ROMAN NOSE,
Great book. I think you got it right!
Best Regards,
Jim Branham
Captain Reece
Congratulations on your book...
Do appreciate it.
Kind Regards,
Ethan Bradford, Manager of Technical Services
Lynden Air Cargo, LLC.
Terry,
I just finished your book and enjoyed it. I remember many of the events mentioned. Many memories of seeing the light at Sagwon when it seemed the only two lights on the North Slope were at Sagwon and Deadhorse.
Jerry Vink
Terry,
Your book arrived in today's mail. Mike has not
put it down yet. He's enjoying it very much.
I look forward to reading it as soon as Mike gives me
A chance. Congratulations!
Cathy & Mike Benedict
Hi Terry,
Been meaning to write you an email for the past ten days and to tell you how much I enjoyed your book. Well written, humorous and brought back a lot of fond memories. Again thanks a lot.
Lots of Luck with the Book.
Cheers,
Jean Robert
Jedda, Jedda, Khartoum.
Hey Terry
The book was great! I can only imagine how much work it was to put all that on paper. I appreciate the personal parts about ego & fear I know how hard that is to put it right out there in front of God and everyone.... I hope you continue to write, as this was great.
Take care
Mike RED DOG Redmon
Terry
I'm reading your book, and love it. I had no idea you were such a good writer. However, you should warn your readers not to read the prologue just before going to bed if they want to go to sleep.
Will you be writing more books--you have a fan here!!
Cheers
Carol Jeffus
Terry,
Thanks. Randy and Camille just stopped by--they are meeting Kelly for lunch and will give her Eric's book. Randy is reading and enjoying!
Colleen Reece
Terry
I just finished your book and I enjoyed it very much. It must have been a tough
book to write. Some who read the book will say you embellished quite a bit to make it interesting. As a small part of that scene I know that you didn't embellish at all, only toned it down so you could publish without getting a lot of people into trouble.
I thank you very much.
Best of luck,
Oscar Peterson
Hi, Terry
My name is Barbara Peterson - my dad is Oscar
Peterson.
I finished reading your book a week or so ago...
I really enjoyed reading it. Although I was growing up
during the 70s I didn't really grasp all that was
going on with AIA/MarkAir - I knew we left AK for
Florida and then returned, and then of course we all
went over to Jo'burg/Lobatse for 18 months...Thanks again.
Barbara Peterson
Hi Terry
Finished your book and think you have done a wonderful job. Thank you for sending my own personalized copy! The writing is very good! How did you learn how to do that going to Darrington High? I wrote my review on Amazon and it will be 48 hours before it comes out the email said! Anyway, this is my first review on Amazon so I learned something.
Janice Tinto
Terry,
Just got home from Dallas (recurrent) late Friday night to find that your book had arrived in the mail from Barnes & Nobel, as I just finished it, I stared at the back cover one more time wishing there was just one more chapter. The book played like a Hi-Def DVD in my head the whole time. Choosing between the things to include or exclude must have been a mental tussle. Maybe there's more to come? Thanks for sharing and thanks for the flood of similar memories that I had all but forgotten, but they all came rushing back...
Best Regards,
Bruce Gorham
Terry,
You’re book was really good...All these years you were an O’tarheel...I loved it and will write more of my thoughts down and forward later. Thought you might enjoy reading this and the other email. A budding young pilot climbing the ladder. He really enjoyed your book. He said he couldn't put it down. And he wishes he could have done that kind of flying.
Also I loaned your book to a pilot friend of mine. I saw him this morn and got the book back. He also really enjoyed it. Also really liked the humor. He flew in Ak with LAB out of southeast. He started later than us and really wished he could have flown the interior and slope, and the overseas stuff. His sister and mother both also read it and really enjoyed it. And they don't even fly. So I think your book appeals to a spectrum of people. I'm anxious for your next one.
Dave Krone
Greetings Terry Reece,
Just finished your book, and thoroughly enjoyed it. Very well done! This brings a flood of memories of sights, sounds & smells from places like Umiat and GSI cat trains. Don't care to do that stuff again, but wouldn't trade it for anything.
Thanks again for the great read, I hope to have the opportunity to obtain a personally autographed copy, maybe this spring?
Blue Skies & Tailwinds!
Mike koskovich
Dear Captain Reece,
I am almost finished reading your book, and frankly, hate to see it end! I have thoroughly enjoyed your adventures...from being a smoke jumper to doodlebugging to being a bush pilot in Alaska. Wow! I sure hope that I can come back as a bush pilot in my next life!
I am a pilot and have done a bit of flying in Alaska and Africa, but nothing that compares with your kind of flying.
Thanks for writing it down and sharing it with the rest of us.
Nancy Warren
Indiana Chapter of
Ninety-Nines
Hi Terry,
Your book did bring back a lot of memories. What really struck me, as you
rotated the weatherboard. I can see it, twirling it around.
I also remembered stories about Neil, firing Church on one day and then calling him the next and telling him to get his ass back to work. Thanks again for your book.
Bub Hallett
Terry,
Being the last guy you probably thought you would ever hear from, I had to write and tell you how much I enjoyed "Flying"...it was a real page turner. More then once my wife, Bonnie, would want to know what I was laughing about as I was reading it. I 'm sure you hear over the years, of sitting in the cockpit, some one ought to write a book, I heard it several times and may have said it myself. I was especially glad to see that someone had the balls to write it the way it was, at least what I saw from my prospective, being the late comer that I was. In the 20+ years I was there I can honestly say the flying was great, even if we scared ourselves half to death.
Congratulations on a great read Terry. All the best to you and your family.
Bob Guay
Terry
19 years with AIA MarkAir I have memories of some great adventures. Some I forgot until, Flying North Southeast and West. A great look back at your life’s adventures.
Good job Terry and good luck!
Bruce Moroney
Captain Reece,
Do you remember a pilot named Bruce Hair? I used to fly with you at AIA about a hundred years ago. I just ran across your book and will be ordering it as soon as I get home. I'm currently flying a SAR helicopter for the UAE Airforce and live in Perth, Western Australia.
Best of luck on your book, it looks fascinating.
Happy Holidays and Best Regards.
Bruce Hair
Terry,
Thanks for the fast reply. I will send the book for an autograph after Xmas when I receive it. I thought after I read it, that I would also write a nice review on Amazon.com. Maybe it will help you sell a few books. I am going to send a post Xmas order to Amazon for a few books to give my god-son and others. It will be a treat having them read about "our" flying history. All they have heard from me are stories about living in FAI and the -40 to -50 below North Slope flying experience. I am going to talk your book up with all my American Airlines co-pilots and make sure all of my ERA Aviation pilot friends know about it. I am sure they will want to pick up a copy.
(I flew ERA Twin otters & CV-580's out of FAI and ANC from 1975 to 1981. It was my AIA "furlough" job.)
Dale was always a kick to fly with. Lots of : "Hurry up engineer, I don't have all day to kill waiting for you to get those damn generators on line!" All this while taxiing 90 mph down the runway at Camp Lonely, Tunavik, or Umiat!
Have a good holiday!
Guy Goodboe
Capt.767 Intn'l SFO
American Airlines
Capt Terry,
Read your book,enjoyed it as it brought back many memories of the best days and times of my 40+ year aviation career.
The 1968 to 1984 period of Herc flying in Alaska along with the international portion was a unique chapter of aviation history that up to now was all but forgotten.
Thank you for putting a small part of it in a book for all of us to enjoy.
looking back at those days and times we forget what a fine and talented group of pilots, loadmasters and mechanics we were fortunate enough to work with.
In todays PC world i doubt if it will ever happen again. Flying the jets later in my career,while the equipment was wonderful, the adventure never equaled the Herc days.
Capt Curt Holley (ual ret.)
Wasilla,Alaska
Hi Terry and Nancy:
I think your book is fabulous. And you definitely have a GLB to put up with your adventures around the world. My Goodness! I do hope she was not aware of the dangers you were in in some of those trips you made to other countries outside of the U.S. I don't know what I would have done in your shoes. I think I would have been pretty scared.
Those adventures around Sturgeon's farm I can relate to, as I flew with Anthony when I was a teen. Not sure why my mom let me go up in those flimsy planes as a kid growing up. I think about it now and it gives me chills again. Thank you so much for the book. I enjoyed it very much and will send a check for a hard-bound as a keepsake.
Best to you and Nancy,
Joann Cashingham
Terry
I am really looking forward to re-living some of my earlier life and
remembering names that I haven't seen or come across for years...
what's this 3 glasses of wine and ready for bed... what happened to the
3 bottles and Where are we going now?
I hope you make it back across one day and we can tell more war
stories.. and once again thanks for the book - I will treasure it
Best
Chris Chapman
London, UK
Hi Terry,
Happy Thanksgiving!!!!!
I haven't gotten very far in the book, BUT you are doing one fantastic job. "Congratulations". You and your wife have had quite an adventurous life.
Do you think you'll do another book?
Take care and thank you again. I'm anxious to get it sent to my brother and see what he say's about the book.
Betty Morgan
Dear Capt. Reece,
I just finished your book. I regret that I will have to have my attorney contact you regarding an injury I suffered laughing so hard that I fell out of my chair and cracked a rib.
I may be laid up for weeks.
Congratulations on your humor. Being a poor excuse for an amateur pilot myself
( 2000 hrs. plus in cubs, Beavers, and currently a 295 Helio Courier) I really enjoyed
your tales.
Thanks again for the great book...
Warmest Regards,
E.J. Meinhardt
Anchorage, Alaska
Hello Terry,
We're going to run a book review in the April issue of Smokejumper magazine. Do you have a jpeg or electronic photo of the cover that I can use with the review?
I'll have Pam Cosgrove contact you so that we can also add your book to the NSA merchandising list via the web site and magazine inserts.
Chuck Shelby,
smokejumper.com
Terry,
Really enjoyed your book. Well written for somebody in the know, or uninformed people also. During your Libya I had just checked into a hotel at Heathrow and when I got to the room I turned on the TV (telly). And low and behold there was Garry White's face filling up the screen. I didn't get in at the beginning but I had enough info that a civilian Herc was detained in Libya. Didn't hear much else. When I got back to Jeddah there wasn't much more news. People at the embassy said that the government was over a barrel and obligated to deliver a Herc to them. Because of an embargo, they used an Alaska carrier and allowed an incident to deliver the aircraft. Somewhere, maybe in Heathrow, or elsewhere I saw a picture of an Interior Herc. It's welcoming to hear the real story.
Best Regards,
Read Chase
Terry,
Great book! Looking from the “other” side of things in Ethiopia, When Mengitsu declared a coup in 1974-1975 he killed about 165 generals and cabinet ministers and declared Ethiopia red and the Russians moved into Ethiopia and we left Kagnew. As the situation developed,Eritrea was not given sovereignty as promised and the Christian Orthodox and Coptic Christian factions of the ELF then started action against the Russians and Quadfi in the Eritrean areas. Mengitsu and his allies (Russians Quadfi et al) blew the reservoirs and supply chains and propagated the famine because they could not defeat the Christian ELF.
I would suggest that because all sides needed the Asmara airport operational you were allowed in and the goal was probably to keep your Herc ,and you guys were probably expendable or a negotiating leverage. The Flyby and the missile were probably and attempt to get you to return to the field. Lucky you didn't.
Best Regards,
R.......
Hi Terry,
JIm Branham sent me a copy of your book. A good job, I'm impressed, a very good read.
Best Regards,
Dick Lord
“T”:
I really want to thank you for your book. When I started reading it, I couldn’t put it down—read right through it. I REALLY enjoyed it, very interesting, and very well written. Anyway, it was great---the stories were so interesting, and they would confuse me with some of my escapades, different, but in the same avenue of thought. My stories involve Jimmy Hoffa, Teamsters, Detroit , yours, Africa, bad guys, and escape. I’ll tell you again I REALLY ENJOYED your book.
THANKS FOR BEING YOU. Your one of the best in my book. Best regards,
GOD Bless you and your family.
“Z” Gene Zerkel
Terry:
Loved the book. Bought it and finished it by the next day. You and I have some things in common and I meant to write earlier. I learned to fly at Arlington, Wa back in 1966 and many of the places are very familiar to me. Bought a part of a Champ back in those days and flew all around the area until I graduated from the U of W in 1967. Went in to the AF and flew there for the next 27 years. Was stationed in Fairbanks, AK from 75-77, flying out of Eielson and Shemya. Did some bush flying while I was there and enjoyed it. Post AF I lived on Blakely Island in the San Juans (off of Anacortes) and flew charters out of Friday Harbor. For the past five years I have been operating a single pilot -135 charter operation with a PC12 here in Sacramento. Really enjoyed the book and hope you are having a great time in "retirement" (something I plan to do later this year).
Sincerely
Mark Smith
Man of letters.
Do you remember drinking Port Sudan out of Camel Beer. Flying to Khartoum for resupply and meeting the Italian fish buyer restaurant owner from Austria Antigua at the mouth of the Tiber River. He told us the story about Guido Monzino changing ponies at every national border as he was duplicating Marco Polo's trip to Peking. Guido made it as far as Afghanistan. If I told that story in a bar I'd be cut off.
When we were banned from the British Club we were accepted in the German Club to drink with the Irish flight crews curled around the bottoms of the bar stools,
And as we flew into Khartoum there we frequently saw a stream of old US Surplus T6 trainers with heavy wings heading South toward Darfur, We never did fly to the developing oil fields. Thats why we left Botswana to service the oil field. Today we read news about it in the newspapers, The Chinese drill those oil fields today. We were a modern company, bankrupt in 95 and have a relevance in todays news.
Ah... the good old days.
Best Regards,
C.P. Smith
From Smokejumper Magazine Review
...Captain Reece has a wry and self-effacing sense of humor, and his book is a charming autobiography. It will be of principal interest to bush pilots or those who aspire to adventurous aviating rather than the conventional. Even if your not a pilot....you’ll like it too...a fine job of writing.
Reviewer Carl Gidlund (Smokejumper Missoula ’58) for Smokejumper Magazine
April 08
Captain Reece,
Great read; just finished your book. I also spent 3 years in Alaska during the pipe line construction. Was hired by Jack Spurgeon, who I had met in Saigon. I was just ahead of him and Stinky landing in Anchorage when they crashed. Your book brings many memories and the times I had bouncing around the world. Keep up the good work.
Porter Pierce
Vancouver, WA.
US Navy; Air America: Overseas National Airways: Winship Air Service/TroyAire; Evergreen Intnl; Douglas Aircraft Company; Jet America; Alaska Airlines. RETIRED!
Captain Reece,
Ray Wells and I attend the same church in Anchorage and have had many conversations regarding our individual flying experience in Alaska over the past 30+ years.
He suggested I read your book based upon my early experience in Alaska as a helicopter pilot who started on the North Slope in 1969 flying out of Sagwon for Pease-Hamilton Helicopters, owned by Hamilton Brothers Oil Company.
I found your early accounts flying on the NS very similar to my own experience dealing with weather, operational conditions, and the challenges of flying in the Arctic.
I was especially reminded of the fatal accident of the Twin Otter flown by George Mockler (11H) at Sagwon. I was at that fog covered location the evening of the accident and hovered my Bell 204B helicopter out to the accident site on the north end of the runway. Several earlier missed approaches had been attempted earlier that evening without success. The recovery operations was one of my sadder memories. I spent 3 summers flying sling loads and crew changes from Sagwon and all along the north shore line from Olicktok to the Canning River involved with a seismic helidrill operation.
Your experience and accounts of the diversity of your flying career were very entertaining and offered much that I could associate with during the Interior Airways days. Thank you for the investment of time and effort to share your life and aviation experience with the many of us who have flown or wished they could have. As a Vietnam helicopter veteran and commercial pilot for 10 years in Alaska, your book struck a chord with me and my own experience flying throughout Alaska.
VERN WATTS, LTC(R), USA.
Captain Terry;
I read a ton of flying books and I just wanted to say that I enjoyed your book more than I can express.
Either you are one heckuvva writer, or you had the skill to select a good ghost-writer, because the book measures up to the best, Ernie Gann and Richard Bach included. I am proud to say that I am keeping your book in my library.
Years ago, 1993 to be exact, I wrote a story for the Water Flying annual (Seaplane Pilots Assn. publication) about the first Otter on Wipline floats. I was privileged to interview Markair pilot, Jim Larson who spoke to me from Dutch Harbor! In those days I was an eager young aviation writer looking for assignments and this was a great story. I was invited to visit the Aleutians to see the whole Markair operation for myself, but I would have to get to Chicago to catch the necessary flight north. Needless to say, the cost of that was hugely beyond any compensation I'd get for the story! I had to turn the offer down.
Anyway, I have already recommended your book to my aviation friends, and I wish you the best of everything.
Noel Allard
Menahga, MN 56464
Hi Terry,
I enjoyed reading your book.
My Mom, Punky Helgeson, loaned me her copy. We are Nancy's cousins and I remember visiting you in Fairbanks in the early 60's when our family took a trip to Alaska.
I spent 7 years in Ketchikan as and engineer and surveyor. Some of my fondest memories of that were getting to spend alot of time flying in beavers to different job sites.
Russ Helgeson
Captain Reece,
I am an "aviation enthusiast" as they call them over here in Europe, living in Ireland. I have bought a copy of your excellent book, which i greatly enjoyed reading, and then also managed to acquire a copy of the book written by Jim Magoffin on the history of Interior Airways, so I have read a lot about aviation in Alaska. I have visited Alaska a few times to see the great aircraft you have up there, the first time in 1978 when there were still a few of the old C-82s, C-47 and C-46 in Interior Airways colors still around.
Could I please ask you a question? When Alaska International Air changed its name to Markair and became a Boeing 737 operator, as far as I can make out, Markair continued to operate three Hercules N106AK, N107AK and N108AK, which continued in service until the early 1990s. I wonder what Markair, which was basically a passenger airline with jets, did with these three Hercs. Were they active in Alaska, or Canada or Europe/Africa, I wonder, the same as has been described for Alaska International. Perhaps they had some specific role for Markair? Any information you could give me on what Markair did with these aircraft would be much appreciated.
Best wishes from Ireland
Sincerely
Karl Hayes
Terry,
Enjoyed your book. You have probably forgotten this but our daughter, Nancy, worked during the summers late 80's and early 90's during college. She has never forgotten you arranging a visit to one of the large, six engine Russian, freighters.
Glad you honored Jeannine McGee, she was truly the "Mother Hen" for all of us. Her early passing points out life is precious and temporary.
Ron Lund, meet him many years later, perhaps I should say decades, than you at Herman's Air later MarkAir Express. Nice to know he and Rose have had such a good life.
You mentioned North Dakota where I spent four or five years in the aviation department at the University of North Dakota. In some ways it was a lot like MarkAir, at least for me, helping students get jobs with the old connections and never taking no for an answer.
One of the biggest things I always appreciated at MarkAir, was the fact that Neil, Ralph and the "Z" gave me a chance. Jimmy Branham was great especially during a trip, you never needed an opinion, he had one for you. Ask him about our trip to Florida and leaving the car windows open. Among other things he said 'you had to have only one eye to be a check pilot, Jean and Ray." In your case and others guess you closed one eye
Loyal Johnson, I sure respected him. Like Neil said, “it takes 100 people to run the operation 8-5 five days per week and Loyal runs it the rest of the time all alone.”
Terry, I liked your comment about management being as mad at you as the pilots were, when you negotiated the labor contracts. That's respect and you certainly earned all our respect.
Best Regards.
Dick Nelson
MarkAir 1987-1994
Terry,
Greetings.
I ordered your book. As far as what to write in the cover,
I would be the last person to try to put words in your mouth. Use
your best judgment!
I've remarried and settled in Homer. Here are a couple of pictures of my new life. Come up and go fishing with me. I have a boat. I see your old place down at the lake.
My new wife (4 years) has two small children in school here so that kind of keeps us pinned down.
There was a MarkAir reunion last fall. I was only able to stay for a short time early in the evening and only saw a few of the old gang but it was nice and brought back a lot of memories.
Stay in touch.
Your friend,
Neil
Captain Reece,
Enjoyed your book, it was encouraging to me. I turned 54 this year and am trying to decide if I should try and spend the last years working as a pilot. With 2000 hours SEL and Commercial/Instrument I barely have a start but your narratives proved what can be accomplished despite the obstacles.
Best Wishes in 2009
Dennis Snedegar
San Angelo, TX
Terry,
Enjoyed your book. Wish you had written it sooner. I am here at Southwest, going on 11 years.
Best Regards,
Dan Looker
Hi Terry, I still remember one of your bits of advice you passed on during IOE. Push the weather into DUT or wherever and you may be a hero for an hour but bend an airplane and they will remember you for ever. I pass this bit O wisdom on occasionally in the name of Terry Reece.
Thanks.
Brian Jackson
Alaska Airlines
Hey, Old Timer--
I just came across your fine book, and was really surprised at your talent for writing. I put it on my "want list" for Father's Day, and it was duly delivered (from Dennis Parrish-AIA- and his wife, my daughter); I really did enjoy it. I now know, among other things, why you played the guitar so well one night in Ft Yukon. I sure did enjoy flying your beautiful PA-12 back when you were instructing a fellow in my Champ (remember, the engine would quit on final if not regularly cleared? No carb heat.). That plane took me a long ways. There were lots of names and photos in the book during the earlier parts that too were fun reminiscences.
Best of luck to you and Nancy. Oh yes--I hope you write another book, your style is great, and I'll be in line to buy it!
Cheers,
Carl Jeglum
Still plugging along in FAI after 55 years
Captain Reece,
I want to tell you how much I enjoy your book. I have read it several times since I got it last year in Anchorage. I just turned 60 in July and for the past 5 years have flown a Caravan out of Spokane for Empire Airlines and
FedEx after flying cargo, regional airline, back-country, mapping, airattack throughout the West, NW, Canada and Alaska. I enjoyed the stories that you included in your book, but especially the honesty, humor and humility in your story telling. Thank you and good luck in the future to you and your family.
Sincerely,
Bruce A. Barr
Hi Terry:
I remember when I tried to run interference for the pilots by being a dispatcher of sorts for the crew. About once a month or so Joe would take a few hours off. Merv Graham (Canadian Mobil) was the company man for west side. He came into the radio room and told me he wanted to go to one of the other sites. I mentioned that Joe was not available this morning. The hell he isn’t, Merv mentioned and went to Joe’s room. Well the night before he and the mechanic got some ‘turbine oil’ and beer. There were beer labels all over the wall, plus empty vodka/everclear bottles etc. The mechanic was asleep with his head between two speakers- playing the Black Watch LP. Too funny. Merv came back with a funny look on his face and said, “I guess I’m not flying today”. I got him another ride. Nothing more was said- that’s how much they liked Joe. They had to give him some slack as he stayed on site for months at a time.
Dan Cloud I knew well. Just talking on the Unicom- I mentioned that I was out of smokes to Dan. He stopped at Deadhorse or somewhere and told me to go outside the shack, a little later. Sure enough he made a low pass and delivered a carton via a jury rigged parachute. It hit the ground a pack fell out and the top was partially opened and a cigarette or two came out about and inch, ready to serve…Dan- I believe went to Air America for a while.
Jim Taylor was quite a talker- I always wondered how the guys at Pt Bullen put up with him for just a few days in the confined camp. I kept running into Jim since he was tight w/ Mobil. He was quite a man. He had a lot of construction experience- a lot in the Arctic.
Thanks for the picture of the herc. Just as an aside, re turbine oil. I was on the slope nearly a year, when offloading some supplies- low and behold there was a case of turbine oil. Had never seen it before or thought they ever made. I must have passed on an order for supplies to a pilot heading south at least half a dozen times that included turbine oil at the end of an order…Never thought they made it- only Everclear or vodka or some such thing ever would show up.
More to come,
Thanks
Bob Cleary
Hi Cap.
The book is great. I got it the other day at the air museum at Lake Hood in Anchorage. Your old bud Bob Johnson is from my home town in Minn. Let me know how your doing, although from what I've seen, your doing O.K.
Thanks
Bergie (Gary Bergman)
Captain Reece
I just wanted to tell you that Flying North South East and West was one of the best books that I have ever read. I am a loadmaster and was taught my craft by a man mentioned in your book a few times(Steve Scott). I would give this book out to anyone that wants to learn to fly, as I am in the process of learning myself. But like I said this was a great read, and I loved every page of it.
Jimmie Wayne
Terry
Bought a copy of your book Flying North and found the picture of me under the wing of the twin otter at T3.
Appreciate you using that picture. I suspect you had a bunch of others to choose from.
I see a quote from Oscar Peterson. Did you keep track of him and do you have an address or email address? Not sure if you knew he and Phil Miner stayed with Karen and I in our apartment for some time.
I bought a copy of Jim Magoffin's book and was standing in line waiting for an autograph when I heard the guy in front of me say his name was Mark Ranstead. I asked if he was related to Dale, who had already passed away, and he turned and said that Dale was his father. Then on a closer look at me he said "You are the guy in the picture." "We used that picture at Dad's funeral service." He was referring to an article in the Anchorage times about Dale and I landing on a deserted strip West of Sagwon to pick up some guy who had run out of gas. We took him to Sag for gas. Turned out we were carrying a group of ladies who had won some contest or something and we had a BP photographer on board. Since we were on the BP contract that made sense.
Anyway, lots of years and lots of trips. I got on with Alaska in 1985 and ended up 737-400 captain for the last eight years. I left 6 months early due to Karen's illness and ended up with a final date of May31, 2001. After 9/11 was glad I had made the call to leave early.
Hope all is well for you and your family and that the book sells very well.
Best regards,
Larry Huffman (Alaska Airlines, AIA)
Hello again Terry... I don't often re-read books, as there are SO many out there to read. I didn't have anything new around, and spotted your book on the shelf... So, I read it again... I think the 1st time thru, I was caught up with the story, and anxious to get to the next chapter to read the adventures.. This time, as I knew how the story goes, I was more relaxed, and as a result, I enjoyed your story WAY more this time around!! Part of it was because I'd read Magoffin's book since yours, and that tied some things together, but more than that, I think I picked up on A LOT more of your humor in the style of the way you described things that I don't think I got the 1st time thru... "we checked the mags, left it on the good one" Stuff like that!! I laughed WAY more this time thru!! Again, I think you wrote a wonder full book, a great perspective of a very interesting time in Alaskan, and worldwide aviation during your career, so I'm saying thanks for the effort you took to produce the book, and share your story with those of us who are interested in, but have no idea about flying in your era... headed back to your neighborhood (the Bull Hill Ranch) at the end of July this summer, SO, if by chance you're around it would be a pleasure for me to meet you, say thanks in person for sharing your story, I'd even buy the beers at Steve & Sally's!!! My one last comment is, it sure is interesting to me how my little disastrous flip-over in my Cub could open the door to meeting one heck of a swell guy in Tony, having him share your book with me, hearing about your life of flying, and kinship with a friend I've yet to meet!!
George..
Hi Terry,
I enjoyed reading your book, it was interesting & brought back a lot of Alaskan memories. AIA/MarkAir pilots were the best I ever flew with.
Jim Clark
Air North (Fairbanks)
MarkAir 1984-1987
America West
US Airways, Retired
Captain,
I just finished reading your book and I thought I would let you know that it brought back some really great memories. I made 5 trips to Liberia, to Roberts Field and I scheduled my trips in one way via different airports and out via others and some of those trips took me to some of the locations that you and your crew were at. I was assigned to the Omega Navigation System Center in Virginia for 6 years during my military career and my twilight tour was the Omega Station at Kaneohe Hawaii. I circumnavigated the globe by air, not because I wanted to, but was forced to as I got caught in Sri Lanka and couldn’t go back east but had to continue west. I travelled top all 8 stations around the globe, and like I mentioned touching down in some of your past spots. I spent a lot of time up in Alaska, Nome, Dutch Harbor, Kodiak etc. and the stories you told were great. Thanks for the memories.
Matthew Bezayiff
Chief Electronics Technician (Ret)
U.S. Coast Guard
Dear Captain Reece
Great book and a real joy to read
Didn't want it to finish
All the very best mate
Martin Langan
Terry,
I can't tell you how much I enjoyed reading your book again. It reminded to appreciate that very special time in our young lives.
What adventures we had!
Steve
Steve Foss
Sir-
I just finished "North,South,East,and West" Great book. I'm a retired corporate pilot. Even though I never got an opportunity to fly anything as big as a Herc, my experiences over a 50 odd year flying career are very similar to yours. Thanks for bring back the memories.
-Jerry Cohen
Captain Reece
Great book and a real joy to read. Didn't want it to finish.
All the very best mate
Martin Langan
Good morning to you Captain Reece:
I just administered a Annual Proficiency Check to Captain Les Nicoll aBoeing 747-400 Captain here at Korean Air. I always use the criteria you trained me to use in judgement.Is he Safe?Does he follow procedures?Does he know the Standard Call Outs?Of course he did! He was trained at MarkAir.
Captain Reece I can not thank you enough for all the inspiration,training and your confidence in me that I would be a proficient pilot.
You had given me the tools to survive after MarkAir and a more thancomfortable life style due to the job I have as a Training CenterExaminer here in Korea working for Boeing.
Merry Xmas and Happy New Year from Captain Les Nicoll and myself!
With all respect and gratitude,
Kristopher Paull
Captain Reece- Hello from York, PA. Just finished your book and loved every bit of it. I had the privilege of living in Anchorage as a boy and I loved going to Lake Hood and watching the bush planes take off. It was in Alaska that my obsession for aviation started, an obsession that continues on to this day. Best regards,
Patrick Colvin
Hi Terry,
Bought (that should count for something!) and read your book while doing research for a novel I'm writing. The protagonist takes a ride in a Herc from South Carolina to West Africa (through Gander, Keflavik, Stuttgart, etc.). I illustrate my books with photos (like the hand drawn illustrations in old volumes). Do you have a cockpit photo I could use (with attribution)?
Thanks,
Craig McConnell
Terry,
Finally, a spare moment to write and say how much I enjoyed your book. It was definitely worth the wait, and I read it cover to cover as soon as I got it. Congrats on an honest and entertaining story that was well told.
Best Regards,
Mike Laverty, WestJet
Hi Terry
I found your book on Amazon and certainly enjoyed it. It brought back many memories of Interior, AIA, MarAir and the great people in the company. I wish to thank you and Joe Burroughs for the good instruction in the B-737 simulator.
Captain John Seamonds
Terry
Thanks for sharing your career! You put it down very well. It was great to 'feel' every chapter.
It truly did bring up many memories of the experience's that I had with a lot of the folks mentioned. I too recieved my first twin instrument flying with Don J. GoodJohnson dropped me off at Sagwon when i went up to retreive a cat gower that Bob Schot and Gordy Whitmer partnered on. Bill Ellis was with me on that jaunt and we took a brand new knodwell of Alaska Geo's that was parked at Sag and went off cross country to suzy-1 to retrieve the goer. It had been sitting for several years; however, it was pickled properly and we had it running and ready to go in about 10 hours.
hell, i better tget started!..Thanks again for the tears of joy, sorrow, and laughter as i traveled with you flyhing north south east and west!
Warmest Regards ole friend
Dg Creamer
Hi Terry:
Thanks for the note.
Glad to see you are still enjoying life and having fun.
I did get a kick out of your book, especially when you
Resolute Bay, Rea Point and Yellowknife all have stories to tell
It was good to see Garry White and Jerry Vink again in December.
Amazing how we are all aging " just a little " and retirement looms.
Hope you enjoy every day to the fullest and write many more books.
All the best
Stu
Terry
What a thrill it was to stumble on your book on Amazon as I was doing some learning about the pipeline days in Fairbanks. I hung on almost every word you wrote.
You made your adventures so real and yet from a very understated perspective. I can only imagine about some of the details that were left out.
In closing, I have to say that all the letters you shared of people's reactions and recollections to your book show just how many lives you affected in a positive way. Well done. Your book was one of the few that honestly made me sad as I got to the end, knowing that the adventure was coming to a close.
I hope you, Nancy and the rest of your family are well. I hope I cross paths with you again.
James Robertson
Hi Terry,
AIA/MARKAIR. The memories of the adventures we had, will last forever. Some of the things that four engine cub could do was amazing! Good luck and thanks for bring back things I haven't thought about in a long time.
Best regards,
Tim Minsch
Captain Reece
Hi Terry, r.e Jackal Scat
I really did enjoy the book! It's a real page turner, and an interesting yarn to boot. As an Alaskan I particularly enjoyed it because of the familiar areas, aircraft, etc. Needless to say, I am not familiar with Botswanna, but the Alaskan parts I knew pretty well. What made it really fun was your injection of some things familiar, such as Trooper Haugsven, and then his first name as another Trooper. Likewise, the mention of a Globe Swift, which you owned one of. Towards the end, when the Aero Commander came in, I thought of many, many hours in old 92U. One iceing night I flew it from Umiat to FAI on instruments, with ice crashing off the props a good part of the way. Bob Johnson was having a good time sitting and watching me sweat! We had originated at Kavik, but the gasoline heater went out, so we landed at Umiat to get it relit. Ah, the old days.....
I puzzled over the name of the book, all the way thru, until.........ta da, the last page, and there it was! Parking the Cub in the rear of the Herc seemed a bit far out, but then, how else was the hero to get into the plane to save the day?
It's a fun book, and I enjoyed it. Keep at the writing. I look forward to a fourth book from your pen.
Best regards,
Carl Jeglum
Terry,
I just finished reading your great book. I really enjoyed it. You have a gift for writing. Some 21 years ago you took myself and Bubba Madden fishing out of Homer. IWe caught silver salmon, char, pike and habibut. I still have a picture of the 140lb one I caught.
I hope you and your family are doing well. My wife and I are trying to visit as many crazy places as we can before we get too old. A couple of years ago I had to walk across a plank between two mountains in the Andes and this year we went hiking in Bhutan in the high Himalayas. For the first time since the trip with you I am going back to Homer in early Sept, this time with my wife not Bubba. If you still now any good fishing captains in Homer I would appreciate their names& numbers. If its not too late in the season I would like to catch another halibut or salmon. Also if you know any special thing or place there or between Anchorage and Homer ( we are driving) I would appreciate it. And if you ever get down to Florida we can go fishing with a friend of mine ( I took Bubba) back in the Everglades where you have to lie flat in a little boat with mangroves overhead till you come out to these lakes and islands with snook that dance on the water when you hook them.
Best regards,
Vinnie
Vinnie Flynn