Our deepest sympathy, thoughts and prayers are with the family and co-workers of UPS Captain Doug Lampe of Louisville, Kentucky and First Officer Matthew Bell of Sanford, Florida. Both men were based out of the Anchorage, Alaska pilot base. Captain Lampe and First Officer Bell were piloting a UPS 747 that crashed yesterday after taking off from Dubai.
Today, we are running a different episode of Moore Up North out of respect for UPS and the families of those lost. On Thursday, we taped a show that included a segment about the UPS pilots’ on-going struggle against management regarding their recent furlough. In May, Bernie’s Bungalow Lounge was packed with uniformed UPS pilots for their first-ever appearance on Moore Up North.
I have received hundreds of custom-made postcards from those UPS Pilots and their families thanking me for providing a state-wide forum to air their concerns. Today, I stand beside them in their sorrow.
High Flight Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings; Sunward I’ve climbed and joined the tumbling mirth of sun-split clouds, – and done a hundred things You have not dreamed of wheeled and soared and swung High in the sunlit silence. Hov’ring there, I’ve chased the shouting wind along, and flung My eager craft through footless falls of air… Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue I’ve topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace Where never lark, nor eer eagle flew – And, while with silent lifting mind I’ve trod The high, untrespassed sanctity of space, Put out my hand and touched the face of God. -John Gillespie Magee
SHANNYN MOORE: JUST A GIRL FROM HOMER 
Oh. How very, very sad. I have a story. My father was a private pilot. Got his ticket when he was 14! Wanted so much to fly in WWII, but his eyesight was awful. I grew up flying with my father. We had an old Taylorcraft tail-dragger, that I flew when I soloed at 16 and one day.
He flew that Taylorcraft until he had his ticket pulled because of a quintuple bypass in 1979. Sold it, and bought a kit for an experimental aircraft – didn’t need a ticket back then.
When he died, in 1996, that poem was read at his memorial service. I have not been able to look at it since, because it exemplifies the joy of pure flight. Daddy would recite it each time we flew, and I knew it by heart at a very early age!
May all the Gods give peace to all of those who knew, loved, cherished these gentlemen.
Thank you, Shannyn. Your kindness will be remembered by so many people.
By: jimzmum on September 4, 2010
at 3:55 pm
My prayers go out to the friends and families of these men. God bless…..
By: Laureninalaska on September 5, 2010
at 5:24 am
My prayers also go out to all the family members, friends, and all those who have had the pleasure of crossing their paths. I only hope this sad loss moves aviation safety another step forward in our understanding of the causes of aviation accidents for one of the safest means of travel we have.
By: M Baker on September 5, 2010
at 6:00 am
I had to walk away for a bit after reading this…
My hands are linked with the families of Mr Lampe and Mr Bell…
Having lost a pilot family member in a crash a month ago I can barely see through tears I have for all of you
but I can stand with you
and I am.
By: alaskapi on September 5, 2010
at 6:03 am
Shannyn,
Nice dedication to the UPS family!! and nice poem!
Thanks!!
WW
By: W Willenbrink on September 5, 2010
at 10:07 am
Hello Shannyn:
Being Canadian, I was required as a child to memorize this poem. Reading your version, I noticed afew lines that did’t ring true. At the risk of being pedantic, may I give you the original version?
High Flight
Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I’ve climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
of sun-split clouds, — and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of—wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov’ring there,
I’ve chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air….
Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue
I’ve topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace
Where never lark nor even eagle flew—
And, while with silent lifting mind I’ve trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.
By: Steve Cochrane on September 14, 2010
at 2:07 am