In the May 1958 issue of Tigereview, it was announced that ex-stewardesses of the Flying Tiger Line formed the Clipped Wings Club. Billie Welsh Garrick, formerly chief stewardess for FTL, was elected president of the newly organized group of girls who formerly flew for the airline but became married. Early members included Lenroe Reed, Fern Jones, Bobbie Van Nastrand, Peggy Herness, Margaret Clark, Trudy Marechal, Betty Jean Stanton, Dodie Dixon and Marge Stanton, three who married pilots from the airline.
In the days following the creation of the Flying Tiger Line, there was not much thought given to the carriage of passengers. Although the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) had been in existence since 1940, little was required of non-scheduled or cargo airlines regarding the requirement of cabin attendants to be aboard for safety of any passengers. In fact, FTL’s entry into the passenger charter business was the transportation of 117 U.S. Navy sailors on leave from San Diego, CA to their homes in New York in October 1945. The men literally sat on boxes on the floor of the five Budd Conestogas used to fly them across the nation.
It wasn’t until January 1947, with FTL’s first contract with the Air Transport Command for the transportation of cargo and passengers aboard newly acquired C-54 aircraft that Tigers began employing stewardesses. Most were hired on the spot without much formal training until 1964 when more formal training courses were required by the CAB. These early stewardesses possessed a charming eloquence, a desire for adventure, and a willingness to fly anywhere at any time, often under very tiring conditions without the modern-day amenities taken for granted today. Their salaries were low and it was a requirement that they remain unmarried, an industry standard with the larger passenger carriers.
This early group, often referred to as “Bob’s Girls”, formed a close bond and were extremely loyal to Prescott. In turn, he personally rewarded their dedication by involving them in as many social functions and public relations opportunities as possible. A lot of these women met their future husbands in the line of work, including businessmen, attorneys, and of course pilots.
As they began retiring due to marriage, there was a strong desire to remain socially connected, to sustain the friendships that were formed during those early years. The Clipped Wings Club was created for just this reason. Although organized primarily as a social club, the women also engaged in charitable efforts such as volunteering at local Veterans Administration hospitals and creating fundraising events for well-known organizations such as the Crippled Children’s Society.
At first their meetings were arranged in Los Angeles, but later were generally held in the Palm Springs area, where many had relocated for retirement, and where Bob and Anne Marie Prescott coincidentally had a second home.
Bob Prescott was the guest of honor at most of their functions, and he paid tribute to the group whenever he could. At the 1967 Christmas party, he honored the group by saying, “The Clipped Wings deserve a vote of thanks from all of us because through their organization they continue to spread the goodwill in the name of the Flying Tigers.”
One such member was Ann Ludwig (below), who retained her nursing license that was required by most stewardesses in the early days. She was one of two Clipped Wings stewardesses who rotated shifts and comforted Bob Prescott during the days before his death in 1978. It is believed that the last luncheon was held at Ann’s home in Indian Wells in 1992.
