The Delta Museum has been working hard this year to collect and preserve Northwest Airlines history in the Delta Corporate Archives housed in Atlanta. A highlight of the incoming materials has turned out to be 2 small photo albums of black and white photos taken in 1939. They show what it was like to fly and work in Northwest’s brand new 21-passenger Douglas DC-3 modern airliner. 
“The DC-3 . . . was and is a grand old girl, the first airplane that could be operated economically enough so the airlines could provide transportation at a cost Mr. John Q. Public could afford to pay.” Northwest Capt. Russ Sorkness
Cockpit view below shows the Northwest aircraft maintenance hangar in St. Paul, Minnesota.
The albums also document the uniforms and work of Northwest’s first flight attendants, called “stewardesses” at the time, hired to work the DC-3. Below, you see Stewardess Jacobsen serving a meal tray that came from the tiny galley with the gleaming thermos bottles in the background.
What do you think? Wonderful images, aren’t they? I’m share some more next week.
Marie Force
Archives Manager