At the Last Frozen Minute

By Lee Staheli

Lee Stahelis life as a Pilot is comprised of many
adventurous episodes. Most of the ones written here in
his book begin with WW11, while he was in the Navy,
flying PBYs in the battle against the Japanese in the
Aleutian Islands of Alaska. They continue when he
joins the Navy Reserves, the U.S. Coast and Geodetic
survey, Arctic Pacific Airlines, Alaska Freight Lines,
Western Electric, and General Petroleum. He flew
for all of these, through the remote Bush Country
of Alaska. He spent many years as a Commercial
Pilot flying for Wien Airlines in Alaska, and was an
instrumental part of everything he did, everywhere he
went. His position as a Pilot made him invaluable to
the U.S. and Alaska, and to the Eskimo people. His
book reflects the close relationship he had with the
Eskimo people, and all through those long, severely
cold winters, they took care of one another. His strong
and honest character follows him everywhere in this
book. He later started his own Air Service out of
Kiana, Alaska, where he lived with his family of six
children until they were grown. Lee flew airplanes for
60 years, before he retired from Wien Alaska Airlines
in 1996.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Oct 29, 2009
• ISBN: 9781465319876

Book preview

AT THE LAST

FROZEN MINUTE

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Lee Staheli

Copyright © 2009 by Lee Staheli.

Cover Design by Heartland Inc.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in

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recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without

permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This book was printed in the United States of America.

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Xlibris Corporation

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65395

Contents

DEDICATION

FOREWORD

INTRODUCTION

PREFACE

CHAPTER 1

THE EARLY YEARS

CHAPTER 2

THE 1937 FLOOD

CHAPTER 3

GRANDPA EMIL STAHELI

CHAPTER 4

DAD’S LUSCOMBE AIRPLANE

CHAPTER 5

MY SECOND HOME

CHAPTER 6

JACK AND HIS INDIAN GIRLFRIEND

CHAPTER 7

INTO THE NAVY DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR

CHAPTER 8

CAPTAIN BULL and his PBY 5A

CHAPTER 9

THE NAVY RESERVES AND SKY HARBOR

CHAPTER 10

U.S. COAST AND GEODETIC SURVEY

CHAPTER 11

THE FORT YUKON FIRE

CHAPTER 12

LEE’S SEA AIR

CHAPTER 13

ARCTIC PACIFIC AIRLINES AND ALASKA FREIGHT LINES

CHAPTER 14

65 BELOW ZERO WITH ERNIE HUBBARD

CHAPTER 15

WIEN ALASKA AIRLINES AND BONNIE

CHAPTER 16

HUNTING WITH BOB SEVARIA

CHAPTER 17

IN A SNOW STORM WITH SHELLABARGER

CHAPTER 18

MR. SEARS AND A POLAR BEAR

CHAPTER 19

ST. LAWRENCE ISLAND AND DAVE BRUNO

CHAPTER 20

LEE ARNOLD IS BORN

CHAPTER 21

A BROKEN BACK AND A MISSING HOME

CHAPTER 22

MT. SPUR AND THE CAMERA MAN

CHAPTER 23

JACK WHALEY AND MUNZ AIRLINES

CHAPTER 24

THE TRAVEL AIR 6000A and a hunting trip

CHAPTER 25

WENDELL WASPENSEN AND WESTERN ELECTRIC

CHAPTER 26

SAVED BY SWANTON IN MCGRATH

CHAPTER 27

RAYMOND PAUL AND UPSIDE DOWN CAT

CHAPTER 28

THE FROZEN DOZER

CHAPTER 29

FORT WORTH TEXAS AND AMERICAN FLYER

CHAPTER 30

GENERAL PETROLEUM

CHAPTER 31

ARCHIE FERGUSON AND BOYS

CHAPTER 32

GOOSE MANEUR

CHAPTER 33

LOAN FOR KOTZEBUE VILLAGE

CHAPTER 34

STAHELI FOR REPRESENTATIVE

CHAPTER 35

TROUBLE AT ART’S GOLD MINE

CHAPTER 36

LEE ARNOLD, HOMESICK FOR HOME

CHAPTER 37

JUST LEE AND I

CHAPTER 38

STAN AND FAMILY, AND A RUBBER BOAT

CHAPTER 39

OUR CABIN IN KIANA

CHAPTER 40

A REAL BAD SHOT

CHAPTER 41

JOHN HAJDUKOVICH—PLANE DOWN

CHAPTER 42

MERRILL WIEN

CHAPTER 43

CATIE AND FIVE MORE CHILDREN UNDER THE SAME ROOF

CHAPTER 44

ART FIELDS AND THE LOST FAREWELL BOYS

CHAPTER 45

KOBUK LAKE DISASTER

CHAPTER 46

MY MANY THANKS

CHAPTER 47

TERRY PHILLIPS

CHAPTER 48

LEE ARNOLD AND FAMILY

CHAPTER 49

LEE AND HEANIES’ KIDS

CHAPTER 50

ALL MY KIDS

CHAPTER 51

LEE ARNOLD INJURED

CHAPTER 52

CATALINA SAIL BOAT TRIP

CHAPTER 53

STRANDED AT DRAKE BAY

CHAPTER 54

A RIDE ON THE DISNEY YACHT

CHAPTER 55

TO HAWAII WITH KIDS AND SHELLABARGER

CHAPTER 56

HOT DOG STAND FOR MY KIDS

CHAPTER 57

PREPARING TO SAIL THE PACIFIC

CHAPTER 58

FIRE ON BOARD

CHAPTER 59

MAJOR SURGERY

CHAPTER 60

LETTER TO NEIL KENELLY

OLD CREATOR

DEDICATION

This book is dedicated to my oldest boy Lee Arnold Staheli and his lovely lady Anna Thomas, who made it all possible. Thank you for everything.

And secondly, to a loved one, Laurie Staake for her dedication and outstanding work in deciphering my writing and spelling day and night, getting it into the computer the right way, even with her blood-shot veins sticking out in her eyes. The work that she did on her own in my book, is the most outstanding I’ve read.

FOREWORD

These are true stories of a legendary Bush Pilot of sixty years, written mostly by him, and edited by me. This man knew more about Arctic Survival than any man I know of, in all seasons, in all circumstances, and knew more about flying than most will ever learn because of experience. He has a sixth sense about him, and he will never do anything without careful consideration and planning, unless someone’s life is at stake . . . then he will throw caution to the wind. Otherwise, he is cautious and calculated. He has the heart of an elephant . . . kind and generous, yet stern when it is necessary. He is patient, but will not tolerate sloppy or carelessness. He knows the art of improvising like no one I have ever known, and has a unique way of inventing, rebuilding or repairing anything under the sun. He is a free spirit and has a great appreciation for God’s creation and the great outdoors.

INTRODUCTION

My Name is Laurie Staake. I am going to help Lee write his life story, as it is a story worth telling. This is a man whose life and the contributions of his life should never be forgotten. His story is one of non-stop adventure, joy, pain and hardship. The quality that stands out in this man . . . no matter what the circumstances are . . . is INTEGRITY. He has lived his life with integrity, and still does. It was seen by all who knew him, and by all who still do.

In my opinion there is no other man, no other Pilot like him, anywhere in the world. What I have come to know about this man, and what I have learned, will hopefully be revealed to you in this book, his story . . . of the long and exciting journey of his life. He is a rare breed . . . a breed apart.

Lee made his living flying The PBYs, The Super Cubs, The Beavers, The Norseman, The Cessna’s I80, 185 and 195, The DC3s, The C46s, The Pilatus Porter, The D18s, The Luscombe, The T-Crafts, The Howard, The Aronicas, The Twin Beech Craft, The Travel Air6000A, The Stinsons, The Pipers, The Fairchilds, The Bonanzas, The B18, The Sea Be and The Wien 247.

PREFACE

Lee Staheli’s expertise as a Bush pilot during the Navy and after the Navy got him many good opportunities. But it also came with some of the most dangerous, death defying experiences that a pilot could have. It was never easy, and it just got tougher sometimes, as a bush Pilot in the rugged and untamed country of Alaska . . . . where no one wants to go unless you are with the best. The severe sub zero temperatures, the jagged peaks, the thick forest terrain, the miles and miles of ice, snow, fog and wind . . . country so remote that no one would ever find you if you got lost . . . unless a man like Lee Staheli were to take the job, and sacrifice his safety for your life. I think that there are very few men who know the technique for survival in places such as the Alaskan Bush country. Lee’s Life speaks for itself: Ask any Comrade he enlisted with; if you ask any Eskimo who knew him, If you ask anyone who was hungry that crossed Lee’s path . . . If you ask anyone who was in trouble and Lee knew about it. He went the Distance . . . even for people he didn’t know. Just Ask Them.

He acquired the name Lee while he was in the Navy. The Navy guys couldn’t pronounce his last name, so they just started calling him Lee. The same sound as is in the last two letters of his last name.

I will interrupt the story from time to time, to relate some necessary information for clarification, so the story will be better understood.

CHAPTER 1

THE EARLY YEARS

Elden Barr Lee Staheli was born in a small hospital in Corning, California, on June first of 1925. His Mother was Helena Marie and his Father, Arnold Staheli. Arnold was of Swiss and Dutch origin and was a sailor in the First World War. He became a traveling trucker after the war. His Mother was from Ohio. She attended college at Cleveland to become a school teacher, but ran off to California with her brothers. Lee was the second child. His Brother Malcolm was two years older than Lee. They lived in an old house in a desert like area outside of town. They later moved to Bells place, a big house situated near a large olive orchard. Lee’s early childhood was here. The sun was hot and a very young Lee has recollection of this place and says those olive trees just couldn’t get enough water . . . it was so hot and dry. Then he remembers later moving to a place along the Sacramento River a few miles from Bells place. The boys played in the river in their young years growing up . . . and their Mother used to worry real bad when they would go away to play and were gone all day sometimes. They hadn’t even learned to swim yet. Helena was not in good health. She had allergies to just about everything, and could hardly eat anything except grapefruit and rye bread. She had to take medication for her attacks caused from these allergies such as peach fuzz, and was very sick much of the time.

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My Brother, Mom and Dad.

CHAPTER 2

THE 1937 FLOOD

Dad got one hundred and sixty acres from The Government and he had to clear and level the land himself. He had an old John Deere tractor that he used for everything. He planted many fruit trees, nut trees, and a garden. There were so many beautiful big peaches on those trees, Lee says. And sometimes the people were all too poor to buy them, so they would just fall to the ground. We would take as many as we could and dry them . . . the same thing with the pears, apricots, apples and plums. Times were tough, all the way around, and we walked to school every morning about three or four miles to Squaw Hill, and those winters were really cold. Often there was snow to trudge through, and that north wind was hard on our faces. In those days, clothing was scarce, let alone warm clothing.

There was a huge Sycamore tree right by the house that Dad built. Lee remembers this picture vividly. It stood very tall with a three and a half foot diameter around the trunk. A picture is included on the next page. Dad had built the house on a four foot tall cement foundation. This kept the house from washing away when the river would rise. Dad got a big truck and hauled fruit, olives, and gravel to all surrounding areas to help provide for his family. Their home was near a crossing over the Sacramento River that allowed traffic to go from Las Molino’s to San Francisco, and boats would go up and down the river regularly. The river did flood often in November, and the boys would paddle their row boat over to visit Howard Martin, and his Sister Kathleen, their cousins.

On November of the year 1937, when Lee was about ten years old, it rained straight for two weeks and this caused the Sacramento River to flood to a devastating height. The water came rushing through their place, taking the fruit trees and twisting them around each other through the sand, and covering everything with water. The boys and their Mom got into the little row boat that was tied to the house and it took them up to the height of the porch roof and then they climbed up to the roof and clung there for dear life all day and all night hoping they wouldn’t get washed away or the house give in to the strong currents.

The boys tried to get their mom’s special things up to the roof from the attic but they weren’t able to do much. Mom had tears in her eyes. All her valued things gone, ruined. Her dresser became a boat, and Lee says, "We tried to push her pretty lady things up through the two by fours, and we made paddles out of brooms and the clothes stomper.

It wasn’t easy to stay on top of a dresser without a rudder, getting from one room to another. Mom was scared, because the water was up to our chins. All of a sudden the whole front porch tore away from the house and shook horrible and we thought we were going into the water, but the house stood tough. As the morning brought light and the water continued to rise, all we could see was the tops of some remaining peach trees in the distance and the water was all the way to the eaves of the house. There were great big long logs sweeping down the river through what was left of the peach orchard, and racing down half in the water and half crashing out of the water, as they demolished most of the peach trees. It was getting dark. Mom didn’t let us go to sleep all night. She told us stories, sang and read poems to keep our mind off the water."

Dad was not there at the time . . . he had taken his brand new four ton International truck and was hauling things for people, and couldn’t get to the house the next morning. Mom held tight to the rope that was tied to the boat, and Malcolm got in the boat first, then Mom and Lee. Everything was ruined, but the boys did well as they paddled their way up and across the river with Mom bailing the water out of the boat as they paddled to their Cousins place . . . Auntie Helens and Howard’s place a mile or two to higher ground, and a big old river bank . . . to safety. The rows of remaining trees that were sticking up through the water in the orchard helped keep the boat from going down river as they stayed within the rows. Several days later, Dad was finally able to reunite with them, and then they had to make preparations to move.

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The 1937 Flood. The water was all the way up to the eaves

of the house just days before this picture was taken

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Dad after the flood had receded

(His John Deer Tractor in the background)

CHAPTER 3

GRANDPA EMIL STAHELI

Lee’s Grandpa’s name was Emil. He was from Switzerland, and was capable of doing anything and everything. Lee has many good memories of him while he lived here with him. He was great big dark skinned man, and very intelligent. He worked real hard in his big garden and always grew really nice vegetables, and harvested fruit from his trees. He made Brandy from his fruit, and would always flirt with the ladies when they came to buy produce . . . he gave them a little goblet glass of Brandy and a Carnation flower. Lee learned a whole lot from his Grandpa, but there was so much work to be done and not much time for play. Grandma was a big Dutch lady who could win any argument with her size. He remembers that she spent most of her time in front of the old cooking stove. The boys had their share of the work. They had to help prune the trees and carry the brush away. They had to feed the animals and clean up after them, then milk the cows. Lee says that his Grandpa was even more stern and strict than his Dad was and very much a perfectionist.

Some Years later, after the flood, Arnold got a disaster loan for piece of property about three miles from his Dad Emil’s place also by the River. He built a homestead there and people from across the river allowed Lee’s family to have some hogs for a price . . . this allowed Lee’s family to survive after starting all over and used government money to feed the hogs. Dad grew soybeans, corn and barley. Lee and Malcolm would take care of the hogs and cows. The boys would have to do all their chores before they could go play. When work was done, they enjoyed playing in the water and hunting mostly. They’d often have to work all day hoeing weeds in the corn fields in the hot sun. Then they could go hunting for food to bring home to the family. Dad would give them a couple shells for their rifles, and if they would come home with something to eat, they would get some more shells to do as they pleased. They would hunt squirrels, rabbits, magpies, crows and take them in to the Corning Judge, and he would give them money for them. Also they would find dead skins of fox, raccoon, and skunks and get money from them as well. They fed themselves often when they were out scouting around, and sometimes could bring something good home for Mom and Dad. One time Lee shot a big Owl and brought it home. He had a bad cut on his hand, and carrying that owl home caused a very bad infection. Dad had to do some serious doctoring to heal that wound. It helped that he had been a type of doctor in the Medics field when he was in the Navy.

The boys would always find ways to get food. They would get the fruit that was left on the trees after they had been picked off, and found strawberries and other good morsels to eat in the gardens that had already been harvested. They caught lots of perch and cat fish. Back home during chore time Lee and his brother would slurp a few sips of cold milk on their way back home after their Grandpa would send them with a big can to the neighbors place for milk. It was hot and dry . . . that cold milk sure tasted good, Lee says.

As Lee grew older, he grew more and more fond of animals, especially horses. He became very good at showing peoples cows and horses, and pigs at the livestock fairs, and he soon became one of the best in the livestock business showing prize animals in 4-H and the FFA Exhibits. He did this right up to the age of seventeen before he joined the Navy. Lee was supposed to be an All-American farmer and his Dad was very disappointed when he didn’t become one. Lee did well in school. He excelled in Shop, Mechanics, and Agriculture. He never did get the hang of Algebra and English though. He overhauled a 1932 Black Chevy convertible with a rumble seat, chrome spoke wheels, white sidewalls and white top. Lee says he tested it every day at lunch break, with his friend Gene Kenny and his tan V8 Ford beauty, and Burnie Dogen with his black Whippet and another Dodge, all full of girls. One day he blew passed Burnie over the railroad tracks going onto Corning. Lee says Dogen saw the cop, but I did not, and I had his pretty little blonde daughter up close next to me and her girl friend too . . . I could hardly shift. He was Officer Paul Hobson. He never liked me. He stopped me right in front of Judge Packard’s office and marched me in there. The Judge said I was a menace to the Community and should join the Army, and I had to see him every night after school until I did.

CHAPTER 4

DAD’S LUSCOMBE AIRPLANE

Arnold, Lee’s Dad, had an airplane . . . a very old airplane and an airfield back behind the barn. An old Pilot who owned the Auto junk yard in Corning and ran the local airport helped him get into the airplane business. His name was Lyle Perrian. Lyle and Arnold put together holiday events, and air shows like on the fourth of July. Corning was a special place at the airport in the summer. Lyle talked Dad into letting Lee come to the airport every day after school and help him rebuild airplanes.

Both Dad and Lyle would take Lee flying with them if the plane wasn’t too crowded . . . Lee started washing airplanes, engines, parts, and