2015.3.6.3

2nd Annual Report 1942 "Mission for America"

"The fulfilment of plans approved in the Spring of 1941, our Company expanded its transportation facilities with the inauguration of new 24-passenger Douglas DC3 plane service on July 1, 1941.

Pearl Harbor marked a turning point in our Company's operations with a necessary shift in emphasis from commercial to National Defense objectives. Our Company was prompt to enlist with the War Department for effective participation in the National Defense program, filed a new route application in November 1941, for service to United States military and naval bases then under construction in Newfoundland. Later in that same month, the management offered and the Government accepted the services of the Pilot Training School for the training of special pilots for commercial ferry service overseas.

The War Department and our Company consummated a formal contract on January 31, 1942, for services and supplies on a cost-plus-fixed-fee basis, and shortly thereafter regular service was instituted for the transportation of military personnel and material.

The War Department, late in May, requisitioned a large number of airline planes, including six from our Company, which curtailed commercial services. This curtailment of service made it possible for our Company to divert more pilots to the military contract operations and to reduce the staff of ground personnel at various stations.

The Government purchased all of our company's 10-passenger Lockheed Electra planes during the past year, taking delivery of four during November 1941, and the remaining one in May, 1942." (Second Annual Report Year Ended June 30, 1942 Northeast Airlines pp. 4-5)