Miami Airlines
Operator Identification
April 1946 to 1961
United States of America
TYPE: Non-scheduled airline
IATA/ICAO CODES: Nil
HEADQUARTERS: Miami, FL
FORMER NAME: Nil
SUBSEQUENT NAME: Nil
Operator History
Miami Airlines was a non-scheduled airline founded by Captain R. W. Duff. Duff was a WWI veteran, flying in France from 1916, where he was shot down, taken prisonner and escaped. During the interwar period, he made a living as a barnstormer. As WWII came about, Duff turned to ferrying aircraft over the South Atlantic, for Pan Am and for the Air Transport Command. After returning to the USA at the end of the war, Duff saw advertisements for war surplus materiel, and decided to found his own airline another fellow pilot and an initial investment of $2,000.
Miami Airlines purchased its first Douglas C-47 in March 1946, a second one in May 1946 and a third one in 1947. By that time, Duff had purchased his partner out. In July 1948, when the Air Materiel Command started offering Commandos, Miami Airlines acquired three of them on lease. Aircraft were operated in passenger or freight configurations, sometimes a combination of both. Miami also leased out airplanes to other airlines. In parallel, Duff developped a network of sister companies that included Florida International Engine Service Inc. and Aero Repair of Miami, Inc. which were dedicated to engine and aircraft maintenance respectively. Duff also seems somehow linked to Trans Atlantic Airlines.
On 8 December 1960, Duff and his companies were found guilty by the Civil Aeronautics Board of violating the Federal Aviation Act of 1958. His entire operation was shutdown shortly thereafter in 1961.
Commando Operations
March 1948* to June 1960*
Miami Airlines operated four Commandos, in 50-seat configuration, cargo configuration, or combi. Some were owned directly by R. W. Duff.
Last edited: 10/04/2021