Memories of a TWA pilot! On Thursday, Oct. 17, N.H. native J.D. Clarke presented ‘From Open Cockpit to Around the World,’ a talk about his six decades in aviation.
Clarke, 85, began flying at Newport’s Parlin Field in the years after World War II; his aviation career included 20 years as a flight engineer and pilot for Trans World Airlines, one of the nation’s major carriers throughout the 20th century before it was absorbed by American Airlines in 2001.
Among his memories: changing the bulb of a reading light for a distinguished passenger, Katherine Hepburn! A former instructor at Hawthorne College in Antrim, N.H. and Aviation Museum volunteer, Clarke is now retired; he and his wife Carolyn reside in Center Strafford, N.H.
Clarke’s presentation was part of the Aviation Museum’s ‘Exploring Aviation’ lecture series, which is sponsored in part by Grappone Auto. A videotape of his talk will be soon posted in the video library area of our website.
Our next ‘Exploring Aviation’ presentation will be Thursday, Nov. 7 at 7 p.m., when we’ll hear from Leah Dearborn, author of the recently published book ‘Grenier Field: A Beacon For The Home Front.‘ Mark your calendars!
The program started at 7 p.m. at the Aviation Museum of N.H. and was open to the public. Admission to the event was free for Aviation Museum members; $10 per person for non-members.
The Aviation Museum, a non-profit 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization based in the 1937 art deco passenger terminal at Manchester-Boston Regional Airport, is dedicated to preserving the Granite State’s rich aviation past, and also inspiring today’s students to become the aviation and aerospace pioneers of tomorrow.
The Aviation Museum of N.H. was named “Best Place to Take Kids” and “Best Place to Geek Out” in southern New Hampshire in the 2024 HippoPress Reader’s Poll.
