Cordova Airlines

  1934 to 1968

  United States of America

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TYPE: Airline

IATA/ICAO CODES: Nil

HEADQUARTERS: Cordova, AK (1934-1944), Anchorage, AK (1944-1968)

OTHER NAMES: Cordova Air Services (1934-1953), Cordova Airlines (1953-1968)

SUBSEQUENT NAME: Alaska Airlines (merged 1968)

Cordova Air Service was founded in 1934 out of Cordova, AK by "Kirk" Kirkpatrick. It operated from the nearby Eyak Lake, which made a great fresh water landing surface in the summer for seaplanes, and a clean ice runway in the winter for landplanes fitted with skis. Cordova's main business was serving the surrounding mines which operated in the area, along with operating scheduled services to nearby Anchorage, Chitina, McCarthy, Peterburg and Juneau. The fleet consisted in a Bellanca and several Stearmans.

On 10 April 1939, "Kirk" Kirkpatrick died in a plane crash, and the company was taken over by one of his pilots, Merle K. "Mudhole" Smith, with the help of some local businessmen. The war years were rather quiet in Cordova, and the company was down to a single airplane and pilot by 1944. However, following the war, expansion started again, mainly due to the tourism industry. A Lockheed 10 Electra was purchased in 1945, and the first Douglas DC3 soon thereafter. By 1951, Cordova was operating 10 aircraft. In 1952 & 1953, Cordova earned the Aviation Safety Award, and changed its name to Cordova Airlines.

The closing of the nearby Kennecott copper mine was a major blow to the airline, however it turned the place into a tourist destination. After 1964, when it became no longer possible to operate there, Dawson City, Yukon, Canada replaced it, served by either a DC3 or a Commando.

In 1968, Cordova Airlines merged with Alaska Airlines.

December 1956* to 1968

Cordova Airlines operated a total of 3 Commandos.

• Curtiss C-46A-41-CU Commando: N7779B
• Curtiss C-46D-10-CU Commando: N10012
• Riddle C-46R Commando: N1845M