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 I started flying with ONA in June 1966. 
I met my highschool sweetheart of 
Gothenburg Sweden in Anchorage Alaska of 
all places! .... and married him! 
We have been Hawaii residents since 30 
years and have three children with 
families of their own, all living in 
Hawaii!

My (scary) flight 
memories of ONA


My first very ONA flight in July of 1966
set a lifelong imprint in me.
To my great joy I was assigned as junior
stewardess crew on a glorious DC-8. I loved
to hear the magnificent engine roar and felt
privileged to have become an airline 
stewardess. Now was the time to show the 
cockpit crew and the senior stewardess
that I was a well studied and able crew
member! I was a pupil tutored by Mary 
Jane van Worst in Gothenburg Sweden and
further processed in theory by Chief 
Hostess Janet Irwin. Bless her memory - I 
know she is not here any more. 

I was nervous about which crew
position I would be assigned on the flight
and what my duties were in an emergency, 
in case we were stricken with bad luck. 
Now the theory was going to be taken into 
practice.

We left McGuire AFB to fly to Frankfurt.
The boarding of GIīs and military officers
went smooth and all was very pleasant.
I was a model in my brand new stewardess
outfit and I was giving great service
to the passengers, smiling and carrying
drinks, fixing pillows and blankets,
since we were boarding early evening US 
East Coast time.

I was concentrating on doing a good job
in the cabin as the flight engineer
appeared in the cockpit door. I saw him
speaking to the senior, whose name I 
unfortunately forgot. I think the F/E was
Ron Preede! Ron, if you and Anne read
this please let me know if it was you!

Ron said there was a door that was not 
shut and the captain was not really sure
if it was that door indicating an alarm
so we would have to go down immediately.
There had to be an ocular investigation
which could only be performed on the 
ground.

The food service had to be interrupted,
we scurried to gather everything off
thye passengers folding tables and 
dumped untouched and half eaten food
in garbage sacks which were stowed 
in the bathrooms.

Everything happened very fast, the male 
crews stationed themselves at the 
emergency exits over the wings and I was
having galley duty and was in the aft
cabin.

I was told fuel was being dumped and
before we really had grasped what was 
happening we had landed in Gander,
Newfoundland. From what we were told
the indication of the unlocked door 
was false. I was very upset and scared
and never really picked up confidence 
with flying again. Remember, this was 
my very first flight flying as 
employed crew.

You donīt want to hear 
about my second 
ONA flight ...


Yes, we had an incident on that one too!
We set off from New York to Athens Greece 
in a DC-7 - I never wanted to fly one!
I was told scaring stories about fethered
engines ...

We had to go down in London on my second 
ONA flight since there was engine trouble.

I had long talks with Janet Irwin upon
return to New York and the safe haven of
Kew Gardens were I roomed with Ingrid
Nilsson and Eiwor Johansson.

I wanted to quit and never go aboard
an airplane again! However, Janet was
wise and professional and managed to get
me in a better mood:

"You know Christina, an airplane isnt like
a light bulb that just goes out and there
is nothing more to it. An airplane is
designed so that there are a lot to be
done when a system fails."

Also Fifi told me a lot from her flying
with ONA (1960 - 1968 ) and I stayed with 
ONA a full year from 1966 to 1967!

By ONA my life was changed forever:
I live since then in Hawaii!

Great to be in touch and hope to see you
all real soon on a future ONA reunion!
Best from Christina, Kailua, HA

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Stewardess graduation
New York, June 1966

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Christina and Elisabeth at layover
 in Frankfurt Germany where we met 
Swedish 1966 popstar Tommy Blom who 
was in love with Christina!

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ONA PASSENGER MEAL

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HOTEL PALACE
FRANKFURT GERMANY

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