HISTORY MATTERS
The Newsletter Publication of NWA History Centre, Inc.
8101 – 34th Ave., So. – Bloomington, MN 55425
(952) 997-8000 – Ext. 8-6102
Vol. 2 - No. 3 September, 2004
MUSEUM NEWS
“A great Christmas stocking stuffer”
WITHOUT A DOUBT , the best buy in town is the new cookbook now in production and printing. It will be available about November 1 st and will be sold at just $10.00 per copy. The book includes some 350 receipies from a great cross section of our volunteers and friends of the History Centre. Copies can be picked up at the History Centre or ordered through our web site at ( www. NWAHistory.org). On mail orders we have to ask for an additional $2.00 per copy to cover the cost of packaging and mailing. Your cookbook purchases and membership generously provide funds for the History Centre’s programs and exhibits.
OUR NEW SIGNATURE EXHIBIT
Recently the History Centre made its first major archive purchase. We stumbled across the 1/36 scale model of the Airbus A-330, decked out in NWA colors. The model was built about eleven years ago by A.M.I. Phelps for Airbus Industries, where it was used as a demostration and sales tool. The model is of the series prototype, which had the 90-degree vertical winglets of the original pre-production design. This (one of a kind) archive now graces the museum. It is a great addition. With our other one of a kind cut away models of the Strotocrusier and Lockheed Electra, we have a most unique display.
THE SAGA OF UN-99:
A MISSING CHAPTER OF THE KOREAN WAR
Remember the Korean War? -- Thirty-seven months, June 25, 1950 to July 27, 1953. -- Military casualties included 900,000 Chinese, 520,000 North Koreans, 270,000 from the Republic of Korea, 54,000 American dead and another 103,000 wounded. Bitter, indeed. -- The defense of South Korea was a United Nations venture. Seventeen countries participated, although the U.S. ran the show. The Korean War is often called the “Forgotten War”, except for those who were in it. And also, virtually forgotten is the small but significant part played by Northwest Airlines.
Spell it “UN-99”. A United Nations caper with an ancient C-47 (DC-3) once owned by Hong Kong Airways. It was flown exclusively by Northwest Airlines crews. Northwest pilots guided it the length and breath of Korea during the first part of the war – from the China border along the Yalu River on the north to the Korean Strait and the East China Sea. It was a unique operation, the first airplane in history to be used for such an unusual diplomatic assignment; the lone flag-carrier of the United Nations’ blue-and-
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