Post by Don Gieseke on Nov 29, 2011 15:37:40 GMT -6
Braniff International Silver Eagles
Paul R. Morton passed away Sunday November 27th, 2011. He had recently celebrated his 96th birthday. Paul was Braniff's most senior living pilot and very proud of it.
Paul soloed in 1933 and soon began giving airplane rides for $1.00 a head. He earned his Limited Commercial Pilot License in 1934 and purchased a Waco 10 and an Aeronca in which Paul and his new bride, Jean, began flying around the country. After purchasing an OX-5 in 1938, it became apparent that he would need an instrument rating in order to become a professional pilot. Paul had saved up $1,500 so he drove to Dallas, TX to enroll in the Dallas Aviation School and obtained his instrument rating the last day of March, 1940---just as he ran out of the $1,500. On Monday, April 2, 1940, Paul applied for the position of co-pilot at BRANIFF AIRWAYS and their Chief Pilot, Captain Ray Shrader, hired him on the spot. Paul called his wife on the phone and told her to sell the furniture and get on a train for Dallas. She was as thrilled at all this as he was.
Two years later Paul was called to active duty with the U.S. Army Air Corps. On leave from BRANIFF, Paul flew for Uncle Sam for 3-1/2 years. He started out as a Second Lieutenant, with Pilot rating, and came out a Lieutenant Colonel with Senior Pilot rating. They awarded Paul the Distinguished Flying Cross during his service. The military way of life was interesting, but he longed to get back on the airline. Upon release from military duty, Paul had enough seniority time that he was immediately checked out as a Captain for BRANIFF. About 1958 Paul bought a Beechcraft Bonanza, 225 HP Continental, four-place, model F-35, and flew it almost 1,000 hours.
Paul took early retirement from Braniff at age 50 then bought a 1969 Beechcraft Bonanza, 285 HP Continental, five-place, model V35A. This airplane flew like a military or airline aircraft. That is, it flew "strictly by the numbers." At age 70, Paul started working for PROFESSIONAL INSTRUMENT COURSES and instructed for them for a number of years. He had to stop that because one winter day his wife fell and broke her hip. She had slipped on snow-covered ice, and he could not leave her alone to do his work for PIC. Paul continued to do instrument flight training for a few friends, as a side line. But then he flew just enough to keep his hand in. "At age 89, that's all I need. I love it. I'll never get over it."
Paul has made one more aircraft takeoff than landings, due to an emergency parachute jump during World War II. The latest figure on grand total hours in his log book shows 22,737:35 of which 13,832:45 is day time, 8,904:50 is night time and 1,249:35 is actual instrument time. "NUF SED." Type Ratings: DC-2, DC-3, DC-4, DC-6, DC-7C, CV-240, 340, 440, B707/227, B 707/720 Commercial Glider Rating - Aero Tow. Paul received the Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award - March 19, 2005.
Paul lost his beloved wife Jean a long time ago, but finally met a wonderful woman named Mary. They dated for about 10 years then finally decided to get married two years ago. With Mary came her extended family who all loved Paul.
Paul R. Morton passed away Sunday November 27th, 2011. He had recently celebrated his 96th birthday. Paul was Braniff's most senior living pilot and very proud of it.
Paul soloed in 1933 and soon began giving airplane rides for $1.00 a head. He earned his Limited Commercial Pilot License in 1934 and purchased a Waco 10 and an Aeronca in which Paul and his new bride, Jean, began flying around the country. After purchasing an OX-5 in 1938, it became apparent that he would need an instrument rating in order to become a professional pilot. Paul had saved up $1,500 so he drove to Dallas, TX to enroll in the Dallas Aviation School and obtained his instrument rating the last day of March, 1940---just as he ran out of the $1,500. On Monday, April 2, 1940, Paul applied for the position of co-pilot at BRANIFF AIRWAYS and their Chief Pilot, Captain Ray Shrader, hired him on the spot. Paul called his wife on the phone and told her to sell the furniture and get on a train for Dallas. She was as thrilled at all this as he was.
Two years later Paul was called to active duty with the U.S. Army Air Corps. On leave from BRANIFF, Paul flew for Uncle Sam for 3-1/2 years. He started out as a Second Lieutenant, with Pilot rating, and came out a Lieutenant Colonel with Senior Pilot rating. They awarded Paul the Distinguished Flying Cross during his service. The military way of life was interesting, but he longed to get back on the airline. Upon release from military duty, Paul had enough seniority time that he was immediately checked out as a Captain for BRANIFF. About 1958 Paul bought a Beechcraft Bonanza, 225 HP Continental, four-place, model F-35, and flew it almost 1,000 hours.
Paul took early retirement from Braniff at age 50 then bought a 1969 Beechcraft Bonanza, 285 HP Continental, five-place, model V35A. This airplane flew like a military or airline aircraft. That is, it flew "strictly by the numbers." At age 70, Paul started working for PROFESSIONAL INSTRUMENT COURSES and instructed for them for a number of years. He had to stop that because one winter day his wife fell and broke her hip. She had slipped on snow-covered ice, and he could not leave her alone to do his work for PIC. Paul continued to do instrument flight training for a few friends, as a side line. But then he flew just enough to keep his hand in. "At age 89, that's all I need. I love it. I'll never get over it."
Paul has made one more aircraft takeoff than landings, due to an emergency parachute jump during World War II. The latest figure on grand total hours in his log book shows 22,737:35 of which 13,832:45 is day time, 8,904:50 is night time and 1,249:35 is actual instrument time. "NUF SED." Type Ratings: DC-2, DC-3, DC-4, DC-6, DC-7C, CV-240, 340, 440, B707/227, B 707/720 Commercial Glider Rating - Aero Tow. Paul received the Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award - March 19, 2005.
Paul lost his beloved wife Jean a long time ago, but finally met a wonderful woman named Mary. They dated for about 10 years then finally decided to get married two years ago. With Mary came her extended family who all loved Paul.