NORTHWEST AIRLINES

You're right, Northwest Airlines doesn't have anything to do with St. Louis Park, but we ride on it, so here it is..

Northwest Airlines was begun as Northwest Airways by Col. Lewis Brittin on September 1, 1926. The company was based in Michigan, but operated from Speedway Flying Field, the site of today’s Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport.

The first flight took place on October 1, 1926, carrying mail from the Cities to Chicago with two rented planes with open cockpits. The first passenger flight carried one passenger on an unheated, 12 hour trip to Chicago. On November 2, 1926, Northwest introduces the country’s first closed-cabin commercial plan, which could hold three passengers. The first paying passenger flew to Chicago on July 5, 1927. At the controls was “Speed” Holman, legendary local pilot.

On July 1, 1930, Northwest moved its fleet to St. Paul’s Holman Field (now the downtown airport). Before the war, it was said to only hire pilots who had received their training from the Navy in Pensacola. The company became Northwest Airlines on April 16, 1934. In 1939, the DC3 was introduced, as were the company’s first stewardess. During the War, the Federal government commandeered half of the fleet, and service to smaller venues was reduced. On August 1, 1949, Northwest became the first airline to offer beverage service within the U.S., on the Boeing Stratocruiser.

In 1954, North Central Airlines recruited 50 women to replace men as stewardesses. There was much competition for these coveted spots.

In 1956, operations moved back to Speedway Flying Field, which was now the $17.5 Million Wold-Chamberlain Field. 1959 saw the company’s first jet. More information on Northwest’s History can be found on its excellent website: www.nwa.com.

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This information comes from a variety of sources: newspapers, books, yearbooks, phone directories, interviews, etc. Given the varied sources, we cannot guarantee that all of this information is correct, and welcome any additions and corrections. Please contact us with your contributions and comments.