Ketch Ketchum

Broschiertes Buch

Alaska Pilot Ketch Ketchum: I Couldn't Do It Again

Beschreibung

Ketch Ketchum's story is like many other people who grew up in America's Great Depression. He was raised on his parents' homestead in Readyville, Idaho. Ketch and his brothers milked cows, dug postholes, collected firewood, and marched to the tune of a strict father. He joined the Army Air Corp in 1942, married his high school sweetheart, Marguerite, and traveled the world with the new United States Air Force. Ketch retired as a Major Command pilot in 1964, and this is when his Alaska adventure begins. Traveling north on the Alaska Canada Highway in a trailer with three kids, the family's road ended in Anchorage, Alaska. Ketch, building on his Air Force flying career, mastered the single engine planes of the Alaska bush pilots. Eventually, he and Marguerite established Ketchum Air Service on Lake Hood and never looked back. The next 35years were devoted to flying the Alaska wilderness. He transported hunters and fishermen, flew ski-planes for winter seismic exploration on the North Slope, supplied aircraft support during the Exxon Valdez oil spill cleanup, and grew the air service business from one to twelve airplanes. These are the stories of his flying exploits in Alaska.

Autor

Ketch Ketchum grew up on his parent's homestead in Readyville, a community in Southern Idaho. He lived the lifestyle-milking cows, digging post holes, working, and riding horses. And yes, he and his three brothers walked a mile summer and winter to the one-room school house. By 1942 Ketch, age 19, signed into the Army Air Corps Cadet Training Program and graduated as a pilot. He was commissioned second lieutenant and flew C-46 cargo airplanes in the vast Pacific regions and the Philippines. His squadron was on Okinawa when Japan capitulated, ending WW II on August 15, 1945. After 22 years in the Air Force, he retired as a Major, and he and his wife Marguerite brought their family up the Alcan Highway with a travel trailer to Alaska. He opened Ketchum Air Service on Lake Hood in Anchorage and, for the next 35 years, flew float and ski planes over much of Alaska's wilderness. During winters, he supported Geophysical Crews in the artic and the Valdez oil spill. Summers, he flew out big game hunters and fishermen. More than fifty years later, the Ketchums are still here with their extended Alaskan family, including a passel of rambunctious great-grandkids. As Ketch says, "Alaska is home!"

Produktdetails

• Verlag: Publication Consultants
• Seitenzahl: 514
• Erscheinungstermin: 1. August 2022
• Englisch
• Abmessung: 229mm x 152mm x 26mm
• Gewicht: 680g
• ISBN-13: 9781637471128
• ISBN-10: 1637471122
• Artikelnr.: 64991940