With the unfortunate experience gained with the 202’s introduction at Northwest, Martin developed a much-upgraded replacement in the early 1950s in the form of the Model 4-0-4 (which we and many abbreviate to just 404.)
Pressurization and anti-icing systems allowed for higher and more direct flying and increased passenger comfort. Up to 40 passengers could now be carried. Eastern and TWA operated large fleets of the well-powered and reliable 404 (60 and 40 respectively), but the development time lost to the 202 program allowed Convair’s 240-340-440 series to capture significant sales.
Larger gauge aircraft at Eastern and TWA started to displace the Martins in the early 1960s, but the airframes still had plenty of cycles to fly and found eager buyers among many regional carriers such as Piedmont, Ozark, Mohawk, Southern, and Pacific. They would even continue in service with commuter carriers such as PBA, Air South, and Marco Island Airways – and more exotic uses such as hauling meat in Bolivia – into the 1980s.
If you use these photos, please credit the Northwest Airlines History Center – please also contact us to let us know how you’re using them and if we can be of further help!
Pacific
To replace its Martin 202 airframes and remaining DC-3s, in 1959, Pacific purchased eight Martin 404s from TWA and two more from Eastern in 1962. While Fairchild F-27s of similar capacity were also on order to handle longer nonstops with their faster speed, the 404s quickly assumed high-frequency “milk runs” up and down the network; their improved comfort and reliability over earlier piston-powered types helped Pacific earn steady growth. 404s served faithfully alongside the F-27s through the mid-1960s, finally leaving the network in August 1968.
Buck Hilton shot on the SFO ramp – note the Japan Air Lines ship on the left! Registration and date unavailable, though probably late 1959 given the transitional titles as Southwest became Pacific. Via Pacific Airlines Portfolio.Sunny San Diego bakes N40438 during a turnaround, November 30, 1961. Jon Proctor photo used with permission – available through Wikimedia Commons.N40422 at SFO. Jim Johnson photo via Pacific Airlines Portfolio.N444A partially reflected in a puddle on the SFO ramp. Undated photo from Jim Johnson via Pacific Airlines Portfolio.Mike Haywood shot of a Pacific Martin 404 cabin in the 1960s, via Pacific Airlines Portfolio.N455A in between flights. Date and location not noted. Jim Johnson photo via Pacific Airlines Portfolio.Cannot see the last two numbers of this ship’s registration. SFO action from Jim Johnson via Pacific Airlines Portfolio.N40438 at San Francisco with a pair of PSA Electras, June 8, 1962. Jon Proctor photo used with permission – available through Wikimedia Commons.Rare color nighttime shot! N40438 making yet another appearance at San Francisco, Jan. 2, 1963. Jon Proctor photo used with permission – available through Wikimedia Commons.N40438 at San Francisco. Jim Johnson photo via Pacific Airlines Portfolio.N40427 at SFO, unknown date. Jim Johnson photo via Pacific Airlines Portfolio.Wouldn’t we all like to be standing at the fence to witness this? N455A uses its rear airstair for deplaning passengers, while the forward door hosts a scissor lift for baggage. Jan. 24, 1964 shot. Jon Proctor photo used with permission – available through Wikimedia Commons.N455A at SFO, Jan. 25, 1964. Jon Proctor photo used with permission – available through Wikimedia Commons.N40438 taxiing into San Jose, March 24, 1964. Jon Proctor photo used with permission – available through Wikimedia Commons.N40422 at SFO in the mid-1960s, based on the PSA Boeing jet. Jim Johnson photo via Pacific Airlines Portfolio.N40438 at the gate in San Jose, March 24, 1964. Jon Proctor photo used with permission – available through Wikimedia Commons.N40342 at LAX in the mid 1960s, based on the American Boeing 727 parked behind. Jim Johnson photo via Pacific Airlines Portfolio.The restored N636X in 1999. Terry Wall photo via Pacific Airlines Portfolio.The restored N636X in 1999. Terry Wall photo via Pacific Airlines Portfolio.The restored N636X in 1999. Terry Wall photo via Pacific Airlines Portfolio.The restored N636X in 1999. Terry Wall photo via Pacific Airlines Portfolio.N636X at Oakland, California. Photographer unattributed.
Southern
In a familiar story, rapidly growing traffic on Southern’s network could not be handled by simply adding more Douglas DC-3 frames and scheduling extra flights, as there was not enough ramp and hangar space at key stations for gaggles of aircraft nor enough pilots to fly them: higher speeds and greater capacity was needed. Upgauging was made possible with 25 ex-Eastern Martin 404s that started arriving in October 1961.
N141S, first of Southern’s fleet (July 1961 training flight) over the Atlanta skyline – freeways just starting to be built. Company publicity photo.Sunset over much of Southern’s fleet at Atlanta, Nov. 1, 1965. (Five 404s and one DC-3!) Jon Proctor photo used with permission – available through Wikimedia Commons.Airline postcard from the late 1960s featuring N2528 at BHM.N145S with most of Southern’s Martin fleet alongside it at Atlanta, April 15, 1972. Photo by RuthAS via Wikimedia Commons, CC 3.0 license.
Southern was the last large regional carrier to fly the 404, with its final flight on April 30, 1978. The type never received the modern “Flightmark” livery and was ignominiously replaced with underpowered 19-passenger Swearingen Metroliner turboprops – but that is a story told on other pages. Communities on the SO network appreciated the mainline comfort and cargo lift the Martinliner made available – but it could no longer pay its way as fuel costs and interest rates skyrocketed in the late 1970s.
(If you have any Southern Airways photos in your attic or office or parent’s home you’d care to share, please drop us a note – it would be a shame for the carrier’s history to disappear when so many people are still with us who remember their time there…)
