Tailing The Red Tail of Northwest Airlines (Part 1)

major government wartime assignments. Among these was a lifeline to Alaska (which built off Northwest's flights to the Pacific Northwest) and bomber modification. Employment jumps from 881 to 10,439!

Service to several smaller cities is suspended as the government commandeers half of Northwest's fleet.

Post-War Northwest (Orient)

In June 1945 Northwest becomes the fourth transcontinental air carrier in the country. New York service begins from the Twin Cities. This flight included stops in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Detroit, Michigan. Northwest adds its first four-engine aircraft, the Douglas DC-4.

Northwest flies to Anchorage, Alaska (via Seattle) in 1946.

The birth of Northwest Orient dawns in 1947. In January the "Inside" route to Anchorage is launched from the Twin Cities. In July Northwest Orient begins service begins from the Twin Cities to Tokyo, Japan, Seoul, Korea, Shanghai, China, and Manila, Philippines. These flights made stops in Edmonton, Alberta, and Anchorage and Shemya, Alaska. Service to Okinawa begins in September.

In 1948 Northwest paints its trademark "Red Tail" on all aircraft for the first time. Service expands to Honolulu, Hawaii.

In 1949 Northwest began the nation's first transcontinental all-coach flights. On the down side, civil war in China forces suspension of Northwest's Shanghai service.

Make a toast! In August 1949 Northwest takes delivery of its first Boeing B-377 Stratocruiser. The double-deck Stratocruiser features on-board passenger lounges for relaxation on Northwest's long trans-Pacific flights. To celebrate, Northwest becomes the first airline to offer beverage service within the U.S. In 1950 hostilities in Korea (you know, the Korean War) force suspension of commercial service to Seoul. Northwest picks up the slack with a government contract for the Korean air lift. Service also expands to Taipei, Taiwan, and in 1951 to Hong Kong via a connecting service with Hong Kong Airways. How profitable were these routes? In 1955 Northwest voluntarily becomes the first airline to operate without government subsidy on trans-Pacific and United States-Alaska routes.

The Jet Age

In 1959 Northwest entered the jet age. In June the Lockheed L-188 Electra turbo-prop is first flown as Northwest begins the New York-Anchorage-Tokyo polar service. In July 1960 Northwest begins "fastest U.S. jet service to Asia" with Douglas DC8 aircraft, the airline's first "pure jet," followed by Chicago-Anchorage-Tokyo service in August.

In 1962 Northwest originates wind shear forecasts to warn of sudden changes in wind direction. In 1963 Northwest becomes the nation's first all fan-jet operator when aircraft are replaced with the Boeing 707.

Deregulation

Deregulation of the American airline

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