This week in Alaska History: On June 8, 1899 Noel Wien was born. He was the first pilot to fly from Fairbanks to Seattle and the first to make a roundtrip flight between Alaska and Asia. In 1927 Noel Wien and other partners founded Wien Air Alaska, the first airline in Alaska, as well as one of the first in the United States.
Noel Wien’s Early Years
Noel Wien was born on June 8, 1899 in Lake Nebagamon, Wisconsin. In 1905 Wien and his family moved to a homestead in Minnesota.
Noel Wien’s Early Flying Years
Wien began learning to fly in May of 1921. A husband and wife barnstorming team hired Wien to provide ground support on their cross-country tour. However, Wien soon found himself doing a lot of the flying. Afterwards, Wien gave flying lessons and performed with several barnstorming groups.
Noel Wien Comes to Alaska
Wien arrived in Anchorage, Alaska in May of 1924 for a piloting job. July of 1924, Wien made the first flight between Anchorage and Fairbanks. He’s also the first to fly from Fairbanks to Seattle; Fairbanks to Nome; and beyond the Arctic Circle, across the Bering Strait, and make a round trip flight between Alaska and Asia.
Wien Air Alaska
Three of Wien’s brothers joined him in Alaska: Ralph, Fritz, and Sig. In 1927 Wien and his brothers founded Wien Air Alaska: the first airline in Alaska, and one of the first in the United States. In the first two months, the Wien brothers made $4,000. They used the money they made along with a bank loan and purchased a second plane for their airline.
Noel Wien and His Family
In 1929, Wien married Ada Bering Arthurs who was the daughter of the Nome postmaster. The couple settled in Fairbanks. They had three children: Noel Merrill, Jean, and Richard. Wien passed away in 1977 at 75.
Noel Wien and His Legacy
Wien Air Alaska operated for almost sixty years. The airline pioneered the use of jets from gravel runways. It also came up with innovative ways to carry passengers and cargo in Boeing 737 jetliners. By the early 1980s their route not only extended all over Alaska, but all the way down to Phoenix, Oakland, and Denver. However, their main bases were in Anchorage and Seattle.
Although Wien Air Alaska ceased operations in 1985, on July 6, 1999 Wien’s sons Merrill and Richard repeated his historic flight between Anchorage and Fairbanks – on the 75th anniversary of the flight.
Noel Wien will always be remembered as “The Father of Alaska Bush Flying”.
The Merdes Law Firm has been helping injured Alaskans for more than 30 years. It’s who we are. And while we hope you never need us … We’re here if you do. ~ Ward Merdes
Info Source: NationalAviation.org
Photo Source: Wikimedia Commons
