Coming to America in 1957 – an ex-Brit’s jubilant journey aboard a DC 7C

By John Clayton

Have you ever had one of those dreams where, when you wake up in the morning, you’re heartbroken that the dream you just enjoyed was NOT reality, and it was just that, a dream? Well, I’d dreamed about America since I was, gosh, at least 10 years old.

“This is not a dream; I can hardly believe it’s actually happening.” I paused in my reveries and gazed out the window by my seat. It was just after 11pm, on a warm British summer's evening of June 1st, 1957, and I was comfortably ensconced in airliner waiting for take-off at 11.15pm, on my way – finally – to New York in a wondrous place called America.

Back in the England of the early 1940s, it seemed as if everywhere we looked, we saw and heard these people who all had this marvelous, catchy and super sounding accent; American, so my parents told me. It was captivating. Then too, I wondered why so many of my fellow British kids would go up to an American they heard talking, and say, “Got any gum chum?” I wondered what it all meant.

I was aboard a Pan American World Airways DC 7C series aircraft at London Airport North. Back in1957 many international flights departed from what were essentially, a few old wooden buildings on the North side of the airport that would, later, become the London airport known as Heathrow.

***The 1957 Pan-American DC 7C,Courtesy Wikipedia Commons***

For those of you lucky enough to have ACTUALLY been born in the United States of America, do you ever pause to thank your lucky stars you were born in this country?

I grew up “soaked” in all things American and as a kid growing in London: I’d seen more American movies (I was told that’s what Americans called them) known to mankind. Brits knew “movies” under the terminology of “we’re going to the cinema to a see a film.” Not much difference really but, as time went on in my life in this magical place called America, I realized there IS a noteworthy difference between the British and American language.

Or as the legendary Irish playwright and commentator George Bernard Shaw famously said, “Great Britain and America are two nations divided by a common language.” This quote fascinated me, and I wanted to see if there were others of a similar nature. The equally well-known and also Irish (!) Oscar Wilde wrote in his short story The Canterville Ghost, “Indeed,” he wrote, “in many aspects she was quite English, and was an excellent example of the fact that we really do have everything in common with America nowadays, except, of course, the language."

For aviation buffs reading this episode of my PULSE features (oh yes, how do you feel about this PULSE publication journalistic endeavor? Email me: jdcradio@gmail.com) the DC 7C was one of the first airliners to be able to cross the Atlantic, London to New York, non-stop. What a huge achievement that was! Today, though, we don’t give things like that a second thought as it seems, well, natural. However, back then in the early 1950s, airliners previously had to stop in Gander, Newfoundland, to refuel.

A pioneer in this aviation milestone was the DC 7C – in which I was about to fly across the North Atlantic non- stop – was made possible by the fact it had four much more powerful Wright Turbo Compound engines than ever before; a longer fuselage; and extra fuel capacity.

Another, possibly hard to imagine fact, is that today commercial long haul flights have only two pilots, the DC 7C had four: A pilot, 1st officer, a navigator, and flight engineer. The one I was aboard had 84 seats, two stewardesses (note name!) plus one purser. Our journey took ten hours and forty five minutes. In 1958, a year later, the Boeing jet 707 took over, and reduced flight time even more dramatically.

When we arrived at Idlewild Airport --as it was known back then -- but what is now called JFK Airport, I was beyond happy, and full of smiles. As corny as it sounds, when I got off the plane and walked towards the terminal, I bent down and kissed the ground! Yes, I was THAT excited to realize I was in the USA, and not still in London dreaming!

Even though I was on cloud nine and overjoyed to finally be in America, I quite literally "blew it" during my first moments being in the USA. I went into the Men’s Washroom – I needed a shave – and plugged in my British electric razor. Pouf! Big flash and my British razor was kaput! American appliances run on 110 volts, while European appliances are 220 volts.

At this point you might wonder what all this has to do with PPV - Perfect Palos Verdes. Too long to detail in depth, but I've always felt there are three fundamental - and very important – “considerations” in one’s Life: First, having a married partner who is a “Lifetime Keeper.” Second, to find an occupation and work, that you absolutely love; and Third, to find a place, or geographical location where you want to spend the rest of your lifetime.

My wife and I have joyously relished the lifestyle, scenery, and people of Palos Verdes for 46 incredible years. It is Nirvana. I don’t say that “lightly: Enjoying the myriad activities involved in my executive level work as director of publicity for a cruise line, and as the manager of publicity for Continental Airlines, plus many freelance projects, I've been blessed to see up close and personal 51 countries around the world. My wife, a flight attendant for Continental Airlines, plus family trips, has been up close and personal to 45 countries. We both chose Palos Verdes above all other places in which to live and enjoy our life together.

Until next time, enjoy yourself, be happy and most important of all, stay safe, and yes, BE SAFE. Connect with me: jdcradio@gmail.com