REFLECTIONS Extra – Photo Gallery – 747 Inaugural at Minneapolis/St. Paul, June 22, 1970
In celebration of the 50th anniversary of Northwest’s 747 operations, we’ve located photo prints and negatives of the first scheduled flight – Minneapolis/St. Paul to New York JFK. If you can identify staff in these photos, or have others to share of this day, please add a comment or drop us an email!
VIPs and senior staff gathered outside the ramp doors to MSP’s Red Concourse Gate 15 for arrival of the 747. This entryway would later be used briefly in the 1980s-90s as a hold room for Airlink flights operated by Mesaba. NWA publicity photo, NWAHC collection.Media and airport workers gathering on the ramp to watch the 747 pull in. The location was the end of MSP’s Red Concourse (today’s F concourse), which was itself getting an upper gate room level constructed. Both the Red and Blue concourses had 3rd-story observation decks at the time – note the onlookers in the background. Enthusiasts from the 21st Century would be equally thrilled to be standing so close to a North Central Convair 580… NWA publicity photo, NWAHC collection.N603US gleaming under sunny skies at MSP, 6/22/70. NWA publicity photo, NWAHC collection.N603US waiting for baggage carts to pass at MSP, 6/22/70. NWA publicity photo, NWAHC collection.N603US at MSP, 6/22/70. NWA publicity photo, NWAHC collection.N603US and its new tug at MSP, 6/22/70. NWA publicity photo, NWAHC collection.Flight crew for the NWA’s first scheduled 747 flight, from left: Clarence Holter, second officer; Harry Camm, first officer; and Warren Hempel, Captain. NWA publicity photo, NWAHC collection.Flight crew for the NWA’s first scheduled 747 flight. NWA publicity photo, NWAHC collection.Flight crew for the NWA’s first scheduled 747 flight. NWA publicity photo, NWAHC collection.Donald Nyrop, President, and Frank Judd, VP-Maintenance and Engineering. NWA publicity photo, NWAHC collection.Donald Nyrop, President, and Frank Judd, VP-Maintenance and Engineering. NWA publicity photo, NWAHC collection.Donald Nyrop, President, and Frank Judd, VP-Maintenance and Engineering. NWA publicity photo, NWAHC collection.Containerized freight loading being demonstrated to the press, with staff looking on. NWA publicity photo, NWAHC collection.Flight crew inspect forward gear prior to departure. NWA publicity photo, NWAHC collection.Cabin crew line up outside N603US for media photos prior to embarking passengers, 6/22/70. At top, Chuck Velte, purser. (We are hoping to identify the remaining crew!) NWA publicity photo, NWAHC collection.Nyrop joking with an engineer as the 747 begins loading. NWA publicity photo, NWAHC collection.Chairman emeritus Croil Hunter at left. NWA publicity photo, NWAHC collection.Chairman emeritus Croil Hunter at left. NWA publicity photo, NWAHC collection.Don Nyrop looking toward the future. NWA publicity photo, NWAHC collection.Passengers being welcomed on board the massive jet – like in a theater, directions to find their seats were necessary! NWA publicity photo, NWAHC collection.Passengers getting seated while cabin crew complete preparations, 6/22/70. NWA publicity photo, NWAHC collection.Flight attendant with two passengers on the inaugural MSP-JFK 747 flight, 6/22/70. NWA publicity photo, NWAHC collection.N603US heading out, with 727-200 N274US loading at MSP, 6/22/70. The passenger holding a garment bag at center was in a planespotter’s ideal state. NWA publicity photo, NWAHC collection.N603US passing behind 727-200 N274US at MSP, 6/22/70. “274” would be lost in the Stony Point crash in 1974. NWA publicity photo, NWAHC collection.747-100 N603US departing, passing outside North Central’s DC-9-30 N959N at MSP, 6/22/70. NWA publicity photo, NWAHC collection.
2 thoughts on “REFLECTIONS Extra – Photo Gallery – 747 Inaugural at Minneapolis/St. Paul, June 22, 1970”
These photos are beautiful. Thanks for sharing. My Dad, Harlan G. Knauf also flew NWA 747s from about 1971-1987. I remember him sitting in his den or by the kitchen table with his books, maps, and mapping tools. I wish I had paid more attention to what he was doing. He proudly wore the colors of NWA and was very, very sad when the airlines disbanded.
How exciting to see. I was the Purser on that flight. I am pictured with the cabin crew on the jetway stairs and inside while we were boarding the passengers. Great memories. What an honor to be a part of Northwest and the 747 history.. I flew that same flight daily for a week and then returned to my base in SEA and flew the initial 747 flight to TYO. Would love to get copies of these photos for my memory book. Regards Chuck Velte rcharlesv@aol.com
These photos are beautiful. Thanks for sharing. My Dad, Harlan G. Knauf also flew NWA 747s from about 1971-1987. I remember him sitting in his den or by the kitchen table with his books, maps, and mapping tools. I wish I had paid more attention to what he was doing. He proudly wore the colors of NWA and was very, very sad when the airlines disbanded.
How exciting to see. I was the Purser on that flight. I am pictured with the cabin crew on the jetway stairs and inside while we were boarding the passengers. Great memories. What an honor to be a part of Northwest and the 747 history.. I flew that same flight daily for a week and then returned to my base in SEA and flew the initial 747 flight to TYO. Would love to get copies of these photos for my memory book. Regards Chuck Velte rcharlesv@aol.com