Pan American clipper, Vol. 6, No. 18, September 24, 1947

              ATLANTIC DIVISION
Read on four continents and four islands in between
Volume 6
September 24, 1947
Number 18
Stefan Valdinger
Wins Commendation
Stefan Valdinger, senior airport traffic supervisor at Prague, and one of PAA’s first local employes to attain a post of such responsibility, has received a letter of commendation from Anthony J. King, station operations manager.
The commendation states, in part: “During your 18 months service with Pan Stefan Valdinger American World Airways, you have displayed such outstanding ability, efficiency and initiative that on May 1, 1947, you were appointed to the position of senior airport traffic supervisor at this station.
“This appointment permitted the release of Frank McLaughlin to another assignment and made you, to the best of our knowledge, the first local national employe to fully assume such duties without any supervision or assistance. In this capacity you have continued to demonstrate your remarkable ability to handle all aspects of your traffic duties with great skill, loyal devotion and unexcelled diplomacy.
“Apart from such normal duties, your effective liaison with local airport authorities has contributed greatly to the efficiency of our services, the comfort of our passengers and the best interests of the company in countless ways.
“Your success has not been achieved without diligent work, much personal sacrifice, and a profound loyalty, and in the name of the company I wish to offer my sincerest thanks and congratulations.”
PanAm Club's Fall Festival
Launches New Social Season
Autumn, 1947 — the era of long skirts and the “new look”— will be ushered in formally at the Fall Festival of the PanAm Club.
Friday, October 10 is the date, and Sunnyside Gardens, at Queens Boulevard and Bliss Street, Sunnyside, is the place. All PAA-ers, their wives and dates are invited to make merry at this number one social event on the fall calendar.
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FOOTLESS GHOST
(Tom Nelson in London, who has been specializing on other-worldly reports of late, now has all of London Airport seeing things.)
During the past week, several stories have been circulated round London Airport regarding a ghost which makes a nightly perambulation around the airfield. It is dressed in white mechanic’s coveralls, but the feet are missing, and it makes no sound as it approaches.
At least half a dozen witnesses have seen this apparition, including the local newspaper reporter who was delegated to cover the story. Apparently it has a regular beat, from the Customs Shed to the Ramp, then disappearing in ¿he direction of the Control Tower.
The PAA maintenance staff working on the ramp are not too perturbed about it. They say it’s probably Leadman Charles Hervish who has walked his feet off going round and round the field. The rest of the night workers at the airfield, however, look forward to night duty with a certain amount of apprehension.
(Editors note to T. N.\—Please provide photographic evidence SASPO.)
MAKING
FESTIVE
PLANS
Drawing up the blueprint for the Fall Festival, slated for October 10 in Sunnyside Gardens are, left to right: KENNY SMITH, AL LESMEZ, JEAN CU-RELLA, EDDIE CORRIGAN and RILL WALZ. The dance, sponsored by the PanAm Club, opens the fall social
Joseph Bruno and his 12-piece orchestra will play for dancing, from 9 until 2. Sunnyside Gardens, the new ballroom that served as the arena for the preliminaries in the recent Harvest Moon Ball, is reputed to have one of the smoothest and most spacious dance floors in metropolitan New York.
Kenny Smith of the route section, chairman of the PanAm Club’s social activities committee, is in charge of plans for the Festival. He is assisted by Bill Walz of long service, Jean Curella of engineering, Leonard Sormani of route section, Bob Schlagel of short service, Ed Corrigan of line station maintenance, A1 Les-mez of flight operations engineering, and Jean Foley of personnel service.
Tickets, selling for $1.50 each including tax, are now on sale. PAA-ers who are handling the sale of tickets at NBA, Flushing and Long Island City are listed on the various bulletin boards.
Phelan, Thompson Win Idea Awards
Inspector Howard V. Phelan took a wartime invention, adapted it for use in a peacetime airline, and came up with an idea that has earned him a $10 award from the Employes’ Suggestion Committee.
It was Howie’s recommendation that “throat-type” microphones be provided for use by maintenance personnel in the servicing of Constellations. Such microphones, he pointed out, would be especially useful to run up crew mechanics who must remain in contact with the cockpit while working behind running engines. These “mikes” permit mechanics to use both hands in their work — an added safety feature. Howie pointed out that microphones of this type were standard, equipment in combat planes during the war.
As a result of the suggestion, four “throat-type” microphones were ordered for the run up crew. They have proved so satisfactory that 10 more have been ordered. This is Howie’s second award.
George A. Thompson of the radio shop receives a $10 award for designing a unit to check and calibrate ADF loop autosyn transmitters and azimuths used on all Atlantic Division aircraft. George constructed the unit in the radio shop, using materials on hand. The unit is now in use and is proving highly satisfactory.
Stanley D. VerNooy of traffic receives his (Continued on page 4)
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