Chicago – 1960-1963

Two days later, I got a few minutes on the Midway observation deck. An Eastern Electra appears ready to depart. By now I had my first 35mm camera and had begun shooting color slides. ©Jon Proctor

Looking in the other direction, an Ozark DC-3 faces the camera with American Electras in the background. American and TWA aircraft can be seen in the background, parked at company hangars. ©Jon Proctor

Over at O'Hare, I caught another American Electra before attempting to board Flight 65, a brand-new 720, for Phoenix, but did not get on. ©Jon Proctor

Headed for Chicago again in July 1961, I had to route via New York because of full flights from LAX to ORD. Returning to O'Hare on July 28, my 720B, Flight 57, left Idlewild after this United Caravelle, but we beat him to Chicago with enough spare time for me to shoot its gate arrival. ©Jon Proctor

A variety of airlines crowded into the old terminal, anxiously waiting the move into new quarters. ©Jon Proctor

Back at O'Hare on the 31st, I caught a few shots before heading for home. A TWA 749A Connie is serviced at the end of the concourse. In the background on this and the following pictures is the new terminal complex, under construction. ©Jon Proctor

Two American aircraft at close-in gates include DC-7B N334AA and Electra N6134A. Ironically, N334AA was later worn by the American 767 that crashed into the World Trade Center. ©Jon Proctor

N7501A was the first 707 built for American. Later converted to turbo-fan power, the Boeing taxis out for takeoff. ©Jon Proctor

During a quick Christmas 1961 trip, it was bitterly cold in Chicago, limiting my time on the observation deck. The morning sun didn't favor shooting from this point, but I still got a couple of pictures, including TWA 707-331 Intercontinental N764TW. The new terminal was nearing completion. Ozark DC-3s are visible in the background. ©Jon Proctor

At the next gate, American's Electra II Flagship, N6125A is about to depart. ©Jon Proctor

I flew to Syracuse, New York, on January 31, 1963 to attend my Uncle Jack's funeral, stopping over at O'Hare for several hours. American Convair 990 Flight 968, operating with N5615, brought me from San Diego in the record time of 2 hours, 48 minutes. A day later, the same flight was completed in 2 hours, 41 minutes. The Convair is seen departing for New York on its second segment. ©Jon Proctor

Coming in the opposite direction, American's 720B "Astrojet" N7547A taxis to its assigned gate. Visible in the background is the old Douglas plant that produced C-54s in massive numbers during World War II. ©Jon Proctor

Retreating from the frigid, open-air observation deck, I had to shoot through the window to get this Braniff DC-7C, parked at the last gate before entering the older terminal. ©Jon Proctor

Eastern and Continental shared this concourse, which was built around the control tower. ©Jon Proctor

For many years, Trans-Canada, then Air Canada, occupied Gate G-1, with TWA using the other 11 gates in the concourse. This Vanguard's No. 4 engine begins turning as the big turboprop comes to life. ©Jon Proctor

Back up on an observation deck, I wasted little time in the cold wind while getting this picture. It appears the United Viscount was receiving maintenance, with a mechanic having climbed through an emergency exit and out onto the wing. Look closely and you'll see the tail of a Braniff Electra and a Continental Boeing, plus a lineup of Eastern airplanes and the nose of another Continental jet, with that airline's unusual, tubular loading bridge in use. ©Jon Proctor