Jim's first assignment with United was to travel to Oakland to undergo Douglas Aircraft training in the DC 3 and the Boeing 247-D. It would have been impossible for him to know the role this company was going to play in his life and that of his yet-to-be conceived family. Perhaps - Jim's exposure to Douglas personnel and his impressions formed those few days in March 1939 set him on that path?

The first flight was on March 20th flying from Salt Lake City to Portland - carrying passengers as well as - what else - the mail (AM-12). Jim continued to fly that loop for the bulk of his time with United (later known as the United Airlines Transport Corp.) with little incident except for an occasional landing on a flat tire, an engine or other equipment malfunction, weather (WX) delays or a hand injury that kept him out of the cockpit for a 1-1/2 week period in February 1940. Jim's last day of United employment was July 4, 1940 - "Finis"