Most of you know I have been archivist for actress Maureen O’Hara for the past 20 years, beginning with a website on the Internet, “Maureen O’Hara Magazine” in 1991. My initial plan was just to research her career and do some freelance writing about feminism and classic films. Little did I know that it was going to be ongoing for so, so many years and that it would evolve into a friendship with Ms. O’Hara and many of her family members. I have met so many fantastic and unique people and been places and done things I never would have dreamed of doing in my lifetime. What I want to share with you now is a link to one of the most important aspects of Maureen’s life – aeronautics. In 1968 Maureen married General Charles F. Blair, a famed pioneer of aviation and owner of Antilles Airboats a flying boat commuter service in the Caribbean based at St. Croix, VI. Maureen reflects on her marriage to Blair as the happiest ten years of her life. After his tragic death in a plane crash, Maureen took over management of Antilles and became the first woman to own and manage a scheduled airline. To make a long story even longer, I just yesterday found this fantastic chronology and photo gallery of the restoration of the Sikorsky VS-44A that belonged to Blair he called “Queen of the Skies” and it’s eventual trip to be dedicated at the New England Air Museum in the 1990s. It took 8 years of work to restore it and the volunteers did it pro bono. Just thought if any of you are interested in aeronautics you might enjoy reading it. sikorskyarchives/S-44%20restore.php
Posted on: Fri, 09 May 2014 13:30:38 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015