18 Facts About McGee Airways

McGee Airways was an American airline, founded in Anchorage, Alaska, in 1932 by Linious "Mac" McGee.

When Mac McGee Airways sold the company, he began working several mining claims, but was called back to manage Star Air Service on several occasions while they continued to struggle financially.

McGee Airways left the airline business for the last time in 1937 when he arranged to sell Star Air Service to a new group of investors who hoped to make the company a major player in the Alaska airline business.

McGee Airways was the original Alaska air service that, through a long series of mergers and acquisitions ultimately became Alaska Airlines in 1944.

McGee Airways worked as a miner, truck driver, dishwasher and fur trader.

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In 1932 McGee Airways bought Barnhill's interest and dissolved the company.

McGee Airways preferred to hire pilots and personally manage the company.

McGee Airways paid his pilots on commission based on the income they generated.

McGee Airways approached him in the Parsons Hotel in Anchorage with a proposition.

McGee Airways's Ryan was in need of an overhaul, and he had been paid mostly in company stock rather than cash for his summer's work.

McGee Airways accepted McGee's offer, sold the Ryan to Bowman Airways, and sent for his family.

McGee Airways was known as an honest businessman, and shrewd manager.

McGee Airways pioneered the concept of having a fleet of identical aircraft so that parts would be interchangeable.

McGee Airways had two significant competitors in Anchorage, Woodley Airways and Star Air Service.

Woodley McGee Airways was founded by "Art" Woodley in 1932, and in April 1932, three young Seattle pilots Charlie Ruttan, Steve Mills and Jack Waterworth founded Star Air Service, planning to offer flight instruction and charter service.

McGee Airways was anxious to work some mining claims he had staked.

McGee Airways stipulated that if not paid on time, he would return and manage the operation until receiving his money.

McGee Airways returned to manage the company twice, and in 1937, he bought his way back into the airline and finally sold the company to a new group of investors, ending his involvement in the airline business.