BRANIFF AIRWAYS, INCORPORATED TIMELINE
1940 to 1949
BRANIFF AIRWAYS IN 1940
February 3, 1940
Braniff Airways inaugurated the carrier's first scheduled Douglas DC-3 service between Dallas Love Field and Amarillo, Texas. Braniff took delivery of its first DC-3 Super B Liner on December 15, 1939, which had been used as needed during January 1940.
Braniff's Douglas DC-3 aircraft cost $100,000 USD each and featured two 1100 horsepower Wright G-100 Cyclone Engines with full feathering propellers. The big DC-3 had a fuel capacity of 800 gallons and could carry a payload of 4900 pounds. The new Giant Ship could cruise at a fast 180 with a maximum speed of just over 210 miles per hour.
Photo: Braniff’s new DC-3 schedules are printed in the February 1, 1940 Domestic Timetable for the first time. The big roomy and luxurious interior is featured on the front cover.
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March 21, 1940
Four additional new Douglas DC-3s are ordered.
Photo: Braniff Airways maintenance personnel proudly stand with their new Douglas DC-3 Super B Liner featuring seating for 21 passengers.
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June 17, 1940
Braniff Airways Employee Newsletter, B Lines, debuted. B Lines was both a successor and a predecessor to two additional employee newsletters. Braniff's employee newsletters served to bring the Braniff Family closer together by keeping them informed about events throughout the growing Braniff system.
The new B Lines Newsletter was simple in format and printed on a stencil duplicator or mimeograph. Mimeograph was a low cost and simple method of creating low volume printing jobs such as those commonly produced at schools or offices. Ink was forced through a stencil and on to the printing paper. Waxed paper was used to create the stencil, which was typed on a typewriter without a ribbon.
July 1, 1940
Last flight flown with retiring Lockheed L-10A Electra aircraft. With the Electra retirement, Braniff was operating 30 daily flights with Douglas DC-3 and DC-3 aircraft and employed 565 people, including 79 pilots.
Braniff flew its last flight with the venerable 10-passenger Lockheed L-10A Electra twin-engine airliner. With the retirement of the Electras from the fleet Braniff became an all Douglas airline with only the 14-passenger Douglas DC-2 and the 21-passenger DC-3 remaining in the fleet. Braniff had just celebrated its 12th birthday on June 20th and announced on June 29th, 1940, that the Electras would be retired at the end of the month.
Braniff President Thomas Elmer Braniff made the announcement from his office in Oklahoma City. Mr. Braniff noted that with the departure of the Electras all of Braniff's 30 daily flights would now be exclusively operated by Douglas airliners. The last week of June 1940, welcomed the delivery of another 21-passenger Douglas DC-3 to the fleet, which hastened the departure of the Electras.
Photo: Braniff Airways Lockheed L-10A is parked at the gate at Austin Municipal Airport on October 22, 1939. The L-10A was Braniff’s first cabin class airliner and the first with inflight lunch box service served by the pilot crewmembers.
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November 1, 1940
Inaugurates new nonstop Service Oklahoma City to Amarillo, dubbed the Oklahoma City Cutoff, was awarded by the CAB on Sep 24, 1940. Braniff’s total route mileage is 2,683 miles
November 5, 1940
Braniff orders six additional Douglas DC-3s for delivery in May 1941.
Photo: Tom and Bess Braniff's only daughter Jeanne Braniff designed the interiors of the company's new Douglas DC-3 aircraft. Jeanne Braniff wanted the interiors on Braniff's DC-3 to make passengers "feel at home." The striking interiors were elegant and luxurious with thick cut pile carpeting and light pastel green doeskin upper walls and blond primavera wood veneer on seat sides and on the lower walls of the cabin. But the most enduring and memorable part of Ms. Terrell's DC-3 interior was the large forward bulkhead photo murals.
The photo-murals were of scenes taken from Braniff's route system. The light sepia-toned murals were proudly displayed on the front bulkhead of the cabin where all passengers could view and enjoy the artwork. The murals also created the effect of having a much larger and roomier open air cabin. The editors at LIFE Magazine graciously offered their time to assist Miss Braniff with her selection of the photos for the murals. Over 2000 photos were reviewed and 962 photos were used to make the final selections that were actually put on the DC-3s bulkheads.
Ms. Braniff Terrell in the DC-3 cabin with one of her murals. She is discussing the mural installation with Dan Gilmore Project Engineer for Braniff Airways.
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BRANIFF AIRWAYS IN 1941
April 1, 1941
Braniff is operating 40 daily flights and flying 15,675 route miles each day.
Photo: The new DC-3 aircraft ushered in a new updated Bolero Hostess Uniform that included a new pill box hat in dark blue with a matching sash.
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May 7, 1941
Braniff remands a Douglas DC-2 to the Army, which becomes the first of several aircraft impressed into the military for the World War 2 effort
June 12, 1941
Groundbreaking ceremony held at the site of the new Roanoke Drive Base at Dallas Love Field. The new base will include a spectacular hangar and administration headquarters dubbed “The Red Brick Building”, both located in the center of the airport along with the hangar
August 25, 1941
Braniff Airways, Incorporated, begins the first nonstop service from Dallas Love Field to Kansas City Municipal Airport which is now Charles B. Wheeler Downtown Airport. Braniff's new Douglas DC-3 Super B-Liner aircraft, with a capacity of 21 passengers, are used to inaugurate the new flight between Texas and Kansas/Missouri
October 1, 1941
Braniff B Lines Employee Newsletter is renamed B Liner Employee Newsletter and remains that name through the last issue in April 1982
November 11, 1941
Official dedication ceremonies held and the company begins move into New Red Brick HDQ and Hangar on Roanoke Drive at Love Field.
Photo: Mr. Thomas Elmer Braniff, right is joined by former Dallas Mayor J. Woodall Rogers is at the mic and from right to left Commander A. Leverents, former Commandant of Hensley Field Dallas, US Postmaster J. Howard Payne and Ben Critz, Dallas Chamber of Commerce.
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November 11, 1941
Guests join Mr. Braniff for the dedication ceremony of the Airline’s new headquarters building, on right of stage, and hangar to the left of the stage
BRANIFF AIRWAYS IN 1942
April 1, 1942
Treasury and Legal Departments Move from Oklahoma City to new Dallas Base.
Photo: Braniff’s magnificent new hangar at Dallas Love Field at the Roanoke Drive Base features lighted large block Braniff lettering on the front. A company Douglas DC-3 and DC-2 are in for maintenance inspection in this 1942 photo.
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April 13, 1942
Begins an operation of a system of foreign air cargo routes for the US Army Air Force connecting Army depots and bases, operated by Braniff’s flight personal and ground crews from San Antonio, Texas, and Brownsville, Texas, to Panama City in The Canal Zone for World War 2 effort.
Aircraft were converted from Braniff passenger airliners which were removed from scheduled operations. Over 100 Braniff personnel were assigned to the operation known as the Contract Air Cargo Division of the Air Service Command. Braniff later operated similar military service between Dallas and the West Coast and from Dallas to Dayton, Ohio.
The run was dubbed the Banana Run because Braniff pilots also flew bananas that would have been lost from growers in Panama, space permitting, so they could be sold in the United States.
Photo: A Braniff Mechanic is painting the V for Victory sign on the front of Braniff’s DC-3s at the Roanoke Drive Base at Dallas Love Field in 1942.
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May 22, 1942
Maria Romero celebrates five years as one of Braniff’s earliest hostesses
June 1, 1942
Braniff’s fleet is reduced from 16 Douglas DC-3s and DC-2s to total of seven aircraft due to planes being turned over to the government for the World War 2 effort.
Photo: BNFites Ms. Jean Simpson, Ms. JoMarie Wharton and Ms. Marguerita Angold take a moment to honor their fellow Braniff employees that were serving the World War II efforts. A beautiful sign was placed in The Red Brick Building to honor those serving.
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June 30, 1942
Traffic and Advertising Departments move from Oklahoma City to new Dallas Base, fully completing the headquarters move from Oklahoma City to Love Field.
December 1, 1942
Begins training Army Air Force pilots for the World War 2 effort. The training consists of three months of coursework including ground training, Link trainer training and instrument flight practice. Braniff also trained Army aircraft mechanics and radio operators and handled the repair and maintenance of military aircraft.
Photo: Braniff Mechanic Instructor Mr. Albert Muller, left, is teaching USAF PVT T. J. Harrison how to work on aircraft instrumentation at the Roanoke Drive Base hangar at Dallas Love Field.
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BRANIFF AIRWAYS IN 1943
June 19, 1943
The CAB awards Braniff new service between Amarillo and Denver with intermediate stops at Pueblo and Colorado Springs. The new route is strategic to the movement of troops and equipment along the new route.
August 1, 1943
Braniff Airways inaugurates service between Amarillo and Denver with intermediate stops at Pueblo and Colorado Springs
September 1, 1943
Inauguration of service between San Antonio and Laredo, which was authorized by the CAB in December 1942. Braniff’s total route system was 3,108 miles and employed 1300 people.
Photo: Braniff’s new sign goes up at the designated terminal at the Laredo Air Force Base, Texas.
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September 20, 1943
Braniff Airways, Incorporated, petitioned the Civil Aeronautics Board for authority to operate long-haul international routes between the US Mainland and Europe and Latin America. Braniff's proposed service would bring "Friendly Transportation" to nine capital cities in Europe, eight in Central and Latin America, and twelve in the Caribbean.
Braniff received authorization from the CAB for service to Mexico, Central and South America in 1946 and Europe in 1978 and 1979.
Photo: Braniff celebrates its 15th year of service in 1943. Follow Braniff’s vaunted history with this unique route map compilation.
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October 4, 1943
Petitions the CAB for service to New York. The company eventually receives authority in 1955.
Photo: Braniff Douglas DC-3s are in the hangar for routine maintenance inspections at the Roanoke Drive Base at Dallas Love Field.
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BRANIFF AIRWAYS IN 1944
January 23, 1944
The Braniff Foundation is formed by Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Elmer Braniff to support charitable undertakings.
Photo: To celebrate Braniff’s 16th year in service, the company purchased $4,800,000.00 in wartime bonds. Mr. Thomas Elmer Braniff along with longtime employee Ms. Velta Bowlware and former Hostess Ms. Willie Peck are on hand to cut the anniversary cake celebrating Braniff’s 16th and the War Bonds.
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January 28, 1944
Last Banana Run flight is operated from Brownsville, Texas, to the Canal Zone under Army cargo contract. During the period from April 1942, Braniff pilots flew 4,840,517 miles over the route and cargo pounds enplaned totaled 6,494,181 and passengers enplaned were 16,890. A total of 2300 trips were made without injury to passenger or crew members or the loss of any cargo.
Photo: Domestic cargo service between Dallas and the West Coast and Ohio continued until September 25, 1944, with a final flight from Sacramento to Dallas. Captain R. V. Carleton, second third from right greets the last arriving flight and crew at Love Field at 1:05PM Dallas time.
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March 1, 1944
Inauguration of service between Burlington, Iowa and Moline, Illinois. Braniff had previously served Burlington, but service was suspended in June 1937 because the runways were not improved enough for the new and much heavier Douglas DC-2 aircraft.
Photo: The back cover of the March 1, 1944 Braniff Airways Domestic Timetable advertises the new service.
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April 3, 1944
Braniff’s Board of Directors votes to increase the number of Board Members from five to nine at the annual shareholder’s meeting.
Photo: The four new directors were announced in the May 1944 issues of the B Liner Employee Newsletter.
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July 1, 1944
First DC-3 impressed into the US Army Air Force is returned from wartime service enabling Braniff schedules to increase systemwide. In spite of the loss of aircraft to the wartime effort, Braniff was able to operate 104.5 scheduled flying hours with only eight aircraft compared to 122 scheduled hours in 1942 when the company was operating 16 aircraft. NC21776 was the first aircraft returned from wartime service to Braniff Airways.
Photo: Braniff Airways, Incorporated, Douglas DC-3-314 twin-engine Super B-Liner registered as NC21776 is parked on the ramp preparing for a flight to Chicago Midway Airport on July 16, 1946. The aircraft is painted in the 1939 Red and Blue Striped Tail Super B-Liner Color Scheme, which was designed especially for the new 21-passenger DC-3 fleet, and it remained in that scheme until 1949.
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July 4, 1944
First DC-3, Ship N21776, returned from wartime service is tested for return to scheduled service on July 4, 1944.
Photo: Braniff Airways, Incorporated, Douglas DC-3-314 Super B-Liner is parked on the ramp at Dallas Love Field in 1947.
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November 13, 1944
CAB grants service from Oklahoma City to Memphis creating new service from Memphis to Denver. The new route adds 478 route miles to Braniff’s system and includes intermediate stops at Tulsa, Muskogee, Fort Smith and Little Rock
December 1, 1944
Inauguration of service at Topeka, Kansas.
Photo: Two Braniff Douglas DC-3 airliners meet at Topeka Philip Billard Municipal Airport (TOP), which was Topeka’s first airport, in December 1944. Philip Billard served as the city’s main airport until Forbes Field (FOE) opened in 1976.
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BRANIFF AIRWAYS IN 1945
April 4, 1945
Thomas Elmer Braniff’s new Aerovias Braniff airline begins first service from Mexico City to Nuevo Laredo.
Photo: This unique advertisement was placed in the April 6, 1945, issue of the Dallas Morning News, which announced the new service with Braniff Airways connections at Nuevo Laredo with Aerovias Braniff.
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July 1, 1945
Inauguration of service at Lubbock, Texas, as an enroute stop between Denver and Dallas and added a daily round trip to Chicago making seven flights daily between Dallas and Chicago.
Photo: The December 1946 issue of the Braniff B Liner Employee Newsletter features Lubbock as the City of the Month and includes the inauguration of service a few months earlier.
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September 20, 1945
Inauguration of service from Oklahoma City to Memphis with intermediate stops at Tulsa and Muskogee, Oklahoma (service not inaugurated until June 15, 1946) and Fort Smith and Little Rock, Arkansas.
Photo: The local newspaper advertisement is attractive and touts the new Braniff service.
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November 6, 1945
The US Government remands two Douglas DC-4 aircraft over to Braniff for conversion from their military C-54 designation to 56-passenger luxury passenger aircraft. Braniff had five of the big airliners on order, which were placed into service in 1946.
Photo: Braniff Airways, Incorporated, Douglas DC-4 registered as NX59952 (NC59952) is parked on the ramp at Braniff’s Dallas Love Field Maintenance Base on November 6, 1945. The aircraft was registered as experimental until the modifications for airline service could be completed. Braniff’s logo has been applied to the front of the aircraft but the military’s logo can still be seen under the right wing.
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November 10, 1945
Braniff now employs 1,500 people, which is the most in the company’s history, and indicates that the Airline is rapidly expanding during peacetime
November 13, 1945
Braniff’s first Douglas C-47 cargo aircraft was delivered for the planned new systemwide air cargo service.
Photo: A Braniff DC-3 C-47 Cargo Liner with the dual clamshell rear loading doors is onboarding a load for Magnolia Seafood Company, in Houston, Texas, in December 1945.
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December 1, 1945
Air Cargo Service begins over entire Braniff route system.
Photo: Braniff announces the new air cargo service with this handsome advertisement in the January 1, 1946 Domestic Timetable.
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BRANIFF INTERNATIONAL AIRWAYS
IN 1946
January 30, 1946
Walter Marc Henshel becomes editor of B-Liner Employee Newsletter.
Photo: Mr. Henshel at his desk at The Red Brick Building Headquarters at Dallas Love Field in 1946. He joined Braniff in 1944 as Director of Publicity and became the Director of Public Relations, when that department was formed at Braniff in 1947.
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May 5, 1946
First service using the four-engine Douglas DC-4 between San Antonio and Chicago with intermediate stops at Dallas and Kansas City.
Photo: Braniff’s new service was touted not only on the front of the cover of the May 5, 1946 Domestic Timetable but also on the back cover with this impressive half-page advertisement.
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May 11, 1946
Former Lockheed T-19 Modification Hangars are leased by Braniff at Dallas Love Field. This includes 48 acres of hangars, buildings and parking spaces, which triples the size of the Roanoke Drive Base.
Photo: On May 11, 1946, an aerial photography session was flown to capture the enormity of Braniff’s Roanoke Drive Base. The two new T-19 Hangars are in full view and to the right of the hangar across the parking lot is the fabled Red Brick Building Headquarters on Roanoke Drive.
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May 22, 1946
CAA Awards 7719-mile Latin America route and Braniff Airways officially adopts the tradename of Braniff International Airways. The new routes give single-carrier service from Dallas to Mexico, Cuba, Panama and South America and Houston is made a US Gateway to Latin America and San Antonio and Laredo are named co-terminal for the route to Mexico.
June 15, 1946
New service is inaugurated at Muskogee, Oklahoma on the new Denver to Memphis route and a second Douglas DC-4 Super B-Liner is placed in service between Houston and Chicago with intermediate stops at Dallas and Kansas City.
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June 23, 1946
First Braniff aircraft flies with the new “Braniff International Airways” tradename, which was the central feature of the front cover of the June 1946 issue of B Liner Employee Newsletter.
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June 25, 1946
Braniff announces a multi-million-dollar aircraft order with the placement of orders for six Douglas DC-6 and five Douglas DC-4 airliners.
Photo: Braniff President Thomas Elmer Braniff and Chief Pilot Ray Carrol Shrader admire a solid aluminum model of the Airline’s newly ordered Douglas DC-6 four-engine airliner at the Dallas Roanoke Drive Base on June 25, 1946. The proposed Red and Blue El Conquistador was featured the new model but would not arrived until 1949.
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August 25, 1946
First Latin America survey flight begins with Douglas DC-3 Super B-Liner registered as NC59749. One of the many stops made by the Survey Flight tour group was at Santa Cruz, Bolivia, where the DC-3 Executive airliner met up with a Panagra DC-3. Braniff would merge with Panagra in 1967.
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September 1, 1946
Second leg of First Latin America survey flight begins to Mexico and Central and South. The survey flight was commanded by Captain Gordon Winfield, left, and Chief Pilot Captain R. V. Carleton, photographed at Quito’s Mariscal Sucre Airport, Ecuador.
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October 15, 1946
First to offer Instant Confirmation of passenger reservations
December 1, 1946
First nonstop flown between Dallas Love Field and Chicago Midway Airport using Douglas DC-4 four-engine airliners. The company now employs 2,533 people
BRANIFF INTERNATIONAL AIRWAYS
IN 1947
February 5, 1947
First Braniff Douglas DC-4 four-engine aircraft flies to Latin America for proving flight with Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Elmer Braniff on board with other officials and guests.
Photo: Mr. Thomas Elmer Braniff, second from left front row, with Mrs Bess Thurman Braniff to the right or Mr. Braniff along with their daughter Ms. Jeanne Braniff Terrell, second from right on second row, with her husband Alex Terrell, right of Jeanne, along with other Braniff dignitaries and officials prepare to board the Braniff Douglas DC-4 Skyliner at Dallas Love Field for the survey flight to South America on February 5, 1947.
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April 1, 1947
Braniff becomes the first US airline certificated to use Instrument Landing System or ILS with 300’ feet landing minimums.
July 22, 1947
James Bland Lawrence birthdate. Son of Braniff Chairman Harding L. Lawrence, joins Braniff in 1976
August 25, 1947
First new Braniff Douglas DC-6 four-engine airliner is delivered to the Dallas Love Field Base.
Photo: Braniff Airways, Incorporated, Douglas DC-6 registered as N90881 has just arrived at Dallas Love Field after delivery from Douglas Aircraft Company in California, on August 25, 1947.
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October 15, 1947
The CAB establishes temporary mail rate for transportation of US Mail over Braniff’s international routes to Latin America.
Photo: Service to Latin America had begun by the time this classic advertisement was released on September 15, 1948, which touted Braniff’s low air cargo rates between the Americas.
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November 5, 1947
First Douglas DC-6 service begins between Chicago and San Antonio, and Chicago and Houston with intermediate stops at Kansas City and Dallas
December 14, 1947
First Santa Claus Douglas DC-4 charter arrives from the North Pole to entertain the children of Braniff Airways.
Photo: Braniff Airways, Incorporated, Douglas DC-4 registered as N65145 and dubbed The Santa Claus Toyland Special has just arrived to excited children and parents at Dallas Love Field on December 14, 1947.
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BRANIFF INTERNATIONAL AIRWAYS
IN 1948
May 3, 1948
CAA dismisses a Pan American Grace Airways (Panagra) petition to stop Braniff flights in Latin America.
Photo: A handsome Panagra advertisement touting the Airline’s service along the West Coast of South America.
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May 14, 1948
Braniff Airways petitions the Civil Aeronautics Board for authority to begin service between New Orleans and Los Angeles and San Francisco.
Photo: While Braniff was requesting new domestic service to the West Coast of the US, all eyes of the company were on the Airline’s upcoming new service to Latin America. This attractive May 1, 1948 Domestic Timetable advertisement depicts the excitement of the new services.
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May 21, 1948
Latin America pre-inaugural flight with Douglas DC-6 aircraft begins. The official company itinerary indicates that passengers were gathered along the route from Chicago to Houston on May 21, with the actual pre-inaugural flight departing the following day May 22, 1948.
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June 4, 1948
Latin America Service Begins with service from Dallas and Houston to Havana, Cuba; Panama City/Balboa City, in The Canal Zone and Guayaquil, Ecuador using a new Douglas DC-6 airliner.
Photo: Braniff was no longer a small Southwest US carrier, it was a significant carrier that now served two hemispheres. This handsome advertisement from June 1948, proudly touts the new service to Latin America.
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June 18, 1948
Service is extended in South America beyond Guayaquil, Ecuador, to Lima, Peru. Both Douglas DC-4 and DC-6 aircraft were used over the Latin America Division system with the DC-4 Tourist Liners offering the world’s first air coach service.
Photo: This colorful First Flight Cover features the return northbound inaugural flight from South America to the United States beginning on June 6, 1948.
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June 20, 1948
Braniff International Airways celebrates 20 years in public service. Employees at the Kansas City Station were awarded this handsome certificate honoring their service with Braniff on the Airline’s 20th birthday.
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July 31, 1948
Braniff becomes first airline to land at new Idlewild Airport serving New York City. The landing was historical in many aspects as detailed in this official company press release.
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August 30, 1948
Completes one billionth passenger mile of safe operation. Passengers aboard Braniff’s Flight 20 from Dallas Love Field to Kansas City Municipal Airport were informed that they were flying on the flight that would operate the one-billionth accident free mile. Ms. Patricia Farrido of Syracuse, New York, was the first passenger to board Flight 20. Braniff Airways cofounder and President Thomas Elmer Braniff presented Ms. Farrido with a certificate marking the record making flight.
Photo: Braniff Airways, Incorporated, Douglas DC-6 is parked on the ramp at Dallas Love Field in August 1948.
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September 4, 1948
Braniff inaugurates International Air Parcel Post service
BRANIFF INTERNATIONAL AIRWAYS
IN 1949
January 17, 1949
First airline authorized to use Jet Assisted Takeoff or JATO using a Douglas DC-4 at El Alto Airport, La Paz, Bolivia, the highest airport in the world.
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February 8, 1949
Inauguration of service at La Paz, Bolivia, with Douglas DC-3 Super B-Liners from Lima, Peru. Braniff built its own terminal building as well as radio communication and navigation facilities at La Paz.
Photo: A Braniff Airways, Incorporated, Douglas DC-3 makes a stop at La Paz Airport during a survey flight in 1947. Company General Manager Charles Edmund Beard, left and Vice President of Operations Captain Ray Carrol Shrader pose for this photo at 13,000 feet MSL.
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March 8 and 9, 1949
Inauguration of service from Houston, Texas, to Rio de Janeiro Brazil, including first nonstop from Lima, Peru to Rio de Janeiro, which is longest nonstop flight at a distance of 2445 miles, which is flown on March 9, 1949.
June 3, 1949
Braniff inaugurates Douglas DC-4 four-engine service at La Paz El Alto Airport, Bolivia. The first Douglas DC-4 service using Jet Assisted Takeoff or JATO also begins at La Paz, Bolivia and becomes the first JATO passenger plane to fly scheduled service.
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June 15, 1949
Braniff Airways opens its first West Coast Sales Office at San Francisco.
Photo: At the end of 1948, Braniff Airways, Incorporated, ranked as the 7th largest carrier in the United States based on Revenue Passenger Miles Flown.
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September 18, 1949
Douglas DC-6 El Conquistador full service and Douglas DC-4 El Intercontinental tourist economy flights begin between US Mainland and Central and South America. US Vice President Alben Barkley along with Braniff and civic officials were on hand at Dallas Love Field for the ceremonies with Miss Consuela Baca, a direct descendant of an early-day conquistador.
Braniff also introduces a handsome new 1949 Red and Blue El Conquistador Color Scheme over natural aluminum fuselage. Due to cabin heat problems on hot days, the upper fuselage was painted white beginning in 1950.
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November 5, 1949
Portrait of Thomas Elmer Braniff is placed in the Oklahoma Hall of Fame courtesy of the Oklahoma State Historical Society.
Photo: In his early twenties, Thomas Elmer Braniff was already a successful insurance entrepreneur.
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1950 to 1959
BRANIFF INTERNATIONAL AIRWAYS
IN 1950
March 1, 1950
Braniff Airways Douglas DC-6 El Conquistador Domestic Sleeper Service begins between both Dallas and Houston and Chicago with intermediate stops at Kansas City and Oklahoma City.
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March 5, 1950
Demonstrates the new Jet Assisted Takeoff or JATO system on the Company’s Douglas DC-4 El Intercontinental four-engine airliner, which was the first demonstration by an airline of JATO in the United States.
Photo: A Braniff Airways Douglas DC-6 El Conquistador departs Love Field like a rocket with the help of the Airline’s new JATO system on March 5, 1950.
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March 6, 1950
Inauguration of service at Asuncion, Uruguay, using Douglas DC-4 El Intercontinental Tourist Liners by extending service from Lima, Peru and La Paz, Bolivia. The new service was commemorated with this First Flight Cachet.
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May 19, 1950
Inauguration of service at Buenos Aires, Argentina, with a nonstop flight from Lima, Peru.
Photo: Braniff’s inflight menu featured the finest in cuisine on Douglas DC-6 El Conquistador flights to Buenos Aires. Fine wines and cocktails were complemented with shrimp cocktail and Roast Chicken and topped with a scrumptious dessert of strawberry cake and a cognac.
Copyright, Braniff Airways, Incorporated
September 1, 1950
Braniff acquires three additional Lockheed hangars at Dallas Love Field and expands from 48 to 66 acres and nearly 300,000 square feet total space over 21 buildings within Braniff’s sprawling Roanoke Drive Base. This base was located where the current Love Field Terminal is today.
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December 20, 1950
Three additional Douglas DC-6 El Conquistadors are ordered, which brings the total fleet to nine of the four-engine long-range aircraft.
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BRANIFF INTERNATIONAL AIRWAYS
IN 1951
March 5, 1951
Braniff orders 20 new Convair 340 twin-engine aircraft capable of carrying 44-passengers. The contract with Consolidated Vultee Aircraft Corporation was valued at $12 million with delivery scheduled for early 1952.
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March 20, 1951
American, Braniff and Continental Airlines ABC Interchange Service begins between Houston, San Antonio, El Paso, Texas, and Los Angeles, California.
Photo: Braniff Chief Pilot Captain R. V. Carleton was aboard the inaugural flight and poses next to an American Airlines Douglas DC-6, which operated the route from El Paso to Los Angeles.
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August 3, 1951
Braniff is awarded Miami, Florida, as a new gateway to Latin America. Routing was from Dallas to Houston and then nonstop to Miami and then to Central and South America.
Copyright, Braniff Airways, Incorporated
October 12, 1951
Inauguration of service at Sao Paulo, Brazil. The arrival of Braniff Airways Douglas DC-6 El Conquistador registered as N90881 at Cumbica Airport, Sao Paulo, Brazil on this date marked the beginning of the new service. Cumbica Airport was a Brazilian Air Force Base in 1951 but it is now the site of Sao Paulo Guarulhos International Airport, which is still shared with the military.
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December 1, 1951
Braniff and Eastern Airlines Interchange Service begins between Denver, Colorado, and Miami, Florida, via Memphis, Tennessee, a distance of 1,800 miles. This was one of Braniff’s longest operating interchange routes when it ended in 1977.
Photo: Dignitaries christen Eastern Airlines Douglas DC-4 dubbed The Kansas Citian on December 1, 1951, at Kansas City Municipal Airport, just prior to departure of the first Braniff/Eastern Interchange flight.
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BRANIFF INTERNATIONAL AIRWAYS
IN 1952
January 10, 1952
Mid-Continent Airlines and Eastern Airlines (later Braniff and Eastern) Interchange Service begins between Kansas City, St. Louis and Florida, which is depicted on this route map in the Braniff Airways Domestic and International Timetable dated January and February 1952.
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January 24, 1952
The proposed Braniff Airways and Mid-Continent Airlines merger is placed before the Civil Aeronautics Board for review. MCA and Braniff were both smaller trunk carrier and this merger would create a strengthened Braniff Airways. Braniff served the Midwest along a western side between Chicago and Dallas, whereas MCA tended to operate on the eastern side of the line. Braniff operated more southerly, while MCA operated northerly, along the same line.
Photo: Mid-Continent Airlines Convair 240 registered as N90664 at Kansas City Municipal Airport on March 1, 1951.
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February 1, 1952
Braniff, Mid-Continent and Continental Airlines Interchange Service begins between Denver, Colorado Springs, Colorado, and Kansas City, Missouri and St. Louis, Missouri. Kansas City was the changeover point where Continental crews turned the flight over to Mid-Continent Airlines crews.
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April 8, 1952
Braniff, Eastern and TWA Interchange Service between Miami and San Francisco begins
March 26, 1952
CAB approves Braniff’s merger with Kansas City-based Mid-Continent Airlines.
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August 16, 1952
Braniff Airways, as the surviving carrier, merges with Mid-Continent Airlines, effective at 1201AM.
Photo: A Mid-Continent Airlines Convair 240 and Douglas DC-3 are at the MCA Headquarters and Maintenance Base at Kansas City Municipal Airport in the fall of 1952.
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October 5, 1952
Inauguration of service at Ft. Dodge, Iowa.
Photo: The new schedules for Ft. Dodge service were placed for the first time in the Braniff Airways Domestic and International Timetable dated October 1952. South America and the new merger with Mid-Continent Airlines graced the front cover.
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November 1, 1952
Braniff becomes the first airline to put the 44-passenger Convair 340 twin-engine aircraft into service.
Photo: Braniff Co-Founder Thomas Elmer Braniff, left, and Mid-Continent Airlines President James Wescott J.W. “Bill” Miller take a moment for a photograph in front of Braniff’s first new Convair 340-32 registered as N3406 on merger day August 16, 1952, at Dallas Love Field. The new airliner had just arrived from the Convair plant at Lindbergh Field, San Diego, California.
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BRANIFF INTERNATIONAL AIRWAYS
IN 1953
April 13, 1953
Thomas Elmer Braniff begins an Around-the-World trip.The trip was specifically made for Mr. Braniff to be introduced to the personnel and servicesprovided by ten of the major air carriers around the world. These carriers already operated interchange business with Braniff Airways.
The global journey was scheduled to take about sixty days with stops in twenty countries in Europe and Asia. Mr. and Mrs. Braniff will visit Korea and Formosa and an array of cities throughout the two continents. On Monday, Mr. Braniff departed Dallas Love Field and flew to Minneapolis/St. Paul, via Braniff Airways.
At MSP the venturing airline CEO connected with Northwest Airlines, which flew them to Tokyo, where he arrived on Thursday, April 16, 1953, losing a day when they crossed the international date line. Mr. and Mrs. Braniff return to Dallas before the Braniff Airways 25th Anniversary Celebration on June 20, 1953.
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June 20, 1953
Braniff celebrates its 25th Anniversary and is the only US airline with the same management group and operating with the name of its founder.
Photo: The Tulsa, Oklahoma, station staff pose for a photograph marking the 25th Anniversary of Braniff Airways on June 20, 1953.
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September 27, 1953
Braniff and United Airlines Interchange Service begins over a route from Houston, Texas to Seattle, Washington, with intermediate stops at Dallas, Oklahoma City, Denver and Portland
September 27, 1953
New service inaugurated at Brookings, South Dakota and to Fargo, North Dakota, begins. City officials are enjoying the luxurious Braniff Douglas DC-3 at Brookings, South Dakota, station on inaugural day.
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September 27, 1953
Inauguration of service at Owatonna, Minnesota.
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November 2, 1953
Douglas DC-6 Tourist and First Class combo service begins between the US Mainland and Buenos Aires, Argentina, via Havana, Panama, Guayaquil, Lima, La Paz and Asuncion.
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December 1, 1953
First Direct Air Coach service begins between Dallas and Chicago via Oklahoma City, Wichita and Kansas City using Convair 340 airliners
December 17, 1953
Pilots announce the 50th Anniversary of the Wright Brothers first powered flight over Braniff inflight intercoms systemwide. Passengers were given this special handout explaining the special day.
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December 18, 1953
CAB proposes that Braniff merge with Denver-based Continental Airlines because of Continental’s financial position. This was a complete surprise to Braniff and ultimately Continental merged with Houston-based Pioneer Airlines, where Braniff’s future leader Harding L. Lawrence was making a prominent name for himself in the airline business.
Photo: Braniff Airways pilot Lou Farenkamp poses for a photo with his Douglas DC-3 along with fellow Continental Airlines pilot and DC-3 in front of of the Continental hangar at Tulsa Municipal Airport in 1946.
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BRANIFF INTERNATIONAL AIRWAYS
IN 1954
January 10, 1954
Thomas Elmer Braniff dies in a plane crash near Shreveport, Louisiana. The private aircraft that he was returning back home from a hunting trip along with several other prominent executives was overcome with ice.
Photo: This was the last photo taken of Mr. Braniff and his associates just before takeoff in the Grumman Mallard twin-engine aircraft on January 10, 1954.
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January 13, 1954
A special Board of Directors meeting is held to elect a new management group after the untimely loss of Mr. Braniff. The management elected is Fred Jones of Oklahoma City as Chairman of the Board; Mr. James Wescott “Bill” Miller Executive Vice President; Thomas Fortune Ryan, Chairman of the Executive Committee and Ferdinand Eberstadt, Chairman of the Finance Committee.
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January 13, 1954
Executive Vice President Mr. Charles Edmund Beard is appointed President of Braniff Airways, Incorporated, by the Board of Directors.
In 1935, Mr. Beard assumed the role of General Manager of Braniff Airways, Incorporated, after Braniff cofounder Paul Revere Braniff left the company. Under his and Tom Braniff's management, the airline quickly added new routes and new aircraft to the company including the its first twin-engine aircraft, the 10-passenger Lockheed L-10 Electra in 1935, which was followed by the 14-passenger Douglas DC-2 in 1937.
“Chuck” as he was called by his associates, served as Mr. Braniff’s confidant and right hand man. It was without question, that Mr. Braniff would have personally recommended Mr. Beard as his replacement.
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February 2, 1954
To honor Mr. Braniff’s memory and legacy, the City of Dallas issued a resolution to mark the occasion of his passing.
February 15, 1954
Braniff Board elects new officers including Mr. Claude G. Adams as Vice President Finance and Corporate Secretary; Reginald K. “Rex” Brack as Vice President Traffic and Sales; Captain R. V. Carleton as Vice President Operations; Malcolm Harrison, Vice President Industrial Relations; Walter Marc Henshel, Vice President Public Relations; Virgil A. “Vic” Kropff as Assistant Vice President Executive Projects; Oscar Crane as Treasurer and Horace Bolding was appointed Director of Purchasing and Stores.
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February 26, 1954
Mrs. Bess Thurman Braniff is elected Vice President by Braniff’s Board of Directors. She immediately begins advocating for the company with its creditors. Mrs. Braniff, a highly effective and astute businesswoman, becomes the first woman officer of the company.
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April 5, 1954
Records 3 billionth passenger mile during a nonstop flight between Dallas and Chicago.
Photo: The Braniff Airways Domestic and International Timetable dated April 25, 1954, featured this colorful advertisement touting Braniff’s superb record of reliability.
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April 5, 1954
Annual Stockholder’s Meeting is held and two new Board Members are elected including George W. Rice of Houston and James H. Walker of Dallas. New officers elected were Ms. Velta Bowlware as Assistant Secretary and three Assistant Treasurers including Mr. R. D. Barrier, Fred Beisecker and Loyd Eden.
Photo: Ms. Velta Bowlware is a Braniff legend. She became the second woman in the company, behind Mrs. Braniff, to become an elected officer.
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April 15, 1954
First Braniff Airways Douglas DC-6 with Airborne Weather Radar assigned to South America in a Joint Project with the Navy Bureau of Aeronautics over Braniff’s Latin America Division routes is put into service.
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June 1, 1954
Braniff cofounder Paul Revere Braniff dies from complications from surgery and resulting pneumonia. Mr. Braniff’s tombstone incorrectly lists his date of death as June 15, 1954, due to an error on the application for his Veterans headstone.
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June 23, 1954
Braniff receives 21st Aviation Safety Award from the National Safety Council for an accident free 1953. Braniff’s emphasis on safety was evident in its advertising and its receipt of safety awards year after year.
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August 24, 1954
Mrs. Thomas Elmer Braniff dies of cancer peacefully in her sleep at her Seneca Drive home (still stands today) in Dallas. She was the last surviving member of the Thomas Elmer Braniff family. Her daughter, Jeanne Braniff Terrell died in January 1948 and her infant daughter, Jeanne, died in November 1947 and Jeanne’s husband Alexander “Alex” Watkins Terrell died in 1949; Mrs. Bess Braniff’s son, Thurman Braniff, died in an aircraft training accident in Oklahoma City in July 1938.
Photo: Ms. Bess Thurman Braniff, center, is looking over an aviation map in front of a company Douglas DC-3. Vice President Ray Carrol Shrader, left and Mr. Braniff look on in this 1946 photo.
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October 29, 1954
Captain R. V. Carleton Vice President of Operations and a 20-year Braniff veteran and Mr. William W. Flenniken of Denver is elected to the Board of Directors. Captain Carleton takes a brief break as Chief Pilot for a photograph in the late 1940s.
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November 1, 1954
Introduction of a new travel Time Payment Plan for passengers.
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December 31, 1954
Braniff completed 1954 as the best US airline with the completion of flights scheduled at 98.96 percent of 21,799,378 plane miles scheduled during the past twelve months.
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BRANIFF INTERNATIONAL AIRWAYS
IN 1955
January 15, 1955
Braniff and TWA Texas to California Interchange Service begins. The new interchange afforded passengers in Texas and California, to travel between each state without a change of plane. Six cities across the Southwest were served by the new service, including Houston, Dallas, and Amarillo, Texas, and Los Angeles, Oakland, and San Francisco, California.
March 17, 1955
Braniff orders seven new long-range Douglas DC-7C El Dorado airliners at a cost of $20 million, which will be delivered in the fall of 1956.
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April 1, 1955
Inauguration of service over Route 106 between Sioux Falls, South Dakota and Chicago Midway Airport with stops at Sioux City and Waterloo, in Iowa.
Photo: Braniff’s inaugural scheduling was precise and detailed. This inter-company memo states the schedule for the inaugural route and was followed up by many pages of event materials for each city along the route. Braniff would rarely have problems with large events like this because of its expert advance planning.
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April 11, 1955
First use of Very High Frequency with Omni Range or VOR navigation in South America begins at La Paz, Bolivia.
Photo: The terminal and operations building for Braniff International Airways at La Paz El Alto Airport, Bolivia, in 1955.
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April 21, 1955
President Eisenhower approves Braniff and Eastern Airlines Latin America Interchange Service from New York Idlewild Airport, Washington DC National Airport and Miami to Cuba, Central and South America.
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May 2, 1955
Braniff officials inspect Southern route system cities via a Braniff Convair 340 airliner.
Photo: Braniff Airways, Incorporated, Convair 340-32 registered as N3419 is parked on the ramp at Houston International Airport, Texas, in 1955.
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June 10, 1955
Braniff signs a lease for a spectacular new 36-acre Braniff Operations and Maintenance Base at Dallas Love Field on the east side of the airport along Lemmon Avenue.
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July 17, 1955
Braniff Airways Flight 560, a Convair 340-32 registered as N3422, is lost at Chicago Midway Airport after striking a sign at the approach end of the runway.
Photo: Convair 340-32 registered as N3422 is parked on the ramp with a company Convair at Houston Municipal Airport, Texas, in 1953.
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August 15, 1955
Braniff and TWA Interchange service between Houston and San Francisco ads additional stop at Las Vegas giving Dallas single-plane service to the Nevada playground city.
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August 18, 1955
Braniff and Eastern Interchange between New York City and Washington DC and Miami and Latin America begins giving Braniff much needed US East Coast feed to its Latin America system. The new service was a result of the CAB’s decision in the New York-Balboa Through Service Case earlier in the year. This same case also determined that Panagra should be merged with Braniff Airways.
Photo: The interchange is indicated on this August 18, 1955 Domestic and International Timetable by the dotted line from New York and Washington DC to Miami. Eastern operated the service from New York to Miami and Braniff operated the route into Latin America.
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August 31, 1955
Signs contract for first Reservations Brain Data Processing System over entire system making Braniff the first airline in the world to adopt such a data processing system on a systemwide basis.
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September 25, 1955
Two Lockheed L-049A Constellation four-engine aircraft from LAV of Venezuela, registered as N2520 and N2521, are added to the fleet with the inauguration of scheduled service on Braniff’s Domestic system. Ship N2520B is parked on the ramp at Dallas Love Field in 1955, shortly after delivery.
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October 1, 1955
President Charles Edmund Beard is awarded his 20-Year Service Pin. Mr. Beard joined Braniff in 1935 as General Manager, replacing the outgoing company cofounder Paul Revere Braniff.
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October 12, 1955
Four billionth passenger mile recorded by Braniff Airways, Incorporated, between Houston International Airport and Chicago Midway Airport aboard Douglas DC-6 El Conquistador registered as N90884.
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October 28, 1955
Braniff Airways announces $87 Million was approved by its Board for new piston, turboprop and pure jet airliners. One of the new airliners Braniff would select was the four-engine turboprop Lockheed L-188 Electra.
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November 22, 1955
CAB awards Braniff new service from Dallas to Newark via Memphis, Nashville and Washington DC, as a result of its findings in the Southwest-Northeast Service Case. This is Braniff’s first significant east west route award and was one of the last new service authorization the Airline would receive until 1965.
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November 29, 1955
Orders are placed for five Boeing 707-227 El Dorado Super Jet four-engine airliners. The Series -227 was designed especially for Braniff with larger engines for use at high altitude airports in South America.
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December 7, 1955
Braniff begins Curtiss C-46 freighter service between Dallas and Chicago.
Photo: Braniff Airways, Incorporated, Curtiss C-46 twin-engine cargo liner registered as N1386N is parked on the ramp at Dallas Love Field in December 1955.
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December 14, 1955
Orders nine new Lockheed Electra L-188 four-engine turboprop aircraft at a cost of $22 million, which can cruise at 400 miles-per-hour with delivery scheduled for May 1959
BRANIFF INTERNATIONAL AIRWAYS
IN 1956
January 7, 1956
Braniff orders five new Convair 440 Metropolitan twin-engine airliners at a cost of $4 million with delivery of the big 44-passenger aircraft to begin in November 1956.
Photo: Braniff Airways, Incorporated, Convair 440-32 Metropolitan registered as N3433 is parked on the ramp at Tulsa Municipal Airport, Oklahoma, in July 1957.
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January 22, 1956
Exchange Park Braniff Tower Headquarters building announced, which will include ten stories in the new 120-acre Exchange Park commercial development, which is a project of William Arvin “Bill” Blakley, a longtime Braniff Board Member and Braniff Family friend.
Photo: A special section advertisement announcing Braniff’s new Exchange Park Braniff Tower building in the Dallas Morning News on January 29, 1956.
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January 22, 1956
Page Two of the Dallas Morning News advertisement for Braniff Tower at Exchange Park.
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February 15, 1956
Silver Service debuts over the Texas to New York service inaugural, which is a new ultimate airborne dining experience found only on Braniff.
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February 15, 1956
Inauguration of service between Texas and Newark, New Jersey, with inaugural ceremonies held at San Antonio, Fort Worth, Dallas, Nashville, Washington DC and Newark. Braniff’s Executive Vice President James Wescott J. W. “Bill” Miller hosted the magnificent inaugural affair. Mr. Miller is third from the left in the photo.
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February 22, 1956
First Braniff Airways, Incorporated (1930), pilot hired, Captain Ray Carrol Shrader, receives a 25 Year Pin, which is the first 25-year pin that the company has awarded, besides Mr. Braniff’s pin, which was awarded two weeks earlier.
Photo: Captain Ray Carrol Schrader assists a passenger disembark from Braniff’s new Lockheed L-10 Electra at Dallas Love Field in 1935.
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March 5, 1956
Ms. Velta Bowlware, Assistant Secretary of the Corporation receives the second company awarded 25 Year Pin and is the third most senior female in the airline industry. She was the first woman officer at Braniff Airways, behind Mrs. Braniff.
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April 2, 1956
Braniff’s Annual Shareholder’s Meeting is held, where the shareholders approve increasing the company’s authorized capital from $5 million to $7.5 million and the number of shares of Common Stock with $2.50 par value from 2 million to 3 million shares.
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April 17, 1956
Thomas Elmer Braniff Room is dedicated in New York City at the National Conference for Community and Justice Building in downtown Manhattan. Braniff President Charles Edmund Beard admires the newly framed portrait of Mr. Braniff along with NCCJ officials.
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May 20, 1956
First newly refurbished Douglas DC-6 El Conquistador reenters service over Domestic Route System. The program cost $1.2 million and all work was completed at Braniff’s Roanoke Drive Base. More powerful engines were installed along with a complete redesign of the exterior color scheme and the interior was completely reworked.
Photo: Braniff Airways, Incorporated, Douglas DC-6 El Conquistador is parked on the ramp at Chicago Municipal Airport in 1956. The DC-6 is painted in the 1956 Red and Blue El Dorado Color Scheme.
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June 20, 1956
Groundbreaking ceremonies held for new Exchange Park Braniff Tower Headquarters Building on the 28th Anniversary of the company’s founding.
Photo: Braniff President Charles Edmund Beard, left, hosted the festivities, while William Arvin “Dollar Bill” Blakley, developer of Exchange Park and Braniff Board Member, and Dallas Mayor Robert L. Thornton officially moved the first shovel of dirt for the new Braniff Tower. The unique aluminum shovel was made from a Braniff Douglas DC-6 propeller. The whereabouts of the propeller is unknown today but Braniff International Heritage Archives, the administrator of Braniff’s corporate records, continues the search.
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August 15, 1956
First airline to use Formica finishes in its new Douglas DC-7C El Dorado airliners. Formica, the leading surface cover company, touts its unique products in this 1956 advertisement.
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September 14, 1956
First Douglas DC-7C El Dorado four-engine airliner is delivered at the Douglas Plant located in Santa Monica, California. The ship is christened by actress and dancer Ms. Ginger Rogers. The aircraft was flown to Dallas where ceremonies were also held and once in service they became the first DC-7Cs to operate in scheduled commercial service in the United States.
Photo: From left to right: Douglas Aircraft President Mr. Donald W. Douglas; Braniff Vice President Operations Captain R. V. Carleton; Ms. Ginger Rogers and Miss California.
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September 28, 1956
Braniff Family Night Begins at Dallas Roanoke Drive Base, where dinner is cooked for Braniff employees and their families at a very reasonable cost.
Photo: The luxurious new Douglas DC-7C El Dorado was the guest of honor at the Dallas and Minneapolis/St. Paul Family Nights.
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October 20, 1956
Douglas DC-7C El Dorado begins inaugural flights concluding a month-long celebration of the arrival of the new long-range airliner making it the first of the type to operate in the United States. The new El Dorado begins service between San Antonio, Dallas, Washington DC and Newark and over a route from Houston to Dallas and Chicago.
Photo: The arrival of the new Douglas DC-7C four-engine airliner brought a new aircraft name and logo, which is El Dorado to enforce the company’s significant presence in South America.
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October 20, 1956
Braniff inaugurates new service at Chattanooga, Tennessee, with a DC-6 El Conquistador as a stop on the Dallas to Newark flight with intermediate stops at Dallas, Memphis, Chattanooga and Washington DC. A festive group was aboard the inaugural flight.
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November 20, 1956
First new Convair 440 Metropolitan twin-engine airliner is delivered and begins scheduled domestic service on December 10, 1956.
Photo: Company officials welcome the brand new Convair 440-32 airliner at the Consolidated Vultee Convair Plant at San Diego Lindbergh Field. Braniff and Convair officials from left to right: Mr. Reginald K. “Rex” Brack, Vice President Sales; Mr. Charles Edmund Beard, President; Chief Pilot Captain R. V. Carleton, Vice President Operations; Ms. Gay Cowie, Miss San Diego; Mr. J. G. Zevely, Director Contracts and Sales at Convair; Mr. James Wescott J.W. “Bill” Miller Executive Vice President; Mr. Richard A. “Dick” Flume, West Coast Representative; Mr. T. B. Eastland, Senior Chief Contracts Administration at Convair and Mr. John Mosley, District Sales Manager.
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November 26, 1956
Douglas DC-7C El Dorado establishes speed record for a commercial flight between Chicago and Dallas by flying 798 miles nonstop in only 2 hours and 8 minutes at 24,000 feet and averaging 380 miles-per-hour but speeds reached as high as 425 miles-per-hour during the flight.
Photo: This insert in the October 20, 1956 Domestic and International Timetable featured a multi-color pullout featuring the new Douglas DC-7C El Dorado.
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December 10, 1956
Refurbished Douglas DC-6 El Conquistadors are placed in service between the US Mainland and Latin America, which was featured on the front cover of the December 10, 1956 Domestic and International Timetable.
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BRANIFF INTERNATIONAL AIRWAYS
IN 1957
February 1, 1957
First one-stop service begins between Minneapolis/St. Paul and Dallas Love Field via Kansas City.
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March 5, 1957
Braniff purchases RCA Weather Radar for the new Douglas DC-7C El Dorado fleet.
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March 21, 1957
Braniff Operations and Maintenance Base groundbreaking ceremony is held for the spectacular $6.5 million complex encompassing more than 350,000 square feet.
Photo: Braniff Airways signatures and City of Dallas officials joined for the groundbreaking at the new Braniff International Airways Operations and Maintenance Base on Lemon Avenue at Dallas Love Field.
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March 21, 1957
Participant description for groundbreaking photo above.
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March 29, 1957
Moves from Administration Offices from the Roanoke Drive Base and Red Brick Building to Exchange Park temporary headquarters in the Exchange Bank Building with the move completed two days later on April 1, 1957.
March 29, 1957
Big Braniff Moving Day continued.
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April 1, 1957
Mr. Horace Bolding is appointed as Vice President of Purchasing and Stores by Braniff’s Board of Directors. Mr. Bolding is a 22-year veteran with Braniff Airways.
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April 28, 1957
Latin America bound DC-7C El Dorado Preinaugural departs the US for a 12-day trip to six Latin American countries with government, airline and business officials on board.
Photo: The next three photos feature the complete coverage of this historic company event in B Liner Employee Newsletter.
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May 2, 1957
Braniff President Charles Edmund Beard is honored by Peru with its highest award given to any civilian, the Orden del Merito, the Order of Civil Merit, which was conferred on him by Peru’s Minister of Foreign Affairs for distinguished service.
Photo: Local and well as international news covered Mr. Beard’s award event.
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May 8, 1957
First nonstop flight flown between Rio de Janeiro and Miami, Florida, using Douglas DC-7C El Dorado aircraft during the preinaugural flight, which flew over the 4,300 mile route in only 14 hours and 30 minutes.
Photo: Braniff International Airways RIO poster features the tram ride up Sugarloaf Mountain. Braniff’s unique 1950s and 1960s travel posters were designed and printed at the Airline’s Lima, Peru, base, which made them eligible for copyright extension in the United States.
This series of posters were never made available to the public until 2022. Renowned poster atelier, StickNoBillsonline.com was licensed by Braniff International to recreate these posters on archival quality paper. Visit the Stick No Bills website to purchase these amazing Braniff historical items.
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May 15, 1957
Inauguration of the first US air service between Newark and Bogota, Colombia, using Douglas DC-6 El Dorado aircraft, which would operate 3 times weekly over the route with intermediate stops at Washington DC, Miami and Panama City/Balboa City, in The Canal Zone.
Photo: Braniff Airways, Incorporated, Douglas DC-6 El Conquistador is parked on the ramp at Bogota El Dorado Airport, Colombia, in 1957.
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May 16, 1957
Douglas DC-7C inaugural flight to Latin America via the Braniff and Eastern Airlines Interchange Service offering the first air service to the region with the long-range airliner.
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June 1, 1957
Douglas DC-7C Service is doubled between Dallas and New York and Washington DC, giving passengers six round trips per week between Texas and the East Coast with the DC-7C, DC-6 and Convairliner aircraft.
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June 12, 1957
Braniff Hostess service 20th Anniversary is celebrated in Dallas with Luncheon and three members of Braniff’s original hostess class and the first Superintendent of Passenger Service.
Photo: Braniff’s first Hostess Ms. Rebecca Garza is joined by her two daughters, Judy, left and Evangeline, at the 20th Anniversary Hostess Event. The big all-metal Douglas DC-7C model from Pacific Miniatures has captured their attention.
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October 20 to 27, 1957
New Dallas Love Field Terminal dedication events begin for a week-long celebration.
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December 15, 1957
Ursuline Academy dedicates Thomas Elmer Braniff family memorial at Dallas school
December 31, 1957
Braniff top the 2 million mark for the first time of revenue passengers carried during 1957 with 2,038,656 passengers flown a record-breaking 37,178,018 RPMs.
Photo: Braniff’s route map indicates that the airline has grown significantly but the Airline was losing market share because of Civil Aeronautics Board policies that tended to favor the larger domestic airlines.
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BRANIFF INTERNATIONAL AIRWAYS
IN 1958
January 20, 1958
New modern airport terminal opens at Dallas Love Field in the center of the airport known as the 1958 Terminal or the Terminal on Cedar Springs Road.
Photo: The magnificent 1958 Terminal still stand today but the unique red and turquoise metal and porcelain panels have been covered over with various airport updates over the years. Extensions were added to the three main concourses but Braniff’s spectacular Terminal of the Future was the largest extension, which was added in 1968.
This 1980s photograph shows the beautiful original terminal with control tower on top. All three concourse are in view along with the Texas International extension.
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February 1, 1958
Braniff begins serving New York Idlewild Airport in addition to current service at Newark Airport. The Braniff/Eastern Interchange to Latin America was already operating from Idlewild Airport. Serving both airport was a significant milestone for Braniff and the Dallas/Ft. Worth area. Slick advertising touts the new service.
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February 10, 1958
Teleregister Reservations System is placed into service at 140 Braniff Airways offices across the US and is capable of handling 1 million electronic seat reservations per month.
Photo: Braniff flight attendants are demonstrating with ease the new Teleregister system. With the advent of Teleregister, the Airline became a significant competitor.
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February 14, 1958
Braniff moves to the new ten-story Braniff Tower headquarters at Exchange Park near Dallas Love Field on Valentine’s Day. During Braniff’s time as an operating airline, the company was housed in only three headquarters building in the Dallas area, including the Red Brick Building at the Roanoke Base, Braniff Tower and finally Braniff Place World Headquarters at DFW Airport, which still serves as the company’s headquarters and home base today. Braniff occupied Braniff Tower from 1958 until 1978.
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April 7, 1958
Charles S. South is elected Vice President at the Annual Braniff Board Meeting in Dallas. Mr. South would eventually assume administration over the Latin America Division.
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April 7, 1958
Thomas P. “Tom” Robertson is named Assistant Vice President Research and Statistics at the Annual Braniff Board Meeting in Dallas. Mr. Robertson was Braniff’s key route and regulatory person and would serve the company for more than 30 years. Mr. Robertson’s extensive Braniff materials collection is housed in the Braniff International Heritage Archives in Dallas, Texas.
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June 20, 1958
Braniff celebrates 30 years of service with a fleet of 68 aircraft flying more than 5000 passengers every day. By 1965, Braniff’s revenue was more than the revenue it had generated in its entire history.
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October 3, 1958
Braniff begins move from the Roanoke Drive Base to the new Braniff Operations and Maintenance Base on the east side of Dallas Love Field with the move completed on December 19, 1958.
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October 4, 1958
The first Braniff flight is dispatched from the new Operations and Maintenance Base at Love Field with Flight 562 departing at 135AM for Chicago.
Photos: Braniff Airways, Incorporated, Douglas DC-6B El Conquistador registered as N91311 is undergoing routine maintenance on the floor of the new Braniff Airways Operations and Maintenance Base at Dallas Love Field.
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October 5, 1958
A new high-speed automatic teletype system is place in operation in Dallas. The system links more than 100 Braniff offices in 51 cities throughout the US.
Photo: The new system was highlighted in the October 1958 B Liner Employee Newsletter. In the photo below, the Main Switching Center was located on the second floor of the Operations and Maintenance Base.
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October 7, 1958
New Braniff Operations and Maintenance Base at Dallas Love Field is dedicated and hosted by Braniff President Charles Edmund Beard with Dallas Mayor Mr. R. L. Thornton.
Photo: The spectacular double butterfly roofline of the Operations and Maintenance Base was the design work of Pereira and Luckman Architects of Los Angeles, California.
In the photos below, the dedication ceremony was covered extensively in the October 1958 B Liner Employee Newsletter.
Thanks to the dedication of Braniff Airways Foundation Board Members Mr. Ben Cass and Mr. David Preziosi, the Braniff International Operations and Maintenance Base still stands today and still serves as the key aviation hub at Dallas Love Field.
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BRANIFF INTERNATIONAL AIRWAYS
IN 1959
January 16 to 18, 1959
Family Night is held along with Open House at the new Braniff Operations and Maintenance Base at Love Field giving Braniff employees the opportunity to see the new base.
Photo: Braniff issued this handout to employees detailing the special Family Night events. In the photo below, young guests are enjoying a tour of the 1/25 scale Boeing 707-227 El Dorado Super Jet cutaway model from Pacific Miniatures of Alhambra, California. This large model was placed in the Main Lobby on the Main Floor of the Braniff Operations and Maintenance Base and under the stairwell that lead to the second level or the third floor. The Main Lobby was located on the Lemon Avenue level and the Maintenance Floor was on the first floor or the Airside Level.
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January 25, 1959
Family Dinners begin every Sunday at the Braniff Operations and Maintenance Base at Love Field. Braniff’s Family Dinners were very popular with the Braniff Family and were always well attended.
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April 6, 1959
Allan Shivers, former governor of Texas, is elected to the Braniff Board of Directors to fill the vacancy left by the death of Omaha hotelier Eugene C. Eppley.
(The election of former Governor Allan Shivers to the Board of Directors of Braniff Airways, Inc, was a mistake. Braniff Airways, Inc., apologizes to anyone that this appointment may have harmed or offended.)
Photo: Omaha’s Municipal Airport was renamed in honor of Mr. Eugene C. Eppley on September 4, 1961. Braniff Airways President Mr. Charles Edmund Beard looks on as the wall plaque is dedicated.
Mr. Eppley served as a Board member of Braniff Airways for many years. He was a well-known hotelier and businessman in the Omaha area.
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May 7, 1959
First two Lockheed L-188 Electra jet-powered airliners, Ships N9701C and N9702C, are delivered to the Dallas Base. A large turnout of the Braniff Family came out to see the arrivals from high on top of the roof of the Braniff Operations and Maintenance Base at Dallas Love Field.
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June 15, 1959
First Lockheed L-188 Electra jet-powered service begins from San Antonio and Dallas and Houston and Dallas to both New York and Chicago.
Photo: Braniff International Airways Lockheed L-188 Electra Jet registered as N9702C is parked on the ramp at the Braniff Airways Operations and Maintenance Base at Dallas Love Field after it was delivered to Braniff from the Lockheed plant in California, on May 7, 1959.
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June 15, 1959
Begins connection service with Western Airlines at Denver for timed connecting flights to Edmonton and Calgary in Canada.
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August 21, 1959
CAB calls recess in Transcontinental Service Investigation Case.
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August 31, 1959
Braniff leads all US domestic trunk airlines with the best on-time performance according to the CAB for the third consecutive month.
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September 1, 1959
New Lockheed L-188 Electra service begins to the East Coast and a Official Postal Cachet is presented to honor the event
September 1, 1959
Lockheed L-188 Electra service is inaugurated to Washington National Airport and Electra flights between Dallas and Newark are increased from two to three round trips each day.
Photo: Braniff Airways Lockheed L-188 Electra Jet registered as N9704C is parked on the Airside Ramp at the Braniff Operations and Maintenance Base at Dallas Love Field for a photo shoot in September 1959.
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September 29, 1959
Lockheed L-188 Electra registered as N9705C is lost at Buffalo, Texas, due to propeller whirl mode, which caused engines to separate from the wings.
Photo: Braniff Airways Foundation sponsored a Texas State Historical Marker, which was placed at the accident site near Buffalo, Texas. A special dedication and installation ceremony was held on September 21, 2022.
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October 1, 1959
First nonstop scheduled air service with Lockheed L-188 Electra begins between Houston and Chicago and new Electra service between San Antonio and Houston is added.
Photo: Braniff’s Electra’s featured this luxurious rear lounge area, which were decorated in an exciting and colorful Mexican motif.
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October 19, 1959
First Boeing 707-227 El Dorado Super Jet registered as N7071 is lost during pre-delivery flight at Oso, Washington, due to loss of control caused by Dutch Roll.
Photos: An overview of the accident was presented in Aviation Week Magazine on July 11, 1960. Ship N7071 is rolled out for the first time at the Boeing Renton, Washington, plant, in early October 1960.
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November 16, 1959
Lockheed L-188 Electra service begins between Dallas, Amarillo, Colorado Springs and Denver. The new schedules were printed for the first time in the Braniff International Airways Domestic and International Timetable dated January 4, 1960.
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December 3, 1959
First new Boeing 707-227 El Dorado Super Jet arrives at Dallas Base from Boeing’s Renton, Washington, plant. The big El Dorado averaged 602 miles-per-hour making the flight in a quick 2 hours and 52 minutes.
Photo: Braniff Captain R. V. Carlton has arrived at the Braniff Airways Operations and Maintenance base at Dallas Love Field, after his delivery flight from Renton to Dallas, on December 3, 1959.
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December 19, 1959
Braniff Boeing 707-227 El Dorado Super Jet inaugural between Dallas and New York Idlewild is dubbed Santa's Sleigh because it is carrying toys to needy children.
Photo: Braniff Airways President Charles Edmund Beard’s granddaughters were on board Santa’s Super Jet and named the big new jet Rudolph after the famed reindeer. Braniff Maintenance decided to name the other four Series -227s as Randolph, Adolph and Jack.
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December 19, 1959
New Chanel-inspired Jet Jacket Hostess Uniform debuts on the new Boeing 707-227 El Dorado Super Jet inaugural flights. Braniff’s Boeing 707s featured an all First Class cabin.
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December 20, 1959
Second Boeing 707-227 El Dorado Super Jet inaugural operates from Dallas to Chicago O’Hare Airport and is also dubbed Santa's Sleigh.
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