Light Line Construction, 1930

Posted: November 8, 2017


Photo and text submitted by Joe Jennings

Light Line Airway Beacon Construction, Malad, Idaho, March 1930

Francis Joseph Jennings was born on 9 January 1894, in Somerville, MA. He enlisted in the US Navy on 17 November 1917. Frank was honorably discharged aboard the USS Langley, on 22 November 1922 at the rank of an Aviation Machinist Mate First Class. On 26 December 1925, FJJ (as he was also known), married my grandmother, Catherine F. Hans, at St. Peters Church in Washington DC.

FJJ worked as an electrician in the late 20’s. I’m not sure when he came to work for the Dept. of Commerce, Airways Division, probably sometime in 1928. Francis Joseph Jennings died on 17 November, 1931 at Anderson’s Infirmary in Meridian, MI, from complications of “Ruptured Gangrenous Appendix”. My father, FJJ’s son, was born 22 days later on 9 December, 1931 in Washington DC.

 

Francis Joseph Jennings (position unknown)

View below a touching letter written to Mrs. Jennings in 1931, wife of above Francis Joseph Jennings, regarding Joseph’s death in 1931.

Mullen Pass Radio, J. Keith, 1940

Posted: November 8, 2017


Submitted by John Keith

Mullen Pass Radio, Idaho, about 1940

John R. Keith at the radio console. He started his journey with the US Navy as a radioman on the USS Pelican, a seaplane tender.  One of the skills he learned in the Navy was to pound out an
amazing number of words per minute on an old manual typewriter.  John also took a photo of Amelia Earhart, probably on the day she was last seen alive.

After leaving the Navy, he joined the Civil Aeronautics Authority (CAA). His first duty station is believed to be at Mullen Pass, ID about 1940.  Most of John’s career path is depicted below starting in July 1942. You will notice that he didn’t do a standard bureaucratic job advancement. He was insatiably curious, so he wasn’t too worried about the grade/position, rather, he wanted  to experience new places as noted by his son, also John Keith.

07/42     Haines, AK Aircraft Communicator
02/43     Fairbanks, AK Emergency Relief Communicator
02/45     Gulkana, AK Chief Aircraft Communicator
05/48     Homer, AK Chief Aircraft Communicator
10/48     Anchorage, AK Airways Operations Specialist (AOS)
04/49     Haines, AK Station Manager
06/52     St. Thomas, VI AOS
12/52     Superior, MT AOS (until 10/53)
Worked in civilian businesses
01/55     Battle Mountain, NV Electronics Technician
01/56     Galena, AK AOS
12/56     Yakataga, AK Supervisory AOS
03/58     Farmington, NM ATC Specialist
09/58     Santa Barbara, CA ATC Specialist
07/61     Washington, DC Communications Officer (until death in 04/67)