AIRWAYS HISTORY
18 “ First in New England Skies ”, a slogan introduced in 1951 , appears on the cover of this September 1954 timetable . // DAVID H . STRINGER COLLECTION
19 In the summer of 1953 , Northeast leased three Convair 240s from Pan American World Airways . N90666 is seen here still wearing basic Pan Am livery with Northeast titles applied . This aircraft , plus three additional Convairs , would be purchased from Pan Am in 1954 . // PHOTO : PROCTOR- LIVESEY-THOMAS COLLECTION its Pilots experienced in flying in frigid winter conditions and in Atlantic fog , should be the one to pioneer the northern route to Europe . When Solomon broached the subject in the late 1930s , the railroad men predictably paired the idea with a railroad , this time the Canadian National . Solomon was put in touch with Samuel J . Hungerford , president of the Canadian National Railway and a very influential force in the Canadian transport industry . Landplanes would require fuel stops in Canada , and Solomon also sought Hungerford ’ s intervention with British authorities in securing landing rights for Boston-Maine in the UK . Hungerford dismissed Solomon ’ s proposition , asserting that the Atlantic could only be spanned by flying boats . Furthermore , when the British were ready to extend landing rights to a US carrier , Hungerford ’ s support would be with Pan American .
Solomon was undeterred . He foresaw the need for Boston-Maine to purchase larger equipment and set its sights beyond local service in New England . To finance the purchase of three 24-seat Douglas DC-3s , Solomon proposed a public stock offer . Paul Collins was initially opposed , perhaps fearing a loss of control , but Solomon prevailed , and 100,000 shares were offered for sale in January 1941 . Two months earlier , on November 16 , 1940 , Boston-Maine Airways had taken a new name , one that was more expressive of the area served and one which took away the automatic association with railroads : Northeast Airlines .
Citing health reasons , Collins stepped down as president , becoming chairman of the board , and was replaced by Solomon .
The DC-3s came online during summer 1941 and , with them , the airline ’ s first class of stewardesses . Northeast Airlines was about to write a new chapter for itself ; one that would begin in December with the entry of the United States into World War II . service so , for the first time , Boston-Maine Airways had to act on its own and apply to the CAB for a route that extended outside its territory . Nothing happened for a long time .
NORTHEAST AIRLINES
Sam Solomon ’ s vision looked way beyond the route to New York . He felt that his airline , with
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WARTIME
With the outbreak of World War II , the certificated airlines of the United States were called to active duty . In addition to having their employees and their aircraft conscripted into the war effort , the airlines did their part by training Pilots , maintaining military aircraft , and operating transport services for men and materiel .
But Northeast ’ s contribution went above and beyond the normal call of duty thanks in large
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