Stratoliner Memorabila Collection

[Fletch]

A few hints...but only hints

From the Wikipedia page on TWA:
"The first TWA Stratoliner was delivered on May 6, 1940."

From the book U.S. Civil Aircraft Series:
"Shakedown flights by TWA began on a route from Chicago to New York..."

In case you care, Chicago temperatures were notably cool that May.

 

[Zemke Fan]

Thanks, Fletch...

Good detective work on your part. Seems likely that these photographs may have been from the earlier shakedown flights. I have a whole series of first flight postal covers from 1940 which I will have to dig out to check the exact dates the commercial flights commenced.

Nonetheless, it seems clear from the turnout on the observation deck that this had to have been from one of the first flights to/from Muni.

 

[kampkatz]

Great photos. Good to see that they are not being hidden from us history buffs.

 

[Fletch]

Another find

...not mine originally, but from thepinupfiles.com (an invaluable resource, by the way )...
I give you the Petty Girl TWA Stratoliner hostess!

 

[Dixon Cannon]

Excellent! I love it when photos like this surface. Thanks for sharing!

-dixon cannon

 

[RBH]

SWEET!

 

[Zemke Fan]

Thanks, guys...

These are cool photos, aren't they?

BTW, I just commissioned one of our resident FL artists to produce a copy of the Boeing/Stratoliner logo. Will share it with you when he has it done.

Cheers!

 

[Zemke Fan]

Checkout this site...

TWA Flight Attendants

From 1940:

The proprietress of this site advises me that: "The suitcases the hostesses are pictured with were custom designed by TWA for the Stratoliner... Their light weight aluminum design made them unique." (TWA's video of the Strat states that the cases were made by Halliburton specifically for the plane. How cool a piece of news is that?)

Note also the snazzy summer uniforms. (White uniforms were, as you might expect, a BEAR to keep clean.)

This one's for Fletch:

 

[kampkatz]

Was the word "hostess" an official title?

 

[Boodles]

ZF thanks so much for all this stuff

Now I can stop struggling to understand why the windows are configured differently on the starbord vs. the port side. With the high-dollar seating down one side, as opposed to a front portion of the craft as you find nowadays, do you suppose that created headaches for the balance-the-load folks?

 

[Zemke Fan]

I bet it did in fact...

Now I can stop struggling to understand why the windows are configured differently on the starbord vs. the port side. With the high-dollar seating down one side, as opposed to a front portion of the craft as you find nowadays, do you suppose that created headaches for the balance-the-load folks?

BTW, guys, I haven't included all of my Stetson Stratoliner ads in this thread. Still looking for this one (Esquire, Nov. 1945):

$30 (see classifieds).

 

[Talbot]

The one that splashed into Puget Sound is the one that's now in Virginia at the NASM Annex...

Aristeaus! Welcome to the Lounge. Which flight sim are those screen shots from??

ZF - thanks for a fantastic thread. A truly beautifull plane that is often put in the shadow of the L1049.

If you are running flightsim, fall on over to http://www.calclassic.com/

Given the nature of your interest you may already be a member. If not, these guys will share your interest

Using their guidance I have configured my FS so that there is nothing newer than 1957 in it. Jet free skies really boosts the experience.

Nothing like leaving the gate in your Connie and falling in behind a B307, or entering the circuit with a C-124 on short final.

 

[Zemke Fan]

A passenger take away folder...

Check out these goodies:

From the eBay listing:

Here is a FABULOUS vintage Passenger's FLIGHT PACKET for World War II era TWA Airlines -- then called Transcontinental & Western Air, Inc. This packet contains multiple printed items handed out in a folded portfolio for the passenger to peruse in flight or keep upon departure. The airship was a Boeing 307 STRATOLINER - the first pressurized airliner - only 10 were ever built! This packet contains:

• A TWA DECAL with Art Deco era Stratoliner artwork
• A folding 'Comments' letter to send to TWA
• A brochure titled "It's a Way We Have in the U.S.A" about how the commercial airlines were all working together for the war effort.
• "At Your Service," a brochure about in-flight amenities.
• "Silence is the Order of the Day," a brochure concerning wartime gossiping.
• "Civilians are Traveling by Air in the War Effort" and why brochure
• "For Your Guidance" pamphlet explaining Civil Aeronautics Board positions during the war
• A fold-out Fight Schedule effective Sept. 1, 1942
• A large fold-out Routes Map and Flight Log

As the eBay seller reported: All items are in EXCELLENT near mint condition with only minor wrinkles from storage - no tears, stains, writing or repairs .. measures overall 10 1/4" x 4 1/8" when folded... an AMAZING Find for the dedicated collector. (Indeed!)

 

[RBH]

Check out these goodies:

From the eBay listing:

Here is a FABULOUS vintage Passenger's FLIGHT PACKET for World War II era TWA Airlines -- then called Transcontinental & Western Air, Inc. This packet contains multiple printed items handed out in a folded portfolio for the passenger to peruse in flight or keep upon departure. The airship was a Boeing 307 STRATOLINER - the first pressurized airliner - only 10 were ever built! This packet contains:

• A TWA DECAL with Art Deco era Stratoliner artwork
• A folding 'Comments' letter to send to TWA
• A brochure titled "It's a Way We Have in the U.S.A" about how the commercial airlines were all working together for the war effort.
• "At Your Service," a brochure about in-flight amenities.
• "Silence is the Order of the Day," a brochure concerning wartime gossiping.
• "Civilians are Traveling by Air in the War Effort" and why brochure
• "For Your Guidance" pamphlet explaining Civil Aeronautics Board positions during the war
• A fold-out Fight Schedule effective Sept. 1, 1942
• A large fold-out Routes Map and Flight Log

As the eBay seller reported: All items are in EXCELLENT near mint condition with only minor wrinkles from storage - no tears, stains, writing or repairs .. measures overall 10 1/4" x 4 1/8" when folded... an AMAZING Find for the dedicated collector. (Indeed!)

Now that is sweet!!
THANK YOU for sharing with us!:eusa_clap

 

[Zemke Fan]

Just bought an item...

on eBay from a Boeing fella deeply involved in the restoration... a finer bloke you'll never find! Photos to come. In the meantime, a TWA stewardess hat and wing the evaded my watchful eye. (DOUBLE DRAT!!)

Would have been a GREAT addition to my Stratoliner memorabilia collection:

Women's TWA stewardess cap from 1940s.

Sold for $148.49 on 10-24-2009 (silver wing alone worth $200)

I

 

[zetwal]

That cap is fantastic -

 

[RBH]

NICE!

 

[Zemke Fan]

Just got a CD...

From the head Boeing engineer on the rebuild that documents the recovery and rebuild. There are 193 images!! Wow! Here's the interior of the Pan Am plane at the NASM, which is just how it appeared when originally delivered in 1940:

And two exterior shots:

Pretty darn cool, no?

 

[Lefty]

Pretty darn cool, no?

Yes. :eusa_clap

 

[Talbot]

Loving the heck out of this thread

I saw the plane at NASM earlier this year and it is beautifull.

Sitting near a Lockheed Constellation and Wiley Posts Vega - wow!

Thanks for the interior shots. By my reckoning there are 185 left, yes?