In early 1946, Cumberland Airways, Incorporated, the newly designated fixed base operator, hosted a reception at the Cumberland Country Club welcoming pilots and interested individuals to meet John Chapman, the new airport manager. The years 1946 and 1947 were an exciting time as extensive flying activity was evident at the city’s new airport. The GI Bill guaranteeing payment for veteran’s educational opportunities also applied to flying instruction. Cumberland Airways provided instructors and aircraft and provided an easy opportunity for an aviation education. Returning veteran pilots employed as instructors included Harry Flook, Kenny Jewell, Lawrence Wagner, Bill Lind, Bob Stewart, Kenneth Gornall, and Buck Wright, who served as the ground school instructor.
This group photo is of Cumberland Airways employees. In the front row, left to right are: Kenneth Gornall – instructor, Marvin Inge – field maintenance, Harry Heller and Charlie Heller – airport maintenance staff. Second row: Lawrence Wagner – instructor, Bobby Stevenson – grease monkey, and ‘Buck’ Wright – ground school instructor. Back row: Harry Flook – instructor and charter pilot, Bob Stewart – instructor, Mrs. John A. Chapman – bookkeeper, Bill Linn – passenger-flyer-over-town-pilot, Kenneth Jewell – pilot, and John A. Chapman – manager of Cumberland Airways, Inc.
Their large fleet of airplanes included a Staggerwing Beechcraft, a Globe Swift, and many models of Piper Aircraft (J-3s, PA-11s, and the new PA-12). War surplus Ryan PT-22 and Fairchild PT-19’s, both with open cockpits, were used for aerobatic training. There were so many Piper Cubs involved in the operation that large numbers were put on the nose cowlings and fuselages to quickly identify a particular plane. Virgil Parker was placed in charge of maintenance for the numerous operating aircraft. Commercial pilots were designated to take aloft sight seeing passengers, and many friends were taken up by former service pilots renting available aircraft. On week-ends five pretty local girls, students at Fort Hill High School, acted as junior hostesses to encourage individuals to begin flying or to take sightseeing rides.
The junior hostess are front row, left to right, are: Helen Spiker, Lorroca Tewell, and Joyce Meyers. In the back row are Betty Cook and Rosela Lewis.
Non-flyers would be guided to the snack bar for refreshments. Many individuals obtained their pilot license and it was claimed that the number of Cumberland’s pilots doubled by the end of 1947. It was then that the government canceled benefits for veterans’ flight training, thereby making flying training more financially difficult to obtain.
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Wings Over Cumberland 