War Brides Fly Home For Holiday

Chronicle (Levin), 31 August 1949, Page 5

War Brides Fly Home For Holiday

(N.Z.P.A.-

-Reuter.

Copyright)

Received Tuestlay 7 p.m. LONDON, August 29. A Rkymaster airliner arrived at Nor- * tholt Airport carrying 41 British wives of ■t'onncr Anicriean servieemen and 27 children who will spend a holiday lu Britain. Tlu* servieemen 's wives and children had cliartered the plane themaelves, It llew t'roni Calit'ornia via New York. They estiniated that thev had each saved between £35 and £45 by making the trip this way. The Rkymaster carried 'S2 people across the Atlantic the largest number over to cross in a coinmercial land plane. Some of the passengers disembarked at Shannon. They were Trish girls who married American soldiers during the war. The flight was named "Operation Iiib and Diaper. " Rpocial portabic cradles were st rung from the ceiling of the plane for babies to sleep in. Airport poliee lield a sinai 1 efovvd baek as the mothers walked to the Customs with their children. Several Verv small children were carried by additional air hostesses. Mrs Marv Primxose, of OaklaioL California. who is to stay with lier part nts at Ashford. Middlesex, said: "The first part of Ihe journev. from California to New York, was cer tainly bad. All the children were air-sick passing over the mountain ranges, and hardlv anyone slcpt. After New York where we were held up by engine trouble, the children were much better. They slept nearly all the way. Tlie tinui on board were good in helping with them. The stewardesses were especially good. and they made the crossing a great succoss. ' ' Mrs Betts Arrieta, of Richmond, California, who organised the , journev, said: " My husband and I thought of the idea. I sent a letter to all the otlier girls, and they were thrilled. " i , I