** Bob Mielke **

            We were very sad to learn of the death of Bob Mielke on November 22nd. Bob had served on the History Centre’s Board of Directors for several years. While he was not one of the original organizers he came forward as soon as he heard of our existence and volunteered his service in whatever capacity needed.  Following service in the U.S. Navy, Bob joined Northwest Airlines maintenance forces. He moved to cockpit duties after training in one of the early Flight Engineers classes. Subsequently he upgraded to pilot
with the advent of the jets. Bob spent several years serving as an instructor and check airman. He retired after some 40 years with the company.

            Bob contributed much of his collection of airline artifacts to the History Center and spent many an hour volunteering his service. He was a true source of a great volume of airline lore, which he freely imparted. About a year ago he suffered an incapacitating stroke following surgery. Bob has been and will always be sorely missed.

** We’ve Published A Book **

            NWA History Centre has published a book, the product of more than three years of interviews, research and writing. And we think you’ll like it.
(Available about January 15th)

             It’s called “Voices from then Sky” with the subtitle “Little-known and long forgotten stories about Northwest Airlines’ earlier years.” It is not just another “history” of Northwest Airlines, as the book’s forward points out. Rather, “a selection of brief human interest yarns, some informative, some funny and all, we hope, interesting from some of the people, and about some of the people, who dedicated their working lives to Northwest Airlines and who led the way in making Northwest Airlines into the world-class transportation company it is today.”

       Each of the book’s 36 chapters constitutes a separate story. Here are some samples:

            * Pilot John “Red” Kennedy provides what is probably the most complete story ever written about Northwest’s World War II “Northern Region” operation throughout western Canada, Alaska and the Aleutian Islands. (Kennedy joined Northwest before the war, at Holman Field sweeping out planes and washing engine parts).

            * Captains Warren Avenson, Gene Schwartz and Jim Wilkinson and Purser Bob Chernich relate the travails of “UN-99”, the United Nations’ Korean War DC-3 flown exclusively by Northwest crews. It’s believed this story has never-before been told in its entirety.

            * Former Northwest security Chief Ernie Yoris recalls his days as Chief of Detectives and head of King County (Seattle) Homicide Squad and his bout with “Russian Mary” Kelly. “She was a high-class girl when we drained the booze out of her,” Ernie recalls.

            * Orient Region Vice President Paul Benscoter recalls Northwest’s tumultuous first ten years in Asia and the Chinese Communist advance on Shanghai. (Benscoter joined Northwest as a radio operator in Minneapolis).

            * Employees fondly recall the remarkable man who founded Northwest Airlines –
Col. Lewis H. Brittin, “as a ‘spit-and-polish’ boss.”

            * Captain Walter Bullock, a Northwest legend in his own time, fondly remembers his old friend, Charles “Speed” Holman, Northwest first pilot and operations manager, as the “greatest pilot whoever lived.”