I hired on with ONA April 1st, 1966, as a F/O on the DC-7 and eventually checked out as
captain. Then on to the DC-8, DC-9, DC-10 and finally the B-747 (United Air Carrier Inc)
and my first assignment with ONA was to report to Lakeland Florida to join a group of
employees already in place. I remember Bob Travelute was there and
Billy Tedder,
I canīt recall who else was there. However there were quite a few people there. We were to test
fly the DC-7īs as they came put of the overhaul facility. We flew 3 or 4 of the overhauled
a/c and accepted them prior to taking them up to JFK for use by ONA. It was an
interesting experience as we put the a/c thru its paces to make certain all the components
were firmly attached and working. I was given the opportunity to hone my flying skills
thanks to Bob Travelute with whom I flew most of the time and at least one flight with
Tedder. When we returned to JFK, Bob Love who was the chief pilot finally gave me the
final check out and tuend me loose for line flying as a Captain.
Prior to joining ONA I was with Saturn Airways based at San Antonio TX. With Robert Love, Steedman Hinckley and a few other furloughed ONA pilots. If I remember correctly Steedman invested some monies with Mr. Goodman who was the president of Saturn with the expectation of investing more money and eventually taking over the company. This was only rumours at the time, but I will leave it to Bob Love to fill us in on the real story. I have often thought how much better off ONA would have been if Steedman would have been able to acquire Saturn instead of starting from initial start up of ONA from the ground up. |
Steedman left Saturn early in 1966, I believe, to work on getting ONA back together and
shortly after recalled all the furloughed crew members back. Then called for new hires.
Thatīs when I got a call from Bob Love to work for ONA.
One story comes to mind. Ron Preede was with ONA while I was still with Saturn. ONA and Saturn flew the same CAM flights, as it was usually the case. It was at Ft. Lennardwood that I parked my DC-7 next to an ONA DC-7 with all its props lined up and squared away. I knew immediately Ron was the F/E on the ONA aircraft so I got my crew to dress up my aircraftīs props. Then we changed Ronīs props to an esqued position. I doīt think Ron ever mentioned it to me but I think he probably knew who did it! Captain Ted Secola 
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