Empire Air Lines Boeing 247D  NC41813                       (c/n  1725)

                                      
                                      

                                           There have been several airlines carrying this name, but this was the first one.  Empire was
                                           founded as Zimmerly Air Lines on 1 April 1944 and operated scheduled intrastate services
                                           from Boise to Lewiston, Pocatello and Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. It had a modest fleet of five
                                           Boeing 247s.  The name was changed to Empire Air Lines on 1 March 1946, and on
                                           28 September 1946 interstate services were begun between Idaho Falls and Spokane, with
                                           intermediate stops. By that time the Boeings had been replaced with DC-3s.      The rare
                                           image above is from the Barney P. Buckley collection, and was probably taken on or
                                           around the date that the airline name was changed judging by the collection of triby-hatted
                                           gentleman.  I acquired the shot below from the airline in 1952, and I've always thought that
                                           the photo looked somewhat "doctored" and correspondent Patrick Rodwell advises that
                                           it was actually a Zimmerly Airlines liveried photo, doctored to show Empire.      (Patrick's
                                           grandfather worked for the airline Its Chief A&P mechanic in the 1940s).   
                                           N41813 was formerly United's NC13313 and was modified to have a large square window
                                           in the (starboard side) entrance door.  This can be seen in the photos above and below.
                                           This particular 247D finished its days with Lineas Aereas del Pacifico and crashed in 1952
                                           returning to Long Beach from San Clemente Island.