American Overseas Airlines
Encyclopedia
American Overseas Airlines (AOA) was an airline
that operated between the United States
and Europe
between 1945 and 1950. It was headquartered in Midtown Manhattan
, New York City
.
flying boats, dubbed 'Flying Aces', named after the parent company's Four Aces. That same year, AEA made an application to the US Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) for routes across the Atlantic from the United States
to the United Kingdom
, France
, and Portugal
. On July 15, 1940, in spite of strong protests by Juan Trippe
, the president of Pan American World Airways
(PAA), President Franklin D. Roosevelt
gave his approval to AEA for a seven-year temporary certificate to serve Lisbon
(Portugal) from New York City
-La Guardia Flying Boat base. Later, services were also flown to Foynes
(Ireland). These services ended in 1944 when AEA started operations on behalf of the US Air Transport Command
(ATC), using Douglas C-54 Skymasters mainly between the USA and military bases in North Africa
.
AEA could not begin its New York City (USA)–Foynes (Ireland) flying boat service before June 1942, due in part to vigorous objections from PAA.
was interested in acquiring AEA since it wanted to break into the overseas market - at that time - dominated by PAA. The US CAB approved the acquisition of AEA by American Airlines on July 5, 1945. The La Guardia - Botwood - Shannon
route was initially operated by Vought-Sikorsky flying boat
s using the Marine Air Terminal
at LaGuardia Airport
. By 1948 the airline also served Prestwick
, Amsterdam
, Frankfurt
, Berlin
, Keflavik
, Oslo
, Copenhagen
, Stockholm
and Helsinki
.
The AEA name was retained until November 1945 when AEA was renamed to American Overseas Airlines. The new entity started operations with six C-54's at the end of AEA's ATC contract.
AOA launched international landplane flights on October 24, 1945, with DC-4 Flagship New England (N90904), on the route New York City
(USA) to London
(England UK) via Boston
(USA), Gander
(Newfoundland) and Shannon
(Ireland).
_american_overseas_1949-50.jpg)
The reliable but unpressurised DC-4s were replaced on the Atlantic routes by Lockheed Constellations from 23 June 1946. From Summer 1949 the Constellations were supplemented and then largely replaced by Boeing Stratocruisers, the first AOA service by the type being on 17 August that year to London Heathrow.
AOA was acquired by PAA but on May 17, 1950, the US CAB ruled against this merger. President Harry S. Truman
, however, overturned the CAB decision, and AOA was merged into what would become Pan American's Atlantic Division on September 25, 1950. This unit would ultimately become part of Delta Air Lines
.
(Newfoundland) when flaps were inadvertently extended to landing position, thus causing the aircraft to stall immediately after lift-off. In the crash, 5 out of the 11-strong crew and 6 out of 26 passengers perished.
On October 3, 1946, AOA's Flagship New England (N90904) crashed into a steep ridge en route from Stephenville
(Newfoundland) to Shannon
(Ireland). This plane crash happened 7.1 miles past the departure runway. There were 8 crew and 31 passenger fatalities; no survivors. The crash investigators determined "The action of the pilot in maintaining the direction of take-off toward higher terrain over which adequate clearance could not be gained."
Douglas C-54 Skymaster:
Vought-Sikorsky VS-44
:
:
Douglas DC-3
:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain:
Douglas C-54 Skymaster:
:
Lockheed L-049 Constellation
:
Boeing 377 Stratocruiser:
Airline
An airline provides air transport services for traveling passengers and freight. Airlines lease or own their aircraft with which to supply these services and may form partnerships or alliances with other airlines for mutual benefit...
that operated between the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
between 1945 and 1950. It was headquartered in Midtown Manhattan
Midtown Manhattan
Midtown Manhattan, or simply Midtown, is an area of Manhattan, New York City home to world-famous commercial zones such as Rockefeller Center, Broadway, and Times Square...
, New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
Early history
American Export Airlines (AEA), commonly known as Am Ex, was founded in April 1937 as a wholly owned subsidiary of the shipping company American Export Lines. Transatlantic surveys were done with a Consolidated PBY-4 flying boat and in 1939 AEA placed an order for three Vought-Sikorsky VS-44Sikorsky VS-44
-References:NotesBibliography** early article on VS-44 with cutaway drawing of VS-44 on of three page article.* excellent photos...
flying boats, dubbed 'Flying Aces', named after the parent company's Four Aces. That same year, AEA made an application to the US Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) for routes across the Atlantic from the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
to the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, and Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
. On July 15, 1940, in spite of strong protests by Juan Trippe
Juan Trippe
Juan Terry Trippe was an American airline entrepreneur and pioneer, and the founder of Pan American World Airways, one of the world's most prominent airlines of the twentieth century.-Early years:...
, the president of Pan American World Airways
Pan American World Airways
Pan American World Airways, commonly known as Pan Am, was the principal and largest international air carrier in the United States from 1927 until its collapse on December 4, 1991...
(PAA), President Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
gave his approval to AEA for a seven-year temporary certificate to serve Lisbon
Lisbon
Lisbon is the capital city and largest city of Portugal with a population of 545,245 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Lisbon extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of 3 million on an area of , making it the 9th most populous urban...
(Portugal) from New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
-La Guardia Flying Boat base. Later, services were also flown to Foynes
Foynes
Foynes is a village and major port in County Limerick in the midwest of Ireland, located at the edge of hilly land on the southern bank of the Shannon Estuary. The population of the town was 606 as of the 2006 census.-Foynes's role in aviation:...
(Ireland). These services ended in 1944 when AEA started operations on behalf of the US Air Transport Command
Air Transport Command
Air Transport Command is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its mission was to meet the urgent demand for the speedy reinforcement of the United States' military bases worldwide during World War II, using an air supply system to supplement surface transport...
(ATC), using Douglas C-54 Skymasters mainly between the USA and military bases in North Africa
North Africa
North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, linked by the Sahara to Sub-Saharan Africa. Geopolitically, the United Nations definition of Northern Africa includes eight countries or territories; Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia, and...
.
AEA could not begin its New York City (USA)–Foynes (Ireland) flying boat service before June 1942, due in part to vigorous objections from PAA.
Postwar operations
In 1945, AEA was awarded transatlantic rights, which covered destinations in Northern Europe. The airline subsequently cut its ties with the shipping company. American AirlinesAmerican Airlines
American Airlines, Inc. is the world's fourth-largest airline in passenger miles transported and operating revenues. American Airlines is a subsidiary of the AMR Corporation and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas adjacent to its largest hub at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport...
was interested in acquiring AEA since it wanted to break into the overseas market - at that time - dominated by PAA. The US CAB approved the acquisition of AEA by American Airlines on July 5, 1945. The La Guardia - Botwood - Shannon
Shannon Airport
Shannon Airport, is one of the Republic of Ireland's three primary airports along with Dublin and Cork. In 2010 around 1,750,000 passengers passed through the airport, making it the third busiest airport in the Republic of Ireland after Dublin and Cork, and the fifth busiest airport on the island...
route was initially operated by Vought-Sikorsky flying boat
Flying boat
A flying boat is a fixed-winged seaplane with a hull, allowing it to land on water. It differs from a float plane as it uses a purpose-designed fuselage which can float, granting the aircraft buoyancy. Flying boats may be stabilized by under-wing floats or by wing-like projections from the fuselage...
s using the Marine Air Terminal
Marine Air Terminal
-External links:*...
at LaGuardia Airport
LaGuardia Airport
LaGuardia Airport is an airport located in the northern part of Queens County on Long Island in the City of New York. The airport is located on the waterfront of Flushing Bay and Bowery Bay, and borders the neighborhoods of Astoria, Jackson Heights and East Elmhurst. The airport was originally...
. By 1948 the airline also served Prestwick
Prestwick
Prestwick is a town in South Ayrshire on the south-west coast of Scotland, about south-west of Glasgow. It adjoins the larger town of Ayr, the centre of which is about south...
, Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
, Frankfurt
Frankfurt
Frankfurt am Main , commonly known simply as Frankfurt, is the largest city in the German state of Hesse and the fifth-largest city in Germany, with a 2010 population of 688,249. The urban area had an estimated population of 2,300,000 in 2010...
, Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, Keflavik
Keflavík
Keflavík is a town in the Reykjanes region in southwest Iceland. In 2009 its population was of 8,169.In 1995 it merged with Njarðvík and Hafnir to form a municipality called Reykjanesbær with a population of 13,971 .- History :...
, Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
, Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
, Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
and Helsinki
Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...
.
The AEA name was retained until November 1945 when AEA was renamed to American Overseas Airlines. The new entity started operations with six C-54's at the end of AEA's ATC contract.
AOA launched international landplane flights on October 24, 1945, with DC-4 Flagship New England (N90904), on the route New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
(USA) to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
(England UK) via Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
(USA), Gander
Gander, Newfoundland and Labrador
Gander is a Canadian town located in the northeastern part of the island of Newfoundland in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, approximately south of Gander Bay, south of Twillingate and east of Grand Falls-Windsor...
(Newfoundland) and Shannon
Shannon, County Clare
Shannon or Shannon Town , named after the river near which it stands, is a town located in County Clare. It was given town status on 1 January 1982. The town is located just off the N19 road, a spur of the N18/M18 road between Limerick city and Ennis....
(Ireland).
AOA was acquired by PAA but on May 17, 1950, the US CAB ruled against this merger. President Harry S. Truman
Harry S. Truman
Harry S. Truman was the 33rd President of the United States . As President Franklin D. Roosevelt's third vice president and the 34th Vice President of the United States , he succeeded to the presidency on April 12, 1945, when President Roosevelt died less than three months after beginning his...
, however, overturned the CAB decision, and AOA was merged into what would become Pan American's Atlantic Division on September 25, 1950. This unit would ultimately become part of Delta Air Lines
Delta Air Lines
Delta Air Lines, Inc. is a major airline based in the United States and headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. The airline operates an extensive domestic and international network serving all continents except Antarctica. Delta and its subsidiaries operate over 4,000 flights every day...
.
Accidents and incidents
On October 3, 1942, AEA's Excalibur (NC41880) crashed on take-off at BotwoodBotwood, Newfoundland and Labrador
Northwest: Point LeamingtonNorth: Northern ArmNortheast: Bay of Exploits, Burnt Arm, LaurencetonWest: Division No. 6, Subd. CBotwoodEast: Bay of Exploits, Division No. 6, Subd. A...
(Newfoundland) when flaps were inadvertently extended to landing position, thus causing the aircraft to stall immediately after lift-off. In the crash, 5 out of the 11-strong crew and 6 out of 26 passengers perished.
On October 3, 1946, AOA's Flagship New England (N90904) crashed into a steep ridge en route from Stephenville
Stephenville, Newfoundland and Labrador
Stephenville is a Canadian town in Newfoundland and Labrador on the west coast of the island of Newfoundland....
(Newfoundland) to Shannon
Shannon, County Clare
Shannon or Shannon Town , named after the river near which it stands, is a town located in County Clare. It was given town status on 1 January 1982. The town is located just off the N19 road, a spur of the N18/M18 road between Limerick city and Ennis....
(Ireland). This plane crash happened 7.1 miles past the departure runway. There were 8 crew and 31 passenger fatalities; no survivors. The crash investigators determined "The action of the pilot in maintaining the direction of take-off toward higher terrain over which adequate clearance could not be gained."
As AEA
Consolidated PBY-4:- Transatlantic (NC18997)
Douglas C-54 Skymaster:
- (42-107452)
Vought-Sikorsky VS-44
Sikorsky VS-44
-References:NotesBibliography** early article on VS-44 with cutaway drawing of VS-44 on of three page article.* excellent photos...
:
- Excalibur (NX41880; later as NC41880)
As AEA and AOA
Vought-Sikorsky VS-44Sikorsky VS-44
-References:NotesBibliography** early article on VS-44 with cutaway drawing of VS-44 on of three page article.* excellent photos...
:
- Excambian (no NX; later as NC41881)
- Exeter (no NX; later as NC41882)
Douglas DC-3
Douglas DC-3
The Douglas DC-3 is an American fixed-wing propeller-driven aircraft whose speed and range revolutionized air transport in the 1930s and 1940s. Its lasting impact on the airline industry and World War II makes it one of the most significant transport aircraft ever made...
:
- Helsinki (N25686)
Douglas C-47 Skytrain:
- (N90907)
- Nairobi (N90908)
Douglas C-54 Skymaster:
- Flagship America (N90901); also named Stockholm
- Flagship Frankfurt (N90902)
- Flagship Oslo (N90903)
- Flagship New England (N90904)
- Flagship Glasgow (N90905); also named Berlin
- Flagship Copenhagen (N90906); also named Chicago
As AOA
Douglas DC-4 SkymasterDouglas DC-4
The Douglas DC-4 is a four-engined propeller-driven airliner developed by the Douglas Aircraft Company. It served during World War II, in the Berlin Airlift and into the 1960s in a military role...
:
- Flagship Keflavik (N90909)
- Flagship Shannon (N90910)
- Flagship Reykjavik (N90911)
- Flagship Washington (N90912); also named Prestwick
- Flagship Amsterdam (N90913)
- (no Flagship name) (N90914)
- Flagship Gander (N90915)
Lockheed L-049 Constellation
Lockheed L-049 Constellation
The Lockheed L-049 Constellation was the first model of the Lockheed Constellation aircraft line. It entered service as the C-69 military transport aircraft during World War II for the United States Army Air Forces and was the first civilian version after the war...
:
- Flagship Sweden (N90921); also named Stockholm
- Flagship Denmark (N90922); also named Copenhagen and Oslo
- Flagship Great Britain (N90923); also named Scotland and Oslo
- Flagship Holland (N90924); also named Amsterdam and Shannon
- Flagship America (N90925); also named Philadelphia and Copenhagen
- Flagship Éire (N90926); also named Amsterdam and Chicago
- Flagship Norway (N90927); also named Detroit and Glasgow
Boeing 377 Stratocruiser:
- Flagship Scandinavia (N90941); also named Flagship Europe and Flagship Great Britain
- Flagship Europe (N90942); also named Flagship Great Britain
- Flagship Holland (N90943); also named Flagship Europe
- Flagship Ireland (N90944)
- Flagship Norway (N90945)
- Flagship Sweden (N90946)
- Flagship Denmark (N90947)
- Flagship Scotland (N90948)
External links
- Timetable Images: American Overseas Airlines
- Photographs of American Overseas Airlines' airplanes
- Reproduction of an AOA poster
- http://zippogallery.com/Airlines.htmexamples of ZippoZippoA Zippo lighter is a refillable, metal lighter manufactured by Zippo Manufacturing Company of Bradford, Pennsylvania, U.S. Thousands of different styles and designs have been made in the seven decades since their introduction including military ones for specific regiments.-Establishment:George G...
lighters for AOA] - Time Magazine, November 18, 1940—"PAA v. Am Ex"
- Time Magazine, December 20, 1948—"The Big Deal"
- photograph of AOA's ticket
- postcards showing AOA's Stratocruisers
- portrait of Alexis Felix du Pont, Jr.Alexis Felix du Pont, Jr.Alexis Felix du Pont, Jr. was an American aviation pioneer, soldier, philanthropist, and a member of the prominent Du Pont family.-Biography:...
, Director, American Export Airlines