January 27

Jan. 27 – On this day in Montana history in 1941 readers of the Billings Gazette were talking about an article designed to help them learn how to become commercial airplane passengers. Headlined “Mind Your Manners,” the article said it was fine to smoke except on takeoff or landing, give your coat to the stewardess who will hang it up in the back of the plane, if you write a letter you can give it to the stewardess who will mail it at the next stop. If you think the skies were friendlier then, the article said if you forget or don’t have a small enough bag for overnight flights to keep your grooming supplies in that “they will supply overnight bags free.”