Western Airlines photograph collection, ca. 1926-1969.
Title:
Western Airlines photograph collection, ca. 1926-1969.
Corporate Author:
Physical Description:
151 photographs : black and white ; 21 x 26 cm.
General Note:
In the Alaska State Library, Historical Collections, P.O. Box 110571, Juneau, AK 99811-0571.
Abstract:
Photographs used by Western Airlines to promote travel to Alaska. Included are airplanes dating from the 1920s to the 1960s, communities and towns around Southeast Alaska, totem poles and carving, boats, ships, mining. An aerial view of the old Douglas Island bridge is included.
Subject Term:
Biographical/Historical Data:
Western Air Express flew its first flight in a Douglas M-2 airplane, April 1926. It was awarded the US Postal Service contract to fly the mail from Salt Lake City to Los Angeles. In 1928, the Guggenheim Foundation chose Western to set up a model airway between Los Angeles and San Francisco. They purchased 3, Fokker F-10 Trimoters with comfortable wicker chairs and provided meal service to passengers. Western developed the first air-to-ground radio, in cooperation with Thorpe Hiscock of Boeing, in 1929. They also introduced the Fokker F-32 aircraft to commercial airline operation. In 1930 it merged with Transcontinental Air to form Transworld Airlines (TWA). Western Air Transport broke off in 1934 and changed its name to General Air. In 1941 it changed its name again to Western Airlines and in 1987 was bought by Delta Airlines.
Restrictions on Access:
Collection is open to research.
Contents:
Douglas Island bridge -- W.A.E. Flying Boat -- Loening Amphibian Catalina -- Jr. Speed mail Model 4D -- Farms (Matanuska Susitna Valley) -- Fokker F-10 -- Fokker F-32 -- Boeing airplanes -- Keystone Loening C2M Amphibian -- WACO EQC-6 -- Convair -- Douglas DC-3 -- Douglas DST.