July 15, 2024
Editor’s note: As SEA Airport celebrates its 75th birthday on July 9, we look back at some of the stories and memories of those who have used the airport as a gateway to the rest of the world.
Ethyl Y. Dale’s copy of “Airman’s World” has touched down in more countries across the globe than most books or people have in a lifetime. Its pages tell the story of a woman who lived a life of wanderlust. While traveling the world, she embraced the magic of air travel and connected with her fellow travelers and flight crews along the way.
From 1932 to 1969 the book was her constant companion and diary as she recorded her air travel experiences in the margins of its pages. She lived in Seattle, but her adventures spanned the globe as she jetted off to places near and far like India, Paris, Brussels, Denver, Beirut, Ankara, and Los Angeles. The entries harken back to the golden age of air travel that was synonymous with luxury, comfort, and glamour. Passengers dressed to impress and enjoyed large seats with ample legroom, five-course meals served on fine china, cocktail lounges, caviar, and champagne.
The annotated book is preserved in the archives collection at The Museum of Flight, and the pages hold decades of travel memories. The book reveals handwritten notes on the dates, origins, and destinations of her flights, airlines flown, and signatures from flight crews, including pilots, flight attendants, and others.
The book-turned-travel-diary was donated to the Archives at The Museum of Flight by a friend who left the following note:
“It belonged to a friend of mine, Ethyl Y. Dale, who loved to fly and as the saying goes, she never left home without it.”
Keep reading to uncover entries from her diary and learn more about her experiences in the clouds.
Many of Ethyl’s flights originated at SEA, but she also recorded many other locations, especially cities on the West Coast and a few international locations. The entry above reads:
“You have a most valuable book here. It was quite a shock to find out it has been nine years since we first flew together. Time really does fly. Let’s hope you can make many more entries in your book as the years go by." — Guy
Not every diary entry includes the name of the airline flown, but among those recorded are Northwest Airlines, Pan American World Airways, SAS, United Airlines, and Western Airlines.
A few printed relics from various airlines and photographs and clippings are attached to pages as well. Ethyl also underlined and made notes on passages of text she found meaningful.
“Dear Madam, I wish you many happy and interesting trips in the future. When there is no more space in this book, you’ll have to find another one.”— Best wishes, Borghild Holmisen, SAS Air Host
Ethyl included a clipping of a poem called “Speed” which references airplanes taking flight.
Speed
Speed — overhead
Great airplanes flying
Dipping and diving —
Forging ahead.
Bright wings of airplanes
Leading and guiding
Over the sea
Rising and hiding
Themselves in the clouds,
Then sliding,
Like great giant birds,
Out into the sunlight.
Beside and around them
White seagulls are soaring,
Like wings of the angels,
Not folded, adoring —
But wide-spread
For protection.
Speed,— the great ship
Cutting swift through the gray sea
The heart-beats of its engines
Pulsating steadily.
Not made for destruction,
But active for service.
Fearless, courageous, and strong
To achieve.
Great Mind all over,
Neither coming or going —
Ceaselessly active,
Living and knowing.
— Bertha Rivers-Thompson
How do you keep travel memories alive?
We all have our own ways of remembering our vacations and travel experiences. Maybe it’s an Instagram reel with some of your favorite sights or a Facebook album filled with photos of loved ones enjoying each other’s company. It could be a photo hanging in your living room or your office. Or maybe a souvenir from your travels like a piece of local art, a postcard, or a t-shirt. We want to know. How do you keep your travel memories alive? Tag us on our social channels @flysea.
*Special thanks to The Museum of Flight and Reference Archivist Jenn Parent for sharing this artifact.
