“ He flew down there at the last minute just for a lark”, Elvira “Dee’ Holman, his widow told Gary Hiebert, author of the Oliver Towne column in the St. Paul Dispatch, in the late 1950;s. “Late in the afternoon the telephone rang. I had a premonition”.

            Many of the First Flight covers were donated to the NWA History Centre by retiree Larry Daudt.

OTHER THING WE ARE LOOKING FOR

            Some of the most important years in the History of Northwest Airlines were during the 1940’s, the war years of World War II. During that period the company operated a Bomber Modification Center at the St. Paul Airport and also was a prime contractor for the maintenance and operation of a supply line through Canada and unto Alaska and the Aleutian Islands. While a great number of people were employed by NWA in those days, the History Centre has not been able to uncover many photos and other archives for that period. We would greatly appreciate receiving just about anything anyone has to offer relating to those days and operations.

            Another items that recently came to our attention is a dice game; “Cameroon”, that apparently was an advertising gimmick or was a passenger comfort items carried on the early Orient flights. If anyone still has one of the games we would surely like to add it to the museum collection, hopefully with playing instructions and information as to its origin and distribution.

MORE ON THE FIRST AIRMAIL FLIGHTS

            The following story contains material written by Joseph Ferris, NWA’s first             Publicity Manager. It appeared in the 2 nd issue of the company’s first newsletter             “THE BEAM”,dated Sept 1942. Ferris left NWA early in 1952, but not before he             became a legend in his own time among Twin City journalists. Many of             Northwest’s early company publications are on file in the History Centre.

            First Twin Cities-Chicago Airmail Contract………
            “Pop” Dickinson Gave it a Try……….. But He Didn’t Make it”.

            Charles “Pop” Dickinson was a Chicagoan, son of a wealthy Windy City merchant. His father, Albert Dickinson, founded the Albert Dickinson Seed Co.

            Aviation apparently was Charles’ nearly full time avocation. He was convinced that the airplane had a great future, and he became known as a benefactor of flying and also practiced what he preached. Born in 1858, he took his first airplane flight in 1910, He took flying lessons and 10 years later soled at age 62. A heart attack claimed him in 1935,. He was often picturesquely dressed with a leather helmet and goggles perched on his head over a neatly trimmed mustache and beard.

            When, in the mid 1920’s, the government began awarding airmail contracts to private operators, “Pop”. then 68 years old, was among the starting line scramblers. And guess what? In the spring of 1926 “Pop” emerged with a Twin Cities-Chicago contract in hand. The government impatiently insisted “Pop” get going by June 7 , 1926.