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Mr. B. T. Dykes 1-22-48

M. A. Gitt

Report on a Trip to London on A.O.A.

On Wednesday, January 7, 1948, at 1630EST, I boarded American Overseas Airlines, Flight #60, Flagship Sweden, at New York, for London, England.
Flight #60 was a Lockheed Constellation, specially equipped for trans-ocean or long range operation. It had capacity for about 44 passengers and a crew of nine people. The crew consisted of a Captain and 2 pilots, 2 engineers and one each of the following: Navigator, Radio Operator, Purser and Stewardess.

Our first stop was Boston (a regular scheduled stop). We then departed non-stop for Shannon, Ireland. Shortly after we reached our cruising altitude, we were advised that we would land at Gander, Newfoundland, for repairs, as we were having mechanical difficulties.

We landed at Gander some four hours after our departure from Boston. After a little time, it was suggested that we go to bed and rooms were accordingly provided for us.

We were awakened in the morning after about 5 hours of sleep, had breakfast and then took off again for Shannon and London.

The ocean crossing was completed in about seven hours and thirty minutes. A stop was made at Shannon for dinner and fuel and some 24 hours after leaving New York, we deplaned at London.

The return trip was started in the afternoon, London time, at about 1530G.M.T. on Monday, January 12, 1948. A stop was made at Shannon for dinner and fuel. In making our engine run up at Shannon, we experienced a mechanical difficulty in our number one engine. We taxiied [[taxied]] back to the ramp and held for