tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-352377410388410195.post4100835784525056145..comments2024-03-27T08:36:31.252-07:00Comments on Flight To Success: Captain Balsey DeWittKarlene Petitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17910702587514001827noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-352377410388410195.post-631637604284745992024-01-08T17:24:54.533-08:002024-01-08T17:24:54.533-08:00Krystal, Thank you so much for sharing this story!...Krystal, Thank you so much for sharing this story!!! I am so sorry for the loss of Uncle Dean, and for others in your family... but you were so loved by them and had wonderful people in your life. They are with you always. So amazing. And... to pass in your sleep at 91 years old is the best way to go. Especially when you can say good bye and were able to send your love before he traveled on the next journey. Karlene Petitthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17910702587514001827noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-352377410388410195.post-41393769829394737552024-01-08T03:55:28.233-08:002024-01-08T03:55:28.233-08:00My Name is Krystal DeWitt-Le vine. Iam proud to ca...My Name is Krystal DeWitt-Le vine. Iam proud to call this man my uncle Dean. I❤️ He was a loving, kind, compassionate man. He was always on my side. When I was in 7th grade it looked like I was going to fail because of Math & science. He took me into my Aunts & his home. Tutored me & got me though it all. My uncle was very smart. Being a Captain of United Airlines took alot to get there. He NEVER put the plane in automatic,he always flew the plane. I would like to say also that whenever he flew a flight, he would bring little children into the cockpit.Well if you want to hear the rest of my wonderful uncle then read the book.<br />My uncle passed away last Friday night, in his sleep. He was 91yrs old. I had talked to him on the wed before he passed. When we were getting off of the phone, I said I Love ❤️ you Uncle Dean & he said "I love ❤️ you too peanut. I will 4ever miss him & never forget him. He was the oldest out of 6 children . My heavenly father died on July 24th & he was the baby. I hope my heavenly 🙏🏻 father, my grandparents who I must add were the best. I have to say I will never forget him & everyone one else who has passed. I love ❤️ you daddy, uncle Dean, & the 2 best grandparents in the world. Iam a better & lucky person to call the ppl my family. RIP 🙏🏻 Uncle Balsey Dean DeWitt #1Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-352377410388410195.post-68410217332001792522022-07-27T05:19:45.166-07:002022-07-27T05:19:45.166-07:00Thank you Ron! I'm in Amsterdam now... so I sh...Thank you Ron! I'm in Amsterdam now... so I should have a book when I return home.<br />Karlene Petitthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17910702587514001827noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-352377410388410195.post-37190242949727170532022-07-26T11:30:25.670-07:002022-07-26T11:30:25.670-07:00Karlene,
Thank you and I believe you will enjoy s...Karlene, <br />Thank you and I believe you will enjoy some of the flying stories; all true of course(I was there). <br />All the best, <br />RonAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-352377410388410195.post-83645117600610465192022-07-25T07:57:30.520-07:002022-07-25T07:57:30.520-07:00Hey Ron, thanks for the message. First-person know...Hey Ron, thanks for the message. First-person knowledge is something difficult to overlook and hard not to be judgemental. Sometimes we can just be thankful we're alive to be so. I just checked out your website and your book. Looks great!! Also... I feel like I'm surviving the Cuckoo's nest at this moment. Thank you for the offer... but I just order your the Cuckoo's Nest... arriving Wednesday! Looking forward to reading and writing a review! Thanks for saying hello. Karlene.Petitt@gmail.comKarlene Petitthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17910702587514001827noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-352377410388410195.post-11664843918890647592022-07-25T07:28:57.946-07:002022-07-25T07:28:57.946-07:00Karlene, I ran across this thread recently and wan...Karlene, I ran across this thread recently and wanted to let you know I said all I needed to say about my experience with Balsey in my recent memoir. See: ( www.hartart.com/author). I wasn't a fan of his but I also was not in the cockpit when this accident occurred so am hesitant about being judgemental. I would be happy to provide you with a copy of "Surviving the Cuckoo's Nest," available on Amazon. Cheers, RonAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-352377410388410195.post-16900463569114506642020-10-15T08:59:30.288-07:002020-10-15T08:59:30.288-07:00Yes, we determined that! Thank you!
Yes, we determined that! Thank you!<br />Karlene Petitthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17910702587514001827noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-352377410388410195.post-73988268641550411102020-10-15T08:17:50.245-07:002020-10-15T08:17:50.245-07:00Just wanted to add that Balsey is still very muuch...Just wanted to add that Balsey is still very muuch alive and well here in upstate NY. I just had a long, enjoyable conversation with him at the Beaverkill cemetery where he was putting up flags on veterans' graves the day before Memorial Day 2020.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09898669705986644069noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-352377410388410195.post-37467825233304649812020-10-13T14:27:36.276-07:002020-10-13T14:27:36.276-07:00Hey Ron, Thank you for your comment and for provid...Hey Ron, Thank you for your comment and for providing your website. Your art is incredible as is your blog too. We'll have to do a write up for you on my blog. Anytime you want! Email me. Karlene Petitthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17910702587514001827noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-352377410388410195.post-7411324404423565732020-10-13T12:22:42.892-07:002020-10-13T12:22:42.892-07:00Karlene, I don't recall if we have ever commun...Karlene, I don't recall if we have ever communicated over Balsey and Harry Evans. I was in Harry's new hire DC-9 class at ONA in 1969. I did communicate with Emelio briefly. Their are many references to my ONA experiences on my blog at ronniehartblog.com/the-airline-years to begin. I enjoy your blogspot... checkout my aviation art while you are there if you have a moment. Thank you. Ron HartRon Harthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02597237937709428385noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-352377410388410195.post-45463409932497363752020-08-08T05:45:42.712-07:002020-08-08T05:45:42.712-07:00It's a small world for sure!!!It's a small world for sure!!! Karlene Petitthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17910702587514001827noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-352377410388410195.post-24815134129258109492020-08-07T20:34:21.081-07:002020-08-07T20:34:21.081-07:00I knew Captain Dewitt and his family. Haven’t seen...I knew Captain Dewitt and his family. Haven’t seen them since he got out of the USAF. After loosing his job with ONA, I believe he moved to upstate NY. Haven’t heard from them since. Martin Bruce<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10505552703985083443noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-352377410388410195.post-85653083965180571942019-11-18T23:10:27.640-08:002019-11-18T23:10:27.640-08:00Emilio, we flew Lear Jets together for a company o...Emilio, we flew Lear Jets together for a company out of St Louis, N45AJ we took a lighting strike on climb out of CMH on our way to BWI one morning. 1987The FalconJet Driverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16142629887631740111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-352377410388410195.post-73003239897692238942019-09-11T19:24:54.607-07:002019-09-11T19:24:54.607-07:00Wow, now this is interesting. Perhaps the sequel t...Wow, now this is interesting. Perhaps the sequel to the book! There's always two sides for every story. Karlene Petitthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17910702587514001827noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-352377410388410195.post-7152613865413780792019-09-11T19:23:53.164-07:002019-09-11T19:23:53.164-07:00Must be one heck of a story there! Must be one heck of a story there! Karlene Petitthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17910702587514001827noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-352377410388410195.post-89532691760598752952019-09-11T19:20:30.192-07:002019-09-11T19:20:30.192-07:00I have heard this story years ago from several ONA...I have heard this story years ago from several ONA pilots. Really unbelievable. Balsey stopped flying way before the airplane did.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08927087275199815454noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-352377410388410195.post-28447070029526884822018-11-02T07:52:15.209-07:002018-11-02T07:52:15.209-07:00Someone should ask him why he flew at a much lower...Someone should ask him why he flew at a much lower altitude than the computer flight plan called for, made several approaches ( dirty ) never made the announcement " BRACE FOR IMPACT" The PA system was working , as testified to by previous Captain, and in perfect order. This guy just did not like talking on the PA in any circumstance...I know...I flew with him many times and on that particular route... His First Office, Harry Evans, who Balsey was responsible for having him fired one year prior, was in the right seat on his first flight back with the company after a year off....ALPA got his job back on a technicoloty . Must have been one wonderful flight sitting next to each other....Dis anyone mention that Harry Evans inflated a 25 man life raft inside the aircraft at the foward entry doorblocking then exit...he eventually deflated it by stabbing it withna plastic knife....nobody mentions these factsAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04619144427232977037noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-352377410388410195.post-6956783109261287062018-01-26T12:27:19.215-08:002018-01-26T12:27:19.215-08:00Unknown... he is alive. My mistake. When I return ...Unknown... he is alive. My mistake. When I return home... I will read the book! Please know... he lives. I just thought that was why he didn't fly again. Now, I can't wait to read this... sounds like an amazing flight! Karlene Petitthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17910702587514001827noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-352377410388410195.post-65066511601194055082018-01-26T12:26:15.144-08:002018-01-26T12:26:15.144-08:00Ron... you are correct. He lives. I didn't rea...Ron... you are correct. He lives. I didn't read the book and Emilio is such a good writer... I was thinking that was why he never piloted another plane again. I am so glad I can give him life again! Edited the blog. Thank you!Karlene Petitthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17910702587514001827noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-352377410388410195.post-44625445647746641962018-01-26T12:25:10.034-08:002018-01-26T12:25:10.034-08:00Emilio, I am so glad to hear he lives! This is why...Emilio, I am so glad to hear he lives! This is why I have to read the book... Pulled me in. I thought the only reason he would never pilot another plane. Okay... please tell him I am so glad he lives! Karlene Petitthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17910702587514001827noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-352377410388410195.post-22028603827048014942018-01-26T11:28:11.339-08:002018-01-26T11:28:11.339-08:00I'm really sorry to hear of Capt. DeWitt's...I'm really sorry to hear of Capt. DeWitt's passing. I would have liked to meet him in person, but at least I got to speak to him. As far as I'm concerned, Sully Sullenberger has nothing on Balsey DeWitt.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08014258868962133284noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-352377410388410195.post-28203346626226926892018-01-26T10:20:15.784-08:002018-01-26T10:20:15.784-08:00Karlene... I assume this means Balsey died? I flew...Karlene... I assume this means Balsey died? I flew with him at ONA.<br />Ron HartRon Harthttp://www.ronniehartblog.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-352377410388410195.post-37963604496981356242018-01-26T09:42:46.469-08:002018-01-26T09:42:46.469-08:00Thanks Karlene for the post. I must point out, tho...Thanks Karlene for the post. I must point out, though, that Balsey is still very much alive. We still stay in contact.<br /><br />Thanks again,<br />EmilioEmiliohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15865756418063399750noreply@blogger.com