Vintage 1968 Western Airlines Pilot Job Response Letter & Job Application Lot For Sale

Up for sale is a rare 4-piece collection of 1968 Western Airlines pilot recruitment ephemera, highlighted by an original, hand-signed job inquiry response letter from the Manager of Employment detailing Jet Age hiring standards. This historically significant lot also includes an official Second Officer qualifications sheet, a blank 4-page Application for Employment, and the accompanying Pilot Supplement form. Together, these documents offer an incredible, complete look into the strict physical and flight requirements of commercial aviation in the late 1960s.The featured piece of this lot is the typed letter on official Western Airlines letterhead, hand-signed by Duane C. Severson, Manager of Employment. It gives a fascinating firsthand look into the cutthroat 1968 pilot job market, explicitly stating that civilian pilots faced extreme difficulty competing because Western Airlines was almost exclusively hiring military pilots with an average of 2,000 hours on heavy multi-engine turbo-jets.What is Included in this 4-Piece Historic Lot:

1. Featured Item - Signed Pilot Recruitment Letter: A typed correspondence piece on official Western Airlines letterhead, hand-signed by Duane C. Severson, turning down the pilot applicant and discussing intense applicant competition and heavy military pilot hiring.
2. Second Officer Qualifications Sheet: Outlines the strict, era-specific requirements from May 1968 regarding Age (21-30), physical appearance (clean-cut, 5\'6\" to 6\'4\"), mandatory FAA First Class Physical, 1,000+ hour minimums, and preferred science degrees.
3. Application for Employment (Form CP-2B): A blank 4-page gatefold folder form covering General Personal/Physical Information, Position Information, and Marital Status.
4. Pilot Supplement Form (Form CP-2B Sup. REV 4.64): A blank log sheet meant to accompany the standard application, tracking multi-engine flight times, FAA ratings, instrument time, and military/civilian flight histories.
   

Condition:
Great vintage condition with crisp paper, bright ink, and very light aging. No deep stains, prominent folds, or major tears. Please review the close-up photos for exact signature and text details.

• Pilot Supplement: The bottom edge displays light, wave-like paper rippling/waving (visible in photos), likely from historical ambient humidity changes over the last 60 years. There is no water staining or discoloration.
• Employment Application: Displays a soft crease/slight corner bend at the bottom right tip (visible in close-up photo) due to natural handling over time. There is no tearing or missing paper. The bend is at the bottom middle of the application when open.
• Second Officer Qualifications Sheet:Please note a hint of minor age toning along the top edge and a tiny, isolated brown spot at the very top border as shown in the close-up photo.

Shipping:
Ships securely to ensure it arrives perfectly protected without bending. Sent via tracked USPS shipping.