Western Air Lines
Operator Identification
1941 to 1 April 1987
United States of America
TYPE: Airline
IATA/ICAO CODES: WA / WAL
HEADQUARTERS: Los Angeles, CA
FORMER NAME: Western Air Express
SUBSEQUENT NAME: Delta Air Lines (merger)
Operator History
Western Air Lines was formed in 1925 as Western Air Express. It grew rapidly through a series of acquisitions: Colorado Airways in 1927, Pacific Marine Airways in 1928, West Coast Air Transport in 1929 and Standard Air Lines in 1930. In 1930, Western merged with Pittsburgh Aviation Corporation and Transcontinental Air Transport to form TWA.
However, by 1934, Western Air Express had severed from TWA. It changed its name to Western Air Lines in 1941.
Western finally merged into Delta in April 1987.
Commando Operations
September 1943 to August 1944
Western Air Lines never purchased any Commando. However, it did operate leased USAAF Commandos during World War II, probably in support of military activities.
Last edited: 02/01/2019