In 1942, Northwest was assigned ten of the capacious C-46 cargo haulers to fly through the Northern Region to support the defense of Alaska and the Lend-Lease supply chain to the Soviet Union. The airframe was already sturdy, but NWA continued to adapt it for cold-weather operation, as well as improvising methods of maintenance in extreme conditions. One airframe was lost in September 1943, but the rest survived. As the war came to a close, all C-46s were returned to military hands; none ever flew in Northwest colors.
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Frank Perrin photo from Minneapolis, 1943, via the James Borden collection.Frank Perrin photo from Minneapolis, 1943, via the James Borden collection. Navy hangar behind, and a company DC-3 at right.Frank Perrin photo from Minneapolis, 1943, via the James Borden collection.C.E. Falenczykowski’s 1943 shot of the Commando’s flight deck, at St. Paul, via the James Borden collection.As there was no way to source and transport enough timber and steel to construct hangars for the Northern Region fleet, portable tarpaulin tents were erected on wooden floors with sledge feet that could be hauled over the ice and snow to where the aircraft sat, to keep enough wind out and hold enough heat and light in so that crews could work on engines. There were also “nose hangars” crafted of similar design. 1943-44 photo by NWA, via the James Borden collection.H. McKee’s photo from Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, April 8, 1943. The logo for the Air Transport Command can be glimpsed at the rear of the aircraft. From left to right: Lt. Chester Franecke; Capt. Roman Justiss, Pilot; Thomas Nolan, Superintendent of Cargo for NWA; John Redus, radio operator; H.R. Weissenburger, NWA; Jessie Justiss, co-Pilot (brothers!); Lt. G.E. Coffey; Robert Martino; Todd Wright. Via the James Borden collection.
