Time became of the essence as Mon Lei was readied for debut in New York’s East River, September 10. With the original contract for the junk signed August 20, NWA had about three weeks to accomplish what amounted to at least three months work. While Larson labored over the sails, the Mon Lei, slowly steamed up to a Nyack, NY shipyard, to get its hull caulked, painted and refinished, its engine overhauled, and its interior cleaned up.

            The sails with their intricate rigging and practically unattainable bamboo battens, weren’t quite ready for the first series of receptions, but the Mon Lei, with NWA banner flying from its mainmast, somehow managed to chug into its designated berth at the 27th St. East River pier early on the morning of Sept. 10. From then on the old ship was a scene of concentrated activity, as Vice President Bain, District Sales Manager O.V. (Bud) Mahan and almost every Sales Representative in the New York office doffed coats, rolled up sleeves and pitched in to hang curtains, lay rugs, polish brass and carvings – and clear the decks just in time for the early guests at the first party.

            What happened in the next three days augurs complete success for Northwest’s project Mon Lei. With some sixty people invited each evening, NWA entertained nearly 300 members of the press, UN officials and representatives of the Far East countries, travel agents and industry members. When the last ‘all ashore” was sounded by Commodore Reed, there could be little doubt that NWA had re-established itself with many old friends and was thoroughly identified with many new ones.

            With bright blue sails billowing, the Mon Lei made its tour of the Atlantic Coast, bringing the Northwest touch of the Orient ten thousand miles closer to Florida. The Mon Lei is now moored on the Miami waterfront.

REMEMBER – First Wednesdays

Coffee and Schmoozing at the History Centre

April 5 May 3 June 7

9:30 – 11:00 AM

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We Get Inquiries – D.B. Cooper

            Recently we received an inquiry from a Vancouver, Washington newspaper reporter working on a follow up to the hijacking on a Northwest flight back in 1971. This involved the infamous “D.B. Cooper” who collected a $200,000 ransom and then parachuted from the rear of a B-727 somewhere over Washington/Oregon. A copy of his story (plucked from the inter-net) is available at the History Centre. We have very little information about the incident and would like to hear from anyone who has first hand knowledge. For those not familiar with the affair the following is a newspaper article from the time.

            MEXICO CITY - November 24, 1971 - “All was going smoothly on Northwest Airlines flight from Portland, Oregon to Seattle today when passenger D.B. Cooper in the rear section rang for the stewardess. He casually showed her two red cylinders wired together and told her it was a bomb. The stewardess took it calmly and went forward to tell the captain. None of the other passengers had any inkling of what was happening. The 727 landed normally at Seattle and the passengers filed off. Only the hijacker and crew remained aboard and waited until $200,000 was loaded on board.