Issue #8
July, 2010
Dale Gleason was an early 1960s arrival at Hartlee Field. Later he would be a Boeing 777 captain with United Airlines. Here is his story, prepared a few years ago for “Hartlee Field History and Stories from its pilots”.
I came to Hartlee Field in 1960, with a little trepidation, at the behest of “Butch” Lynn. Butch had soloed a Cub at Hartlee – not just any Cub, but N42222, aka “Four Deuces.” I had received about ten hours of dual in Aeronca Champs in Japan, but never soloed. My instructor was from the “old school” and “rung me out” on my first lesson to make sure that I had “what it takes.” And based on my progress there, apparently I did not. I was fourteen years old at the time.
When I flew my first lesson with Mr. Vose, I was stunned and elated. He explained that his goal was to promote aviation, not discourage it. Maybe I could learn to fly after all. I soloed in about three hours in Four Deuces. I think I was the last applicant to get a private license utilizing the low frequency range at Fort Worth. “George,” as he insisted I now address him, had a small Zenith radio with headphones with which we could monitor the “beam,” the steady tone heard when on course. In later times I would be able to converse with gruff old airline captains about “fade 90s,” “aural nulls,” “cone of silence” and “average bisectors.” Well, I didn’t know too well what they meant and many of those old airline pilots probably didn’t either. But George Harte sure did.
I asked Mr. Harte’s brother, Norman, “Was he as good a pilot as his reputation suggested?” He replied, “Must be. All the others are dead.” (One of Mr. Harte’s brothers died in a crash while spin-testing a Cessna 190. George Harte didn’t like that plane, saying , “It killed 'muh' brother.” (His other brother, Ted, retired as a Cessna test pilot and I had the pleasure of flying with him once).
After passing my private flight check in Four Deuces I was happy beyond belief. I had reached the pinnacle of my flying. “Not so,” said my pilot examiner Bob Brooks, a co-pilot for Central Airlines. “You’ll be taking a lot more check rides.”
He was correct. With George Vose’s tutelage I became a commercial pilot and instructor. How happy were those days, married to Linda Wilson, instructing in the Cub, and just soaking up the essence that is Hartlee Field. Occasionally I would get into some sort of escapade and George would remind me of the theme of aviation: “Promote aviation and keep the flight uneventful.”
Then, in 1965, Flying Magazine ran an ad for United Airlines asking for pilot applicants. I replied. On a dual cross-country flight I heard some Braniff pilots say that United Airlines would be interviewing at the Baker Hotel next weekend. I was there, with Linda, and we began a 37 year adventure that only recently ended with our retirement from United.
Things were very static from the 60's until deregulation and I enjoyed a rather long apprenticeship as co-pilot. Visiting Mr. Harte and his wife “Babe” just before Mr. Harte died, Butch and I complained about being “just” co-pilots. “Just be glad you have a job,” was his terse reply. He was bed ridden, having had both legs amputated, and he grabbed my arm and said, “Boys. I’m at the end of my rope.” We left to return to our flying jobs. I was able to visit with Babe Harte a couple times after George passed on.
A couple decades later Linda and I returned to live in Denton. Being near Hartlee was one of the reasons. The idea was broached that we could rebuild Four Deuces for George Vose. The old airplane had resided in a mohair warehouse in Alpine for almost thirty years. With the help of George and many of the Cub’s former pilots this was accomplished. Twice! (After the first rebuild a windstorm destroyed Four Deuces, but rather than cash out an insurance settlement it was rebuilt once more.)
Mr. Don Carter, new owner of Hartlee Field, gave us his blessing to have a reunion at the old airport and it turned out to be a wonderful experience, so much so that it has continued yearly for a decade. He has allowed N42222 to occupy the same hangar that was its home back in the early years.
How fortunate can an individual be? No person in the history of this planet can come close to the life I have led and I owe it to faith, George Harte’s little airport and George Vose. (And that United ad in Flying Magazine).
Dale Gleason
Dale’s addendum: Time has passed since this write-up. Hartlee field is now under new ownership but we have been graciously allowed to continue our reunions. Our numbers are dwindling and issues of privacy have occurred. Hartlee is private and we must respect that privacy.
Hartlee Field is becoming a memory, and good memories for many. Times change and aviation changes, but the memories and lessons learned at Hartlee will never change.
Thank you, George Harte, George Vose, and Hartlee Field. DALE
We would like to post lots of photos of Hartlee Times. Please contact George Vose to include your photo in this webpage.
Click photos to see enlarged image.
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 John Robertson |
 Becky Briscoe |
 Mike Kluck |
 Donnie Lovett |
 Joe Dowell |
 Kermit Smith |
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There will be many more photos in the next webpage!