Forty-five years later, Toni reflects back to November 8, 1965.
Photo by Rollie Puterbaugh 2010
Toni F. Ketchell-Murphy {1940 - 2017}
American Airlines Stewardess
Crew Survivor
American Airlines Flight 383
November 8, 1965
Greater Cincinnati Airport
She was born Toni Faye Ketchell in 1940 to Frank and Peggy Ketchell. Aviation and faith would be her future.
Toni became an American Airlines stewardess on March 9, 1965 at age 25. Her rigorous and disciplined training would remain her standard for life. Toni loved to fly and enjoyed the many passengers she met in her few months of active service as an American Airlines stewardess.
Toni woke up the morning of November 8, 1965 in Dallas, Texas and prepared for another day of cross country travel. It would take her a while to prepare for her uniform had to be in perfect condition, her hair exactly positioned and her make-up meticulously applied to her face. Finally satisfied, she headed to Love Field.
En route to the airport, she reflected on the previous day. From her home base of New York City, she served first class passengers on a round trip; New York LaGuardia to Chicago O’Hare-Chicago O’Hare back to New York City LaGuardia, arriving late afternoon. She then flew an evening flight to Dallas, Texas.
Now, arriving at the airfield, she checked her upcoming flights for November 8. It read like another typical day in the life of an American Airlines stewardess. The first leg would carry her from Dallas, Texas to Little Rock, Arkansas. Memphis, Tennessee would follow Little Rock. From Memphis, a non-stop flight would return her to LaGuardia and her home base in the late afternoon.
Her day had been typical as the Boeing 727-23 began a descent into the New York City area. Wisps of clouds slipped across the wing, revealing the vast metropolis of New York City. Although the first hour of darkness was still 45 minutes away, the day’s gloominess already displayed sparkling lights of the city below. Flight 340 was on approach to LaGuardia in the Borough of Queens. Toni completed her in-flight duties and took her position in the forward jump seat in preparation for landing.
The Boeing 727 settled gently on the runway as the thrust reversers on the three engines, in conjunction with the wing spoilers, activated, decelerating the aircraft. Toni delivered her standard announcement, “Welcome to New York and LaGuardia Airport. The local time is 4:20 pm and on behalf of our crew, we want to thank you for flying American Airlines.” The airliner was guided to its assigned gate at the Central Terminal Building. Toni had to work one more flight before “deadheading” back to LaGuardia later that evening; LaGuardia to the Greater Cincinnati Airport in Northern Kentucky.
Toni quickly made her way to the next departure gate. Flight 383 was scheduled to depart at 5 pm. Again she was scheduled to work the first class section of the cabin while Mary Campbell, age 22, and Joyce Chmiel, also 22, served the coach section.
At 4:55 pm , most of the 55 passengers bound for Cincinnati had been gathering at the gate for nearly 45 minutes. Passenger service agents were processing boarding passes, while passengers mingled about the area. Boeing 727-23 N1996 was at the gate. It had just arrived and a jet bridge was guided to the forward cabin door. The flight crew went quickly on board, knowing that the flight was not going to depart on time. The airliner had just been released as a back up plane for another flight, causing a fateful delay for Flight 383.
Once the flight crew was ready, passengers began boarding and at 5:20 pm Flight 383 was pushed back from the gate.
N1996 was taxied to the runway threshold and paused for traffic. Finally, with throttles advanced, the Boeing 727 accelerated down the runway, lifting off at 5:40 pm November 8, 1965.
STANDBY: PART II WILL BE POSTED SOON SO IN THE MEANTIME UPVOTE MY POST AND FOLLOW MY AVIATION BLOG ON STEEMIT!
Saga of a Stewardess for STEEMIT is compiled from my book, “Air Disasters Near the Greater Cincinnati Airport 1948 to 1968”, and from interviews I conducted with Toni Ketchell in 2010.
Unless otherwise indicated, all images included with this series are copyrighted; Rollie Puterbaugh 2010