used by the crew as a rolling ticket counter. When my turn came, I handed the Stewardess a twenty dollar bill my father had given me, and she issued a ticket, the original copy of which she kept, and handed me the ticket folder and receipt carbon copy... She also handed me seven dollars change. That's right: It cost the amazing sum of $13.00 to fly Eastern Airline's beautiful Super Constellation from New York to Washington DC! I should like to point out that the Lockheed Super Constellation had the distinction of being chosen as the very first Air Force One in history. President Eisenhower was the first U.S. President to have his own aircraft. I saved that ticket copy for years, although I confess it's long lost now.

The flight took up forty five of some of the most enjoyable minutes of my young life. After touchdown, I remember what seemed like a long period of taxiing and turning, passing countless little blue runway lights. Finally, the plane was parked in front of the terminal and it was time for me to leave. As I prepared to make my exit from the Super Constellation, One of the Stewardesses smiled at me and said "Thank you for Flying Eastern, I hope you will fly with us again soon." So did I!

I don't really remember what I did at my Aunt and Uncle's house that weekend, only that I couldn't wait for my return trip on Sunday Night.

In the intervening years I've flown many different airlines in many different aircraft, from single engine two-seaters to DC-10's, L1011's and 747's with more seats than a movie theatre, but that first flight in the fall of 1962 on the Eastern Airlines Super Constellation always sticks in my mind. You never forget your first time!

PS. The shuttle concept was later to be copied by American and other airlines. In an era of regulated air travel, Eastern was the pioneer and had radically changed the way people traveled between Boston, New York, and Washington DC.

name: Hector I. Aponte
Date: Tuesday, July 09, 2002
Time: 10:47:27 PM

memories

Wow, It was back in 1968 at the tender age of 8 when I flew to New York (to live) from my land of Puerto Rico in an Eastern airlines DC-8...sitting by the window next to the roaring engines at over 25 or 30 feet in the air. Despite how little and young I was, I remember it like it was yesterday. I even built model planes of EAL jets from the DC-8 to the 3 motor L1011's. That's how obsessed I was with Eastern airlines. The EAL crew on board provided such care, kindness and professionalism to all passengers aboard and that is something passengers take with them for the rest of their lives...I know I have till this day.

Seeing the pilot, the co-pilot, and engineer at those massive controls and instrument dials and the stewardesses made all of us feel safe and secure despite what mother nature had in store while in the skies. Now with Internet technology, I wanted to go back to EAL roots from the start by looking at various websites....Those colors on the EAL Electra plane were so beautiful and attractive as were the modern colors on White, with Aluminum polish look made them easy to spot.

But looking at some photos of EAL plane damage, accidents, and even those still on the desert with such beautiful colors fading away made me very sad and angry. I just get back flashes being on those planes especially looking at the photos over and over again.

Service given by EAL is not found or unsurpassed today by any other airline standards. They try to offer care and service like you once did but there is no comparison for me and people I spoken to that travel and truly miss EAL. In my adulthood at age 43, I still remember some of the slogans and commercials that made passengers want to travel with EAL:

In closing, I want to say to the EAL pilots, stewardess, mechanics, and other EAL personnel that wanted to keep this airline flying: Job well done, God speed, bless you all and thank you for providing such outstanding service and passenger care at Eastern Airlines. You all were like family to me and millions of passengers before me. You (EAL crew) and the fleet of EAL jets will be truly missed.

name: Jorge L. Gonzalez
Date: Thursday, July 11, 2002
Time: 10:20:06 AM

memories

I worked for EAL for 13 years (SJU, MIA, ATL). I have many fond memomories and others not so nice. There are many stories to tell, this one I still laugh about when I remember it.

It was late 1990, I was a Zone Manager for Airside Passenger Services at ATL. Got a call from "the tower" (EA's own operations tower on top of Concourse C) that flight 87 from LAX needed a manager to meet the flight and that the paramedics would be there too. Not much more info than that.

So I was there to meet ship 305, an L-1011 inbound from LAX. The F/A told me that there was an old man (94 years old) who had gone to one of the lavatories in the rear of the plane and while siting on toilet went Tango-Uniform (died) (ever heard of the mile high dying club?), anyway, since Flt 87 was a through flight going to MIA and the flight was a little late and we had a short turn around, we did not want to disembark all the through passengers, but at the same time, did not wanted to let all the people know that the old man had died in the lavatory.

I talked to the paramedics and decided to carry the old dude in one of the isle wheelchairs, straped to it, without letting anyone know he was dead. So that's what we did. As we were wheeling the old man out, my boss (whose name is withheld for the protection of his reputation) came into the a/c and asked me: "How is he doing?" needless to say, with passenger all around us, I told him "he'll be fine, he is sedated now". The my boss proceeded to talk to the dead dude, telling him: "Sir, don't worry, everything will be fine, we will take care of you." I just wanted to burst out laughing, but could not, as we wakled down the isle, he kept on talking to the dead man.

Once out of the a/c in the jetway, I told him the actual story, he turned red like a tomato and stormed off the jetway. I thought that from that day on my job was in jeopardy, but Eastern went bankrupt before I had time to find out.

name: Sandra Alexander (Mickle)
Date: Thursday, July 11, 2002
Time: 11:22:28 PM

memories

I was hired by Delta and Eastern at the same time. 20 years with Eastern has never been a mistake.

name: Pat Colgan Duffy
Date: Sunday, July 14, 2002
Time: 07:22:32 PM

memories

With the mention of the Jimmy Fund lately because of Ted Williams, I was reminded of EAL in Boston. We were a big supporter of the Jimmy Fund and people would donate $10.00 for a quick flight. This was probably around 78 or 79 when Bos res opened. Many of us volunteered,(I somehow got coerced to be in a Snoopy suit,) and many others walked around terminal A in flight attendant uniforms from the past, hot pants, boots and all,(must have been a 60's uniform.) What fun!

memories

Eastern was a great place to work. I think of the flight benefits everytime I pay and have to ride coach on some discount airlines. You will never find a more dedicated group then the Eastern employees that worked all over I am partial to MCI but I also worked MIA and ATL.

memories

My father worked for Eastern for many years. I am sure you remember him as Johnny Johnston. When I was young, maybe 7-9, we lived in Houston and then San Antonio. We were from Huntsville Alabama and still had Grandparents there. With the pass benefits we could fly to Huntsville on a regular basis. We almost always flew on Prop-Jet Electras and I fell in love with that plane. I was invited many times to the cockpit where I could ride behind the pilots for a while. I fell in love with flying while the Pilots enjoyed making me smile. Because of the interest they showed in me, I was able to learn to fly and get my license a month after graduating high school.

Now Dad is not involved in aviation and I too have gone another path. But the memories of flying on that airplane will be with me for the rest of my life. I wish I could see the pilots again, and fly with them one more time. I wish Eastern could reform and get back into business but I know that is impossible. But good luck to all of you who made the airline what is was.

memories

i worked for EAL as a ramp rat in ATL for the final year..as a kid growing up in Atlanta i allways begged my parents to fly Eastern when we travelled,i guess i liked the paint job..anyway,,i knew i wanted to work to Eastern and was so happy to get a job with them on the ground..The day EAL went under was one of the worst days of my life...Now im a Flight Attendant with Continental Airlines and still love flying,but i will never forget..The Wings of Man and the people that made Eastern,America`s Favorite Way to Fly...God bless you all!

memories

Does anyone have any information to help me locate my Aunt, Winnie Gilbert..she was VP Inflight Eastern many years ago...any leads would be appreciated...thank-you

memories

name: Ed (Pete) Petersen,
Date: Monday, July 29, 2002
Time: 08:21:53 AM

memories

Just found your site and I think it's great. I worked for EAL 56/89. Started as an apprentice then on to BOS as a line mech & as an inspector Also as an inspector in NDT Mia.

memories

Im an eastern brat. yep, not an employee but a snot nosed miniture version of one. My mom Catherine Jensen worked in Atlanta while i was in kindergarden until it closed(im now 19 so that was a long long long time ago). I've still got my I love eastern shirt! My twin and myself got to check out the inside of the cockpit one day when mom brought us to eastern it was great. It was the coolest thing to be able to say i sat on an airplane engine (Ive got pictures to prove it!) It was kinda a family thing my uncle Ralph Lepore worked there too, dont worry hes not as grumpy now as he was back in the day. Even now we still have eastern stuff floating around. I wish i could remember more but its been a while i remember how mom use to come in after busting her butt all day and be covered in grease. and the trips id take with my grandparents because of her employee discount. I gotta say it was pretty neat being an eastern brat.

memories

hi i joined eastern on 11/15/1956 as an electrician on four engine electric line maint. i retired as manager of n.d.t.in miami in 1986 after thirty years of service at age 55. like every thing in life i had my ups and downs but i did make a good living and enjoyed my life there.the work i enjoyed most was in the ndt department as each day brought a new inspection and a new way of accomplishing it.and i still miss the air line life and all the great people that worked there. ed. brown

name: cyndee scholz,
Date: Thursday, August 01, 2002
Time: 04:26:28 PM

memories

The worst fights ever for F/As were the short haul full meal services on a DC9 with just TWO,yes, TWO F/As...... Remember LGA to YUL?????? How did we ever do it??? Now days, they hand you your snack BEFORE you get on the plane!!!!! And in those days we had Heels and skirts....PA checks and all....... We are SURVIVORS!

memories

You were great, I always enjoyed going to Walt Disney World on " The Offcial Airline Of Walt Disney World"! Is their a chance of Eastern ever being reborn? Keep me posted.

name: Marshall H. Massengale
Date: Monday, August 12, 2002
Time: 11:32:20 PM

memories

I have many fond memories of having flown Eastern Air Lines, but my favorite was in having travelled from MDW to ATL in June, 1959 aboard one of Eastern's brand new Lockheed L-188 Electras. I was eight at the time, but well recall how exciting it was. At the time, these aircraft wore the smartest looking livery of any anywhere. Picked out in navy with red nacelles, red spinners, a Golden Falcon emblem forward, a great red falcon gracing the tail and great letters over the windows inviting one and all to "Fly Eastern's Prop-Jet Electra."

This was the golden age of air travel with all the trappings and superlatives that defined the ultimate in air travel luxury, comfort and convenience.

name: Tammie McSwain
Date: Tuesday, August 20, 2002
Time: 08:30:54 AM

memories

I worked in CLT RES for 11 years-1978-1989(the best days of my life). Even to this day, I can't believe Eastern is gone. My husband still tells me to get over this (after 13 years). It's still very hard as Eastern was a family to me. I was the youngest reservations agent in Charlotte when I started at 18 years old. I saw many places that I would have never gotten to see. My parents enjoyed all of their travel as well. I have owned and operated a prominent dance studio for the past 12 years - we have danced on Carnival Cruise Lines, danced in NYC, won many national titles and will be in Barbados in 2003. It's just hard to have to pay for those air line tickets now! If there's anyone from CLT RES reading this, please e-mail me.

memories

I have two fond memories of EASTERN AIRLINES. I miss you alot EASTERN. You were my first job, I remember I needed to wait until I turned 18 to be hired by you, I couldn't even be interviewed until I turned 18. When my mother got the message, I was washing my brand new Firebird. She told me and I was dancing on the roof of my just washed brand new car! My second memory was while working in reservations, right before Christmas, an older spanish lady called, she wasn't going to celebrate the holidays since her sister just died, her family was in Puerto Rico, she changed her mind at the last minute. but the fares were so expensive she could not afford to go. She had finally decided to spend the holidays with the family she had left, the call was difficult, she cried telling me the story(I had the newspaper in my briefcase and her story checked out, her name was listed as the deceased sister. I called FT. Apache, we got her a flight, if you thought I heard tears before , It was my most memorable experience, I thought of her all day on Christmas. I sure hope she enjoyed the day as much as I did. Being alone during the holidays sucks for anyone for any reason. I love you all , my EASTERN family. Not till the last one of us is gone will the memory of our airline die! Regards, TJ

memories

I began working for Miami’s Eastern Airlines Flight Simulator Department in February 1973 and left a few days before the big crash on February 28, 1989. Since then I worked for the U.S. Naval Observatory in Dade County and then the last 4 -1/2 years in Washington, DC until retiring and returning to Florida. Every now and then I pass the china cabinet and see the 50-year coin we all got. It brings back memories.

We had about 33 technicians and 6 or 7 engineering specialists in the department in February 1989. Many of my coworkers went to other airlines and some to other industries. A few of them retired early before the end and a few of them are still in contact with me today. Several of them have passed on. I have many fond and not so fond memories of working there. That’s life. I get a small pension from PBGC (Eastern). The IRS tells me I am still owed a small pension from Eastern, but there is no Eastern Air Lines to ask about it now. Could never find out of Eastern still has any kind of business office open.

memories

name: John Moffitt
Date: Monday, September 16, 2002
Time: 03:48:48 AM

memories

I never worked for Eastern but I used to fly on Eastern. The other day in the local thrift shop, I came across a china serving dish for 69 cents. I turnerd it over and it was stamped "Eastern Airlines" I bought it and it now accupies a prime place with my collection of other defunct airline's dishes (TCA, Western, CP Air, Canadian Airlines International, etc, etc)

There is nothing as constant as change...unfortunately...and sometimes I curse the changes that take place in our lives. Values decline, and standards diminish as we hurtle towards a global economy of mediocrity.

My best wishes to every ex-Easterner...and I remember the days when flying was a real joy.

name: Walt. Carvalho
Date: Thursday, September 19, 2002
Time: 12:13:21 AM

memories

I was a lead ramp/svc.Ewr-57-end. Nicest memories were the co. picnics, and attending weddings of employee offsprings,traveling to play softball system wide and how i enjoyed going to work pre %$^&*%$#^&%$ Lorenzo.Am still in touch with R/s J Mindo,R Gesumaria, J Carlucci, F Desantis,Ae Lou Brown, Sal Gambino

memories

My name is Bill and i was an avid "easterner". On your equipment list you don't have the B757. Some years ago i flew from Puerto Rico to Boston and was aboard a "brand new" still in the wrapper 757. The captain announced that it was the newest plane in the Eastern fleet. I miss eastern and "doing the shuttle" (many funny stories there on snowy friday nights heading out of LaGuardia) So best update the equipment list- you guys did fly the 757 for a short time before "The end"

name: MORRIS CROWDER, JR.
Date: Tuesday, October 01, 2002
Time: 04:45:58 PM

memories

ONLY BEAUTIFUL MEMORIES REMAIN WITH ME. EASTERN BY FAR WAS ONE OF THE BEST AIRLINES. MY VERY FIRST FLIGHT WAS ABOARD A BOEING 727-123 "WHISPERJET" AND THOSE BEAUTIFUL MEMORIES OF THAT FLIGHT REMAIN WITH ME AND THAT OCCURRED ON AUG. 23, 1967. I WAS ONLY 17. I WORKED ALL SUMMER LONG SO I COULD TAKE THAT FIRST FLIGHT AND I ACTUALLY SAVED ENOUGH MONEY SO I COULD GO FIRST CLASS. FLEW OUT OF WASHINGTON NATIONAL AIRPORT ON A REAL CLEAR DAY. FROM THAT FLIGHT, I WAS HEAD- OVER - HEALS IN LOVE WITH AVAITION - ESPECIALLY COMMERICAL AIRCRAFT. BUT MY REAL LOVE WITH EASTERN STARTED WHEN I FLEW ON THE "ELECTRA". THE ELECTRA REALLY WAS MY LOVE. HOW IT COULD CLIMB AND THE SOUND OF THOSE BIG ALLISON TURBOPROPS. EVERY CHANCE I FLEW, IF I COULD FIND A ELECTRA FLIGHT, I WOULD SELECT IT OVER THE JET. THERE WAS JUST SOMETHING WARM AND WONDERFUL ABOUT THIS PLANE. EVEN WHEN THE ELECTRA WENT TOTALLY INTO THE AIR-SHUTTLE, I WOULD TRY MY BEST TO WAIT OUT AND SEE IF THE BACKUP PLANE WOULD BE AN ELECTRA. MOST PEOPLE WOULD LAUGH AT ME FOR MY RESPECT FOR THE LOCKHEED, BUT THIS PLANE WAS TOTALLY ONE I LOVED. MOST EASTERN EMPLOYEES THAT I REMEMBER WERE NICE AND VERY CONSIDERATE OF THE LOYAL TRAVELERS. MR. RICHARD VAN DILLEN WHO WAS DISTRICT SALES MANAGER OF EASTERN (RICHMOND BYRD AIRPORT), I WILL NEVER FORGET. HE WAS A TRUE GENTLEMAN AND SO EVER HELPFUL. HE TRULY BELIEVE IN GOOD COMMERICAL AVIATION, AND BELIEVED IN THE PEOPLE OF EASTERN. BUT THANK GOD THERE WAS THE REAL EASTERN I TRAVELED WITH BEFORE THE VERY LATTER DAYS AND THE DEMISE OF THE TRUE AIRLINE. EASTERN WILL ALWAYS BE APART OF MY PERSONAL MEMORIES, AND A COMPANY THAT ALWAYS BROUGHT ENJOYMENT IN MY LIFE. MAY GOD BLESS ALL THE "HARD WORKING" PEOPLE OF EASTERN THAT WERE NEVER ACKNOWLEDGED FOR THE KIND DEEDS, CONCERN FOR THE SAFETY OF ITS' PASSENGERS AND CREWS, AND MOST OF ALL, THE VERY ONES THAT MADE EASTERN THE GREAT AIRLINE IT "TRULY" WAS. IF ANY EASTERN EMPLOYEE, EITHER PILOT, CO-PILOT, STEWARDESSES THAT WORKED ON ELECTRA FLIGHTS WOULD LIKE TO CORRESPOND, PLEASE FEEL TO DROP A LINE (BY MAIL PLEASE) TO MORRIS CROWDER, JR., 606 JAMES AVENUE, COLONIAL HEIGHTS, VIRGINIA 23834.

name: MORRIS CROWDER, JR.
Date: Wednesday, October 02, 2002
Time: 05:30:48 PM

memories

LEFT MEMORIES YESTERDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2002. HAVE BEEN THINKING ABOUT HOW WONDERFUL THIS WEBSITE IS. ENJOYED BROWSING EAL EMPLOYEES LIST. I HAVE PICTURES OF CREW MEMBERS (I ALWAYS HAD MY CAMERA WHENEVER I TRAVELED ANYWHERE) AND ALWAYS FOUND THE WAY TO KEEP UP WITH THE NAMES AS TO WHO WAS WHO. I HAD OFTEN WONDERED WHAT HAD BECOME OF THESE PEOPLE. MANY, MANY MEMORIES BELIEVE ME. I APPLIED TO WORK FOR EASTERN AFTER FINISHING SCHOOL. BELIEVE IT OR NOT, I WAS INTERVIEWED ONCE BY EASTERN, AND ONCE BY UNITED. BOTH GENTLEMEN THAT INTERVIEWED ME SAID THAT I WAS "OVER QUALIFIED". THEY FOUND IT INTERESTING THOUGH THAT SOMEONE 17 YEARS OLD KNEW EVERY FLIGHT THAT ARRIVED IN RICHMONDS' RICHARD E. BYRD FIELD (NOW KNOWN AS RIC INTERNATIONAL - WHAT A LAUGH NOW!) AND IT'S SCHEDULE. EASTERN HAD A MAJORITY OF L188 FLIGHTS, BOEING 727-125 JETS, AND DC-9-31 JETS. BUT I WAS HONESTLY TOLD THAT I WAS OVERQUALIFIED FOR ANY JOB WITH A COMMERICAL CARRIER. APPARENTLY TOO MUCH LOVE FOR THE BUSINESS, AND IT SHOWED. I DID NOT SEE AN EASTERN EMPLOYEES NAME (MILES LINTON) THAT WORKED GROUND OPERATIONS AROUND THE AIRCRAFT-LOADING FREIGHT AND BAGGAGE. HE STILL LIVES IN THE SANDSTON AREA AT THE AIRPORT. ALSO A CHARLES PORTER, JR. (FLIGHT ATTENDANT) ALSO LIVES IN THE ATLANTA AREA. ATL WAS HIS HOME BASE. WILL TRY TO PASS ON THEIR ADDRESSES SOON. I WOULD LOVE TO BELONG TO THIS GROUP OF FINE PEOPLE, BUT COULD NOT GET A JOB JUST LOVED THE SMELL OF KEROSINE, THE WHINE OF THE PRATT WHITNEYS, THE ALLISON TURBOPROPS - JUST A LOT OF LOVE THERE. IF THERE IS ANY WAY THAT I CAN HELP (BESIDES THE DONATION), PLEASE ALEXA, LET ME KNOW. YOU CAN CONTACT ME: MORRIS B. CROWDER, JR., 606 JAMES AVENUE, COLONIAL HEIGHTS, VIRGINIA 23834 . DO NOT EMAIL AT ME EMAIL ADDRESS. JUST KEEP UP THE WORK. MAY GOD BLESS THOSE SOULS THAT HAVE GONE ON, AND MAY HE BLESS THOSE DEDICATED INDVIDUALS THAT MADE EASTERN WHAT EASTERN WAS. I WOULD GIVE ANYTHING TO SEE THOSE GRAND ELECTRA'S AND HEARING THAT MIGHTY SOUND THOSE ALLISONS MADE. TAKE CARE.

name: Dennis Calvert -1979-1991
Date: Friday, October 04, 2002
Time: 01:19:30 PM

memories

Best years of my life!! Just out of junior college,and got hired by EASTERN as a flight attendant based in MIA....What a great airline we were!

I'm from the small town of Fountain Inn,South Carolina USA, so wasn't much happening in town ,so I got out.......Most favorite memory was while in-flight..DC-9-30 service from ATL-GSP...Female movie star Kathleen Turner was on board,and some other male passengers were taunting,and daring her to hike up her skirt,and show the rear we had all seen in the movie "BODY HEAT"...

After she had enough of the joking from them she promptly asked if I would pull the curtain to the coach class pax.And, she hiked it up for all the guys in first class to see. What a sight!(EAL)-N-my heart!

memories

While I was never an employee of EAL, my parents met while working for EAL at MIA in the late 1940's. My mom is Ann Chesney, she remembers making morning "wake up" calls for passengers. My father, Walt Chesney was involved in MIA cargo, training and other areas on the MIA field. I grew up loving Eastern - I remember taking a limo from the STL CTO to to the airport a perk provided by Eastern! Everyone always had some kind of story about being "bumped" in ATL, MEM or some God forsaken place. It's been fun reading everyone's memories about EAL, and sadly, the early workers, the ones who started in the late 40's are passing away. They are the one's with the best stories. The days before computers- remember taking a reservation on a card?and open overhead compartments?, and dressing up for a flight? and no "jet-aways"? Anyway, thanks for the memories.

name: earl thomas (tom) webber
Date: Saturday, October 12, 2002
Time: 06:11:12 PM

memories

first day feb 20, 1956: as I got off the van from the hangar to the line I heard a crunching sound. as I looked out at the runway I saw a Capital Airlines Viscount rolling down the runway with the gear up. I remember thinking to myself"wow! what an exciting job!" now after 46 years in aviation I'm a ramp rat(part time) at american at mia. it don't get any better than this............

memories

In 1956 I came to Miami to train as a stewardess. The training took place at The beautiful Miami Springs Villas ( no long exists). I met my husband to be the first night I arrived. I completed the training, had two flights and got married! We purchased our first home in Miami Springs by the airport. We had our first child there and later moved to North Miami Beach, Fl. We now have 3 children and have been married 46 years this month. I have a great deal to to be thankful to Eastern airlines for--Eastern truly gave me my wings. I would love to hear from any of my classmates! Remember Art Bruns?

memories

I think, that one if, the best evenings, at work, was when, "The Dynamic Duo", was asked to work, "overtime", for a, private aircraft. This was in, 1975. We decided to stay and work, "the flight".

The "Plane", was the, "Lisa Marie". The "passenger, was, "THE KING", of, "Rock and Roll".

We parked, the plane and "hooked up", ground power. Set the stairs, then, watched. First came, the, "Memphis mafia", then, "Linda Thompson", (in, "Hot Pants", I'll never forget that) then, "THE KING", of, "ROCK and ROLL".

He walked down the stairs, looked around and "said". "Hope, "You Guys" take care of, "My Plane".

name: Shirley Guerrero
Date: Sunday, October 20, 2002
Time: 08:26:02 PM

memories

EAL not only impacted its employee’s lives but EAL’s employee’s children’s lives as well. My Dad worked for EAL in JFK from 1974 to 1989. EAL every Christmas would have someone dress as Santa Claus for the employee kids. I was around 6 years old and will always remember one specific Christmas Time when all of EAL's employee's kids were in a hanger in JFK. We were awaiting for Santa Clause to arrive and when he finally did the hanger door slid open and all the kids faces were in awe to see outside a huge plane with Santa coming down the stairs of it! Another great memory was prior to the first, it was when MENUDO arrived at NYC and chose EAL as their airline carrier, my Dad decided to take his three little girls to meet them. At the last moment I was the only one to go because my father decided to punish both my eldest sister and second oldest because my eldest sister had scored a low grade on a test. My father’s motto was if one gets punished the other does as well. I was only 4 yrs old. I was of no state in understanding wrong so of course I was the lucky one to go, WOOOHOOOOO, ha, ha, ha HA! I remember it like it was yesterday…boy did they envy me and still do! Then there were those memories when I would go with my dad and older sisters to picket lines and yell out: HEY HEY HO HO Frank Lorenzo’s GOTTA GO! It’s sad how good things in life come to an end. So many great memories EAL brought to our family. Eastern Airlines how greatly you are missed! Thank you Alexa from the bottom of my heart for allowing my Dad, myself and all the other EAL employee’s and their family to have a website where they can recall such beautiful memories that were all due to EAL. No other airline could ever compete with EAL or its employees they had such pride and were extremely courteous and caring. It was not just an airline, Eastern Airlines was indeed a FAMILY!

name: Allan Findlay
Date: Tuesday, October 29, 2002
Time: 09:31:25 PM

memories

A rampserviceman in '84 --- then almost 5 years as a Flight Attendant. What a cool experience. How about powering back a B-757 in Atlanta ! --wow. How about the "gong section" on the B727-100. ---What in the world does that stand for?? Meals served between LGA-YUL, --what was that all about? Lobster tails in the galley of the L-1011 headed for Acapulco --I saw someone eat 20 one time.

What a great famiy at EAL ! Thanks to all the EAL Pilots ( and my F/A wife ),who encouraged me to persue flying. It took 10 years, but I made it. A-320 F/O. Thanks for your guidance. You guys are the best, wherever you are!

I have worked at alot of airlines since EAL and have never been treated as well as a non-rev as I was back in the 80's. We knew how to do it!

name: Jim Albrecht
Date: Tuesday, November 05, 2002
Time: 07:36:01 PM

memories

I know this is a strange question, but I was wondering if anyone had any good pictures of the old 727/DC-9 bulkheads with the tan and brown cloud designs of the 70s/80s? I think they also had a little blue Eastern logo flying across them. If so, I would love to hear from you. Thanks!

name: jerome Henry,
Date: Monday, November 11, 2002
Time: 06:57:07 PM

memories

when I was 14,I was allowed to roam inside an Eastern DC-4,at newark airport. I was the only one in the aircraft. As i was sitting in the captains seat.a mechanic walked in and told me not to touch a certain handle, as it would collapse the landing gear. And he walked out,leaving me alone,apparently not concerned.

name: Donna Cusano
Date: Tuesday, November 12, 2002
Time: 10:09:19 AM

memories

I worked for your ad agency, Campbell-Ewald, for one year (1987-April 1988) mainly on the OnePass frequent flyer introduction and the Air-Shuttle. Many a time I was down for meetings in MIA at HQ. I remember on staff: George Brennan, Linda Collins, Bob Wolf, Jen Montague, Mike Ribero. I have a particularly poignant memory of the Rickenbacker fountain in the front of the building, dry and neglected. I also had family in EA operations--Stu Kelley in ATL control center, my former cousin-in-law. Does anyone remember him?

But the end was near and inevitable. Shortly before I left C-E for an ad manager position at Avis, we were working on the bankruptcy plan. And shortly before EA changed agencies some months later, the long-time EVP at C-E, a wonderful man named Joe Karle, died suddenly of a coronary. Not everyone who "gave all" got an EA paycheck.

name: Cyndy (Mitchell) Nicholson
Date: Tuesday, November 12, 2002
Time: 01:00:44 PM

memories

Some of my fond memories are of all of us...Cyndy Rhodes, Micky Sax, Rose LaChance, Shelly Slaine, Maureen Fontana, flying endless years of New York turns. If you could fly those, you could fly anything..It was great times...Hello to all.

memories

I was an F/A for a number of small charter airline that no longer exsist.My first choice was Eastern to work for.To me Eastern was the highest standard of Safety,Comfort and Service,not sometimes but always.

When I was a kid I would stand on Rockaway Beach with a telescope and watch the DC-7B's and Super G connies making there approach to JFK.On the side was a Golden Falcon pointing the way and red spinners on the propellers was just the rite touch.

It has been said that once you experience flight you will always look up.Well I do almost eveyday and am pround to have served in a profession shared by what I call the Family Of The Golden Falcons.

I also remember how nice Eastern Flight Attendants were to us non-scheds when we would be dead heading home after 12 days on the road.If there was space in F/C they were happy to let us "up front".Not only the flightdeck crew but us too.

So thanks again Eastern for all you folks have done and dam I would love to see the Falcon rise up once again over the soft blue of the South Atlantic.

memories

Sure miss Eastern. I am now owner of a travel agency in Gainesville, Florida and everywhere I go to any and all travel related events, when people find out I worked for EAL, there is an instant comraderie and far-off, wistful look in their eye. Eastern is truly missed by the aviation industry. When I talk to airline personnel about EA, there is an instant connection.

I started on the ticket counter at MIA in 1965. We didn't have computers then and hand-wrote all tickets. I remember the day the "efficiency experts" came & timed us in writing a ticket (even down to how long it took to write "Miami" on the ticket). We didn't know how to type. We called MIA REZ and they told us all the flight info and we wrote it on tickets. Remember Sqires Tariffs? That was a series of books each ticket counter had that contained every airlines fares, individually, between every city. You had to look up each one and figure out the fares. We missed calling REZ (got VERY cozy with a few of those gals). Actually, we lobbied for a pay raise if computers were to be installed at the counters, because we felt we were doing the work of two people, REZ and ATO. Actually, we really wanted to keep talking to the rez agents.

I worked all the shifts, from 5am starts to midnight shifts, with Del Allen and Pete Parker, Mr. Sirmans, etc, etc. I also worked the employee standby counter, where we gave out standby numbers for employee pass riders. And who can't forget the "Nostril Inspection" position at the flight info counter, where passengers were standing in front of you looking up at the flight info board!

I started flying lessons on my days off at Flight Safety in Vero Beach and wanted to be a pilot for EAL. As I accumulated enough hours to start becoming competitive, Vietnam started winding down and guys were coming in with hundreds of hours of jet time, compared to my Cessna and Piper time. I eventually got my Commercial, Instrument and Multi-engine ratings, but never quite enough time for Eastern. United had a program at one time that accepted pilots with 60 hours and a private license, but I had a couple years with EA and couldn't see losing that! Seniority was everything! In fact, Mohawk Airlines offered me a job, but I sure didn't want to be flying around upstate NY during the winter! No, No! Stay with Eastern, stay with Eastern! In fact, one day a guy came and talked to every person on duty at the EA counter in MIA. He was working for a little airline at the other end of the terminal and they were going to build up their presence in MIA and needed experienced agents to come work for them. They offered to credit us with half our seniority with EA to work for them, but I enjoyed traveling too much, had 3 whole years with EAL at the time, and this little startup just flew mostly out of the New Orleans area. I wanted to stay with the big guys, not some little local-yokel pretender who was named after a geographic area of a river in southern Louisiana. I would only have 1.5 years seniority with this little airline called Delta. Eastern would always be there for me!

We had a lot of celebrities pass through MIA; Jackie Kennedy, who always drew a crowd (and knew it!), Connie Francis (who later sued EAL because a fellow passenger harrassed her on a flight), and on and on. Three celebrities I remember the most that I took care of; Bob Hope (who carried his own luggage & insisted that we not make a fuss over him),Cary Grant, who I had to tell that his flight was 90 minutes late (he was unbelieveably calm about it; JoAnn Cremmata came right out and ushered him into the VIP room) and Colonel Harlan Sanders of Kentucky Fried Chicken fame (he slapped his cane right on top of my counter when he came up to check in and it sounded just like a rifle shot that echoed throughout the terminal).

Worked the counter, gates, baggage svc until about 1970, when I got fed up with Miami and wanted a little simpler life. I had gone to high school in Roanoke, VA and had a soft spot for the Blue Ridge Mountains. EAL had two daily 727's through ROA, a MIA-GSO-ROA-PIT-CLE flight and a return flight the same way. I called on the WATTS line after a particularly crazy day and said "Heard you might have an opening up there". I hadn't, but thought it might be a chance to at least find out if there was any future openings coming up. Imagine my shock when the agent, after hearing this crazy question out of the blue, put me on the phone with the station manager! He was just as incredulous! He wanted to know how the word had gotten out so quick! EAL had wanted to contract out our two flights to Piedmiont to handle, but PI wanted too much money to handle our flights. EA had made the decision to make ROA pay for itself and put about 5-8 flights through ROA daily. The ROA station manager had just been told that morning about EA's decision and now here was this agent on the phone inquiring about the need for another agent! He asked if I could come up for an interview, I had the next day off, and the next morning, I was on my way to ROA! My head was swimming, it was happening so fast. My wife was pregnant with our first child and, back then, out apartment didn't allow children. I took the job, my wife stayed in MIA while I lived in a motel in ROA and I started looking for a house. Six weeks later, I finally signed the papers on a house, sent the papers registered mail to my wife to sign, and went to work.

To my surprise, the station manager had been trying to get hold of me for a very important meeting. Coming up from MIA that morning were some big-wigs from HQ and all agents were to attend a meeting with them. I figured they were going to make the big announcement about the plans for ROA's expansion. NOT! Piedmont had chopped their offer in half to handle our flights and EA had decided to accept their offer! We were given the choice of layoff or transfer to another station. I got on the phone with my wife and told her, under no circumstances, sign those papers on our new house. Actually, Eastern paid my real estate agent the commission she would have earned on the sale, which was extremely generous.

This was in February and I had to use a cigarette lighter to unfreeze the iced-up lock on my VW that morning. I said, send me back to Florida! I wanted to go to MLB because of the space industry there, but was advised against it because MLB was on the cusp of closing. I chose Sarasota, a "sleepy little town" with 3 flights to ATL and 2 to TPA (at that time). Eight years later (and two kids born there), SRQ was booming with 8 flts to ATL, 5 to TPA, 1 to JFK, 3 to MIA and even a nonstop to CVG for a short time!

SRQ memories include the beginning of security checkponts and magnetometers. They chain-link fenced an area and put metal chairs for people to sit on, outside, in the sun (and rain) because we didn't have jetways for people to use. I also remember all those young flight attendants who had never seen lovebugs before and couldn't believe the agents when we told them about their "eternal bliss" behavior. I also caught a man stealing a passengers briefcase from the baggage claim area (even got a reward and an article and picture in the Falcon, EA's employee newspaper).

We had several pinball machines and after the last flight came in and we went off duty, we would play (wager) for hours afterward with the other airline employees and skycaps, sometimes until 3am!

The main runway at SRQ was pretty short and on hot days, we (the agents) actually had to drive over to US301 and stop traffic so the 727's could go onto the overrun area next to the road to start their takeoff roll; if not the jetblast would have literally blown the cars off the road. 301 was later rerouted and I doubt airline people would be able to do that nowdays.

Our last flight was scheduled in just before midnight, and the FAA decided to close the tower at midnight. Again, we agents would go out on tugs to the intersection of the runways with portable radios and give the pilots traffic observations (where and if other aircraft were in the pattern). Again, I don't think they could do that nowdays, but....

It was a fun and exciting time, but again the mid-30's crisis came along and I wanted to do someting else. I went to Human Resources in MIA and tested out as having an aptitude for computer programming. The pay was about double what an agent was making at the time, so I gave up my agent job in SRQ and went to work for System One in building 5A on 36th St in MIA. I rented a room in Miami Springs and commuted on the weekends to SRQ and the family. This was a big mistake. SYS1 took about 8 of us, with absolutely no computer skills and tried to make programmers out of us by shoving a programmers manual in front of us and letting us try to figure out how to do this new job. We had very little help. We worked in a small cubicle with an experienced programmer who we could try to get help from, but we had to interrupt their own programming to answer our simple questions! Our interruptions were not appreciated and they let us know about it! I could not stand too much of this. It was like playing a game of chess all day long. I felt cut off from the world and needed the human contact again.

I went back to Human Resources and asked to go back as an agent. I had given up my position in SRQ as an agent and EA was in the cut-back mode. The only opening for me, an employee with 15 years of experience would be in MIA as a part-time cleaner on the midnight shift! NO WAY! I went to the terminal very dejected, for the commute back to SRQ after my meeting with HR. I had a few minutes to spare, so I stopped in at MIA Operations under C concourse, where an old buddy of mine from the ticket counter days, Tom Webber, was working. I told him about my situation, he got up and went to talk to his supervisor, Bob Edwards, who came out and told me that Kathy Schied, a weight & balance agent there, was getting ready to go on maternity leave the next week and he needed a replacement! I couldn't believe it!

We moved back to Miami I worked in MIA OPS for about 4 years, doing weight and balance for all of EAL aircraft, from our DC9-30's to our L-1011's and 747's. It was fun and exciting, but I saw the management/union problems close up and got very tired of the constant bickering and friction. "Quick hours" was just an incredible concept to me, along with the other childish things happening on the management and union sides, which affected us as non-union employees and tore us (and the company) apart.

I wanted out of that environment and I wanted out of Miami, deciding that the crime scene was getting too close for me to want to raise my family there. A murder & rape in our condo complex at Trafalgar was the final straw and I put in for a transfer to anywhere out of South Florida.

Gainesville was our last stop. I got on as an agent at GNV and have never looked back. GNV is a wonderful town and an ideal place to raise a family. I have become a Gator through & through. It is a lot of fun to live in a college town. I worked on the ticket counter, operations, baggage service, gates, ramp and as Chief Agent all the way to EAL's last day. Actually, beyond EAL's last day.

Because of the pay-cuts we endured, I had started moonlighting as a travel agent. One night, one of my customers called and asked me what I could do for her as she had just heard that her flight had been cancelled for the next morning. I groaned, knowing that I would be there to handle 150 cancelled people the next morning, but I at least would be able to reroute her now for the next flight. No, she said, all the flights are cancelled! What?? I called the counter and was told to report as scheduled the next day, but that, indeed, all the flights had been cancelled! I was shocked, needless to say! We always believed that, even if they broke the union or forced EAL out of business, we were under the umbrella of Texas Air and one day our paychecks would just say "Continental Airlines". We certainly didn't want that to happen, but figured that would be the worst case scenario.

I went to work the next day, and because of my 25 years seniority, was kept on the payroll for about 3-4 days. After that, I was unemployed, however I couldn't stop trying to help, so I continued to come out to the airport and volunteer, unpaid, to help people make other travel arrangements because EAL was not flying. I felt it was my duty, not so much as an employee, but because Eastern had ingrained the belief that helping people was so important. I only stopped coming to volunteer at the counter when people stopped showing up, with their luggage and Eastern tickets in hand, to fly away to their destinations.

I incorporated a travel agency five days after EAL stopped paying me and have been working ever since. The regular hours are nice and not having to wake up every morning to see what the weather was in ATL so we would know what kind of operation we might have that day is nice also. But I do miss the passes and the employees, not to mention the health plans and insurance, but we all found out that there is no security just because you work for a large company! The airlines themselves have become so "bottom-line" now that it does not even resemble the days when I worked there. I remember going over to Piedmont's counter to help out and they would come over to ours in ROA. I remember sharing Ground Power units in SRQ and MIA with other airlines and working American and PanAm charters in GNV. Those days are gone and travel agents are being pushed out of business by the internet, however there will always be customers who want the personal, human touch and contact to help them with their travel needs and I am doing my best to be that person. Eastern has shaped me in so many ways, and given me a good life and for that I am eternally thankful.

If you are ever in GNV, please stop by my agency, next to WalMart on Archer Road. I have an eight-foot EAL 757 hanging from the ceiling and the actual EAL logo from the GNV counter mounted on EAL wallpaper in an EAL travel poster frame. My employees call it my shrine, but we do have to keep those memories alive!

memories

at mdw in the fifties we had 3 gates and as many as 6 planes on the ground at the same time. we'd park two at each gate and direct psgrs to proper plane at boarding time. one day i was working a two plane gate boarding a connie. i called ops and closed it out with a full ship of 88 psgrs. i went out to the plane to get senior f/a to sign for head count and panicked when there was nobody on board the a/c. 88 psgrs and crew got on the right a/c but i forgot which one i was working...............

name: David Harper
Date: Tuesday, November 26, 2002
Time: 12:37:47 PM

memories

My late grandparents flew Eastern to the Carribean and to Disney world in Orlando, Florida and they said it was a good airlines. DAVID RAY HARPER of Buffalo, New York

memories

Those were the heydays when people scrambled to take their flights to carribean on Eastern. I would fly them alot between Florida and JFK. Also between Orlando and San Juan. I dreaded those days when plane crashes were announced frequently during the 70's. The flight staff were pleasant to the passengers, pleasing them with an extra meal, playing cards, those blankets to keep us warm . I had a distant relative that worked for the airline for 25 years. The service from the flight staff was Great! I miss that airline only because it was my favorite for flying to the carribean. Those late night specials to Florida. Unfortunately those days are gone. Unfortunately, the airline was mismanaged.

name: Loudon Briggs
Date: Friday, November 29, 2002
Time: 01:22:25 PM

memories

Coming out of the service, I went to work for EAL in early 1946 as a reservationist. My phone bank happened to sit with our backs to the door so a couple of weeks after starting, I was not aware that someone had come in and approached me from the rear.

I felt this heavy hand come down on my shoulder and as I turned around this strong voice said, "my name's Rickenbacker, what's yours?" I may Have stuttered a little but did have the opportunity to talk about a variety of things with him in the next fifteen minutes or so. He wished me luck and left. Apparently, that was a common practise for him and a thrill for me.

Not the end of the story... about a year later, I was in charge of the three downtown Chicago ticket offices. I was located at 120 S. Michigan and through the front door comes Eddie Rickenbacker. We had redecorated the location and he just wanted to look at it, but seeing me, he walked over and spoke to me by name... a year after hearing it once and talking to me for 15 minutes. I was stunned and to this day, am totally impressed by his ability to retain information like that. Not many present day executives would be that involved with lower level employees. I must admit that I have often wondered if he asked someone who was in charge of the ticket counter... oh well, it makes a good story!

name: WANDA HEATHERLY
Date: Sunday, December 01, 2002
Time: 09:58:46 PM

memories

I FLEW FOR EASTERN BASED OUT OF JFK/ATL AND THEY WERE SOME OF THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES! YOU SEE THERE WERE 9 OF US THAT SHARED A BROWNSTONE IN QUEENS RIGHT OUT OF FLIGHT ATTENDANT TRAINING. FOUR OF US WERE THEN TRANSFERRED TO ATL AND WE CALLED OURSELVES THE 'QUEENS FROM QUEENS', WE HAVE STORIES TOO NUMEROUS TO TELL!!! THOSE WERE THE DAYS..........................................................

memories

My first experience with Eastern came far before I could possibly remember it. On the day of my birth, my parents got a hand written letter from Capt. Eddie congratulating them on the birth of their first son (me). The first flight I can remember was a Lockheed Electra to Atlanta from Miami. It was at night and I remember how beautiful it was. My dad (Foster Clay) had 42 years with Eastern and when I graduated college, my first application went to Eastern as well. I was with Eastern as an aircraft mechanic and later a Technical Foreman in Miami until the end. I currently work for a major airline but can say with all honesty that niether this airline nor any other airline will evey approach the "family" feeling that Eastern had. Another fond memory is of the softball tournaments in Atlanta. What a blast. I played on the Eastern Mustangs. It was at one of those tournaments that my wife decided our lives should be spent together. A few years later my children were born into the Eastern family. They, like me, long for those days in Miami. I miss you Eastern... If you ever decide to come back, call and I'll come running.

memories

Ahhh Yes! I remember my first trip on great ole' Eastern Airlines. I was a child flying from Dallas to Miami. From the moment I saw that Beautiful green airplane. I knew I was in for a grand experience! The hostesses were so kind to me and I remember being mesmorized by their uniforms with bright colored swirls of abstract designs (designed by pucci,I later found out) They always had class! Must have been the best airline to work for...

memories

Hello. The first flight I ever took was probably around 1983, and it just happened to be on Eastern Airlines! It was the only airline my family of native Bostonians would fly. We flew from Boston to Orlando. I remember making this trip many more times aboard Eastern, and also using Eastern to go from Boston to Atlanta before we moved to Atlanta permanently. This website is amazing to find, and I love to read the history of the first airline I ever knew, and my all time favorite.

name: GINNY DIGIORNO
Date: Monday, December 09, 2002
Time: 09:36:59 AM

memories

I WAS A F/A BASED OUT OF JFK/ATL FROM 85 THRU 88. I WAS ONE OF THE "HOUSE OF NINE" IN QUEENS IN 1985. I LOVED WORKING FOR EASTERN AIRLINES. I WENT TO WORK AS AN F/A FOR USAIR AFTER EASTERN'S DEMISE, AND I CAN HONESTLY SAY THERE WAS NO COMPARISON. EASTERN WAS THE GREATEST AIRLINE IN THE INDUSTRY. GREAT TIMES, THE BEST PEOPLE TO WORK WITH AND A GREAT COMPANY. I STILL MISS IT ALL THESE YEARS LATER.

memories

I remebmer working in Baggage Service at LGA in the summer of 1976. I was working the afternoon shift from 4-12 with my new Red Jacket walking the Claim Area for the arrival of Flight 28 from MIA. The baggage delivery was going quickly enough but apparently not quick enough for one passenger who grabbed hard at my jacket and said to me in a loud voice that could be heard by nearly everyone. "Hey Buster, when are my bags coming out?" I turned to her and in a somewhat excited state and said "How did you know my name?". Thinking she had me she said "I guess good." Then I said to her "Now guess when your bags are coming out" and calmly walked away with most of the passengers laughing loudly and shaking my hand.

name: Betty J. Crowley
Date: Friday, December 13, 2002
Time: 03:06:07 PM

memories

was employed as a Flight Attendant with Eastern for 22 years and was devastated when they shut down. I no longer had a job or benefits. I had to struggle to get back on my feet again. The fear I felt that day when Eastern Airlines shut down will stay with me for the rest of my life. I loved working as a Flight Attendant, especially for Eastern, I felt I lost my family. I was hired by United Airlines but when you are employed by an Airline be it a Pilot, Agent, etc. your job position is based on seniority and if I had gone with another airline I would have had to start from the bottom and also pick-up and move to another location, and I couldn't do that, I had a family and responsibilities and by the grace of God was hired by the Bureau of the Census in DC. I have been here 11 years and make more money working for Uncle Sam than all the years I was a Flight Attendant but never will I have as much fun. I loved that job! In fact I didn't know how much I loved until it was gone. People ask me for Eastern Airlines souvenirs but I cannot give anything away that I acquired over my 22 years with them, it would be like giving away my wonderful memories I had with Eastern. Thank you for this website and wonderful memories. It shows how the people that were employed with Eastern Airlines at the time they went out of business survived from that devastation. God Bless all ex Eastern Airlines employees.

name: Christopher Morris
Date: Thursday, December 19, 2002
Time: 06:23:08 AM

memories

I never worked for, or even flew, EAL and was only 7 when Chapter XI was filed. However, I've been an aviation buff from an early age and, like many, I long to fly on some of the classic airlines and aircraft of a bygone era. Eastern, Pan Am, Braniff, and the trijets, DC-9s, and Connies you flew, there are a lot of us who miss you!

Something about flying United Express or Comair is disticntly lacking in the romance department. Call it nostalgia for a previous life.

name: Anne V. McConomy
Date: Friday, December 20, 2002
Time: 06:20:15 PM

memories

My most potent memories are of the kids flying to Walt Disney World, all excited about going there, and scared as heck being couped up at 30K. Lots of unscheduled meals, too much air sickness, frustrated mom's. Lots of trips up to the cockpit with kids wanting to "fly the plane." Hated it then, but love the memory. Anne

memories

I am wondering if any of the FA's posting here knew my step-cousin Mike Collodi. He was a flight attendant for Eastern. Would you please email me if you did. Thank you.

name: MORRIS CROWDER, JR.
Date: Monday, January 27, 2003
Time: 04:02:39 PM

memories

ROBERT C. CARROLL, SR., 85 OF SANDSTON, VIRGINIA (EMPLOYEED BY EASTERN AIR LINES AT RICHARD E. BYRD AIRPORT - NOW KNOWN AS RIC INTERNATIONAL) PASSED AWAY ON FEBRUARY 15, 1998. HE WAS EMPLOYEED FOR OVER TWENTY YEARS ACCORDING TO THE OBITUARY. DOES NOT MENTION THE TIME FRAME IN WHICH HE WAS EMPLOYEED WITH EASTERN. SERVICE WAS IN LANDMARK BAPTIST CHURCH WITH THE INTERMENT IN WASHINGTON MEMORIAL PARK. THE CEMETERY IS NO DISTANCE FROM RICHMOND INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. MANY AIRCRAFT USUALLY MAKE APPROACHES INTO RIC GOING OVER WASHINGTON MEMORIAL PARK. WISH I HAD MORE INFORMATION IN REGARDS TO MR. CARROLL.

name: Michael P. Jungers
Date: Tuesday, January 28, 2003
Time: 10:38:19 AM

memories

At DCA, an EA gate agt told me of boarding an Electra after all Shuttle Pax had left and found a pretty young lady in a mink coat who refused to leave the aircraft.He and the crew finally persuaded her to deplane and then asked her for I.D.etc. She had apparently fled from her father in NYC with nothing on but her mink coat...further details fog my memory as this was in the late 60s or in the 70s. I'd be interested to find out who the gate agt was as he and I 'visited' whenever I flew EA.

name: tasha sanchez,
Date: Wednesday, January 29, 2003
Time: 06:32:50 PM

memories

name: Alan Campbell
Date: Monday, February 03, 2003
Time: 06:27:06 PM

memories

My love affair with Eastern started as a child going to the Columbia, SC airport and seeing the beautiful DC-9-30 on the ramp without a Jetway. On June 4, 1979 at the age of 14 I boarded a DC-9 white top to Atlanta (Flt 311) from Columbia (CAE). The flight was awesome and it was my first flight since my family returned from Okinawa on a TWA 707 in 1971. Arrived in Atlanta and deplaned via the air stairs and sent to the Eastern "UM" waiting area. I was picked up by a person from Sout

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