My grandfather, Charles Francis Hamel, passed away earlier this year at the age of 93. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy after Pearl Harbor and eventually became an officer and a pilot, flying a U.S. Coast Guard PBY Catalina on North Atlantic patrols in 1945. He got his start in aviation, however, as a civilian "Airframe & Engine" mechanic. After high school, he attended New England Aircraft School at East Boston Airport, today better known as Boston Logan International. Here are a few photos from his collection circa 1939-1940. I don't think he's in any of them, he was behind the camera. Enjoy!
