Crystal Shamrock Airlines was a former charter airline based at the Minneapolis Crystal Airport. It was founded in 1966, and started operation on 5th August 1975. Operations ceased in 1991 and was dissolved on 4th October 1991. The airline was founded by the FBO Crystal Shamrock. The airline primarily operated charter flights using

Douglas DC-3 The Douglas DC-3 is a propeller-driven airliner manufactured by the Douglas Aircraft Company, which had a lasting effect on the airline industry in the 1930s to 1940s and World War II. It was developed as a larger, improved 14-bed sleeper ...

aircraft. The primary summer use was Canadian fishing trips. In the winter, Crystal Shamrock used its DC-3s to transport college football and basketball teams, and many rock bands.

History

On August 5, 1975, the airline started service with one round trip flight between Minneapolis, Fargo, and Bismarck North Dakota during the August 1975

Northwest Airlines Northwest Airlines (often abbreviated as NWA) was a major airline in the United States that operated from 1926 until it Delta Air Lines–Northwest Airlines merger, merged with Delta Air Lines in 2010. The merger made Delta the largest airline ...

strike. The airline flew displaced passengers between Chicago and

Omaha Omaha ( ) is the List of cities in Nebraska, most populous city in the U.S. state of Nebraska. It is located in the Midwestern United States along the Missouri River, about north of the mouth of the Platte River. The nation's List of United S ...

during a 1975 strike by United Airlines machinists. The route also had a stop in

Des Moines Des Moines is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of cities in Iowa, most populous city in the U.S. state of Iowa. It is the county seat of Polk County, Iowa, Polk County with parts extending into Warren County, Iowa, Wa ...

, Iowa. For one week in May 1978 the airline provided service from Minneapolis, Fargo, and Jamestown North Dakota. Shamrock discontinued service when

North Central Airlines North Central Airlines was a local service carrier, a scheduled airline in the Midwestern United States. Founded as Wisconsin Central Airlines in 1944 in Clintonville, Wisconsin, the company moved to Madison in 1947. This is also when the "Her ...

inaugurated service on a route from Bismarck, Fargo, North Dakota, Minneapolis and Chicago. Marian Erickson was promoted from vice president to president in December 1978. She succeeded Lee Gilligan, who became Chairman of the Airline. A charter flight from Minneapolis via Sioux Falls, South Dakota to Harlingen, Texas was offered to see the October 4, 1979

Commemorative Air Force The Commemorative Air Force (CAF), formerly known as the Confederate Air Force, is an American non-profit organization based in Dallas, Texas, that preserves and shows historical aircraft at Air show, airshows, primarily in the U.S. and Canada. ...

air show. In 1980 the airline transported

Herb Brooks Herbert Paul Brooks (August 5, 1937 – August 11, 2003) was an American ice hockey player and coach (ice hockey), coach. His most notable achievement came in Ice hockey at the 1980 Winter Olympics, 1980 as head coach of the gold medal-winning Un ...

and the U.S. Olympic Hockey Team to

Warroad, Minnesota Warroad is a city in Roseau County, Minnesota, United States, at the southwest corner of Lake of the Woods, south of Canada. The population was 1,781 at the 2010 census. Warroad had its own newspaper before it was incorporated in 1901. Minne ...

, to play the local high school team. In 1982 the airline offered chartered 3 and 6 day travel packages to

Wollaston Lake Wollaston Lake () is a lake in the north-eastern part of the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. It is about north-east of Prince Albert. With a surface area of (excluding islands; if islands are included), it is the largest bifurcation lake ...

Lodge in Saskatchewan Canada. During a charter flight with passengers from Rochester, Minnesota, a Piper Apache collided with the front end of the company's DC-3 while on the ground in Springfield, Missouri.

Fleet

* 2 × PC12 * 1 X C525 * 1 X TBM850 * 1 X P2006T * 1 X C162 * 5 X C172 * 2 X RV12 * 1 X C182 * 1 X S22T * 1 X SR20

External links

Airliners.net Fleet Photos

References

{{Minnesota Corporations Defunct airlines of the United States Airlines established in 1972 Airlines disestablished in 1991 Transportation companies based in Minnesota Defunct companies based in Minnesota

History

Fleet

External links

See also

References