The Curtiss Commando Page
The Curtiss Commando Page

Resort Airlines

Operator Identification

  September 1945 to 1961

  United States of America


TYPE: Non-scheduled airline

IATA/ICAO CODES: Nil

HEADQUARTERS: New York, NY

FORMER NAME: Nil

SUBSEQUENT NAME: Nil

Operator History

Resort Airlines was founded in September 1945 by Roscoe Paul Weesner and Clinton Davidson. Non-scheduled operations started in December 1945 from New York to resorts in the Adirondacks, and the company applied to the CAB for a permit to serve the Caribbean. The later denied, but President Truman overode the decision and the tours were then flown to Canada and the Caribbbean from New York, NY, Washington, DC, Chicago, IL and Miami, FL.

Resort acquired NATS (Nationwide Air Transport Service), a Florida-registered DC-3 operator, in January 1951. Three DC4s joined the fleet in October 1953.

The company suspended operations in September 1955, but they resumed in 1956 on a Logair contract - flights for the US forces. The contract expired on 15 June 1960 and Resort subsequently closed.

Commando Operations

December 1945 to June 1960

Resort started operations with nine Commandos leased from the USAAF, and the type remained a major part of the fleet throughout the company's life. Five were remaining in 1960 when Resort closed down.

Commandos Operated

  • Curtiss C-46A-15-CU Commando: N3953C
  • Curtiss C-46A-40-CU Commando: N79096 / N3967C
  • Curtiss C-46A-45-CU Commando: N51424
  • Curtiss C-46A-55-CK Commando: N3954C (leased), N3955C (leased)
  • Other Commandos: N1242N, N1312V, N1663M, N1667M, N1668M, N1669M, N1803M, N1838M, N68965, N74177, N75866

Last edited: 30/10/2021