Northwest’s post-war malaise continued into the early 1950s, as the carrier struggled to overcome its service deficit of withdrawing its Martin 202s, its confidence deficit as exemplified by the ill-considered merger attempt with Capital, and its leadership deficit from Gen. Harris’ brief but controversial presidency. NWA turned the corners on all three aspects in 1954 as its board realigned, negotiated new, more generous labor contracts, implemented fresh training programs, and brought on Donald Nyrop as president.
Nyrop quickly arranged for leases of DC-6B aircraft from Flying Tigers and to bring its small fleet of seven -6As up to the B standard, while also ordering additional frames from Douglas. The “Six” was a pressurized and enlarged update to Douglas’ DC-4 series, seating 64 to 76 passengers with better range and a higher service ceiling. DC-6s would soon displace the DC-4s and provide welcomed fleet standardization from both an operations and a passenger-experience perspective. The company would ultimately have 25 DC-6Bs in service, phasing the last batch out in 1964-65 as Lockheed Electra 188s assumed the domestic fleet workhorse position.
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N34957 gets a tow across the St. Paul Holman Field ramp, Sept. 18, 1953. Photo by the Bob Blanch agency for NWA, via the James Borden Photography Collection.N34957 being examined on the St. Paul Holman Field ramp, Sept. 18, 1953. Photo by the Bob Blanch agency for NWA, via the James Borden Photography Collection.N34957 approaching the Northwest hangars at the St. Paul Holman Field ramp, Sept. 18, 1953. Photo by the Bob Blanch agency for NWA, via the James Borden Photography Collection.Unidentified “Six” being thoroughly examined in the St. Paul shops, Sept. 18, 1953. Photo by the Bob Blanch agency for NWA, via the James Borden Photography Collection.Newly-delivered N34957 in publicity shots over St. Paul, Minnesota, Sept. 21, 1953. Photo by Bob Blanch, via the James Borden Photography Collection.Newly-delivered N34957 in publicity shots over St. Paul, Minnesota, Sept. 21, 1953. Photo by Bob Blanch, via the James Borden Photography Collection.Newly-delivered N34957 in publicity shots over St. Paul, Minnesota, Sept. 21, 1953. Note the lack of prop spinners and stub nose before radar was installed. Photo by Bob Blanch, from Leo Hinck, via the James Borden Photography Collection.Publicity shot of the DC-6 interior, 1953 or 1954, using the Forde Photographers agency. NWAHC collection.Staged interior photo by the Robert Blanch agency, 1953. From the James Borden Photography Collection.N566 at Anchorage, Summer 1954. Bob Blanch photograph, via the James Borden Photography Collection.N566 at Anchorage, Summer 1954. Bob Blanch photograph, via the James Borden Photography Collection.N566 at Anchorage, Summer 1954. Bob Blanch photograph, via the James Borden Photography Collection.Great head-on shot of N34957 at Minneapolis, summer of 1954. Photo by Logan Coombs, via the James Borden Photography Collection.N34957 at Minneapolis, summer of 1954. Photo by Logan Coombs, via the James Borden Photography Collection.N569 on approach to Oahu in a late 1954 publicity shot. Photo by Bob Blanch, via the James Borden Photography Collection.N569 passing Diamond Head and the Outrigger Canoe Club in a late 1954 publicity shot. Photo by Bob Blanch, via the James Borden Photography Collection.N569 over Waikiki in the iconic late 1954 publicity shot used by NWA to promote its Hawaiian flights. Photo by Bob Blanch, via the James Borden Photography Collection.Mid-1950s scene at Minneapolis under the wing of a Six. Photo by the Don Berg agency, via the James Borden Photography Collection.N34955 at Seattle-Tacoma, 1956. Company photo, via the James Borden Photography Collection.N572 on a pre-delivery flight out of Long Beach, CA, January 1957. This livery variant includes the 1950s compass logo just behind the cockpit windows and “NORTHWEST” just below them – while simpler than the early 1950s scheme, these two features would fail to establish themselves as the fleet standard. Douglas photo for NWA, via the James Borden Photography Collection.N572 on a pre-delivery flight out of Long Beach, CA, January 1957. Note also the longer nose for radar equipment. Douglas photo for NWA, via the James Borden Photography Collection.N572 on a pre-delivery flight out of Long Beach, CA, January 1957. Douglas photo for NWA, via the James Borden Photography Collection.N572 on a pre-delivery flight out of Long Beach, CA, January 1957. Douglas photo for NWA, via the James Borden Photography Collection.N572 on a pre-delivery flight out of Long Beach, CA, January 1957. Douglas photo for NWA, via the James Borden Photography Collection.N572 on a pre-delivery flight out of Long Beach, CA, January 1957. Douglas photo for NWA, via the James Borden Photography Collection.N572 under taxi at Minneapolis-St. Paul in April-May 1957. Note already the “NORTHWEST” title has been removed from under the cockpit windows. Photo by Logan Coombs, via the James Borden Photography Collection.September 1, 1959 ramp shot of Chicago-Midway by Jon Proctor featuring N570. Used with permission.N34957 showing off her large cargo door at Sea-Tac, 1960. Photo from the Forde agency for NWA, via the James Borden Photography Collection.Robert Blanch agency photo of N578 in July 1960 with the note, “Last DC-6B leaves Holman Field.” Via the James Borden Photography Collection.N581 boarding at the new Minneapolis-St. Paul terminal in 1962. NWAHC collection.N568 at Minneapolis, likely early spring 1962. Photographer unattributed. Via the James Borden Photography Collection.
