Thomas H. Atkinson

Early 1950's went to the Culmerville Airport, Culmerville, PA. to see Duane Cole and the Cole Brothers Airshow, which was my first introduction to aviation.

Late 1958 joined the Army to pursue a career in Aviation Maintenance.

In 1959 was sent to Ft. Eustis, Va. to attend school on the Hiller H-23 and the Bell H-13.

Late 1959 found me assigned to Ft. Benning, GA. where I worked on the Army H-34.

1960 found me assigned to the 593rd Maintenance Detachment. We were a maintenance organization attached to the 19th Transportation Co. They flew the Sikorsky H-37 Mojave. The Army's first heavy lift helicopter. I was a Crew Chief and Flight Engineer. The H-37 had two R2800 Rafdial Engines.

Our unit was involved with the first demonstration of adding weapons to helicopters. H-13s had machine guns, H-34 & 37 had rocket launchers installed. We demonstrated the concept to Pentagon Personnel and it led into the Air Cavalry formation.

Left the military in 1962 and had a couple of years of non-aviation jobs.

In May of 1963 I answered a newspaper ad from United Airlines for R2800 Engine Mechanics.

In early June of 1963 I was hired by United Airlines.

Worked about 2 months on R2800 engines and was transferred to their Jet Engine Shop.

Worked on the following engines:

-P&WJT3-C6
-P&WJT3-C7
-P&WJT3-D1
-P&WJT3-D7
-P&WJT8D-1 and -7
-P& W JT4
-RR Avons (from the Caravelle)
-P&WJT9D
-GE CF 6

In 19661 applied to United to become a pilot, took and passed all the tests, but wasn't selected due to low flight time.