Jan and her sister Susie were the daughters of Air Force Col. Robert Uhrig and his beloved wife “Toots.” They moved to Thailand in 1963 when her dad took a Southeast Asia assignment.
Uhrig was a patriot, historian and exceptionally-skilled officer. He was friends with Gen. Chuck Yaeger among many others.
After his Air Force service, Uhrig spent a few years with Air America — the CIA’s covertly-sponsored airline — and later represented the Northrop Corporation in Southeast Asia until his retirement.
Uhrig wanted his daughters to see the world and its events for themselves — including a special trip to meet the Beatles.
The Fab Four touched down at Bangkok Airport during their 1966 Far East tour. But they didn’t go over well with Thai authorities, who wouldn’t allow the mop-tops to set foot off the plane.
Wiseley, 63, gives her account, and talks a bit about living in Thailand as an American teen.
(The following interview with Jan Wiseley was conducted Thursday by Staff Writer Matt Surtel at her house in Castile.)
Can you tell me exactly how you met the Beatles?
They were going to fly in, and Daddy heard they were going to land in Bangkok.
They wouldn’t let them off the plane. I thought it was their hair, but my sister Susie says it was the hair and the music.
So they evidently weren’t allowed on the tarmac. They were on their way to Hong Kong.
My dad, and I think it was Col. Fox, had heard they were going to land, so they got us out of school. There were about six of us. When they had to refuel, they let the stairway down and let us on the plane, and they gave us their autographs.
Did you have any idea, when you awoke that morning, that you’d be meeting them?
Yes, because my dad had heard — I’m pretty sure. I’d have to ask my sister if we knew.
She didn’t get the autographs because she didn’t get to go up high enough. I got to go into the plane to get their autographs.
READ MORE... HERE.
No comments:
Post a Comment