Overseas National Airways Pilot Wing 2nd Issue

Baltimore, MD, Oakland, CA & New York, NY 1950-1986

Overseas National Airways started as Air Travel in 1946 and was renamed Calasia Air Transport the same year. The name changed to Overseas National in 1950. It was based in New York and had five Douglas DC-6 aircraft. Its main function was to carry US military personnel to and from Europe from the east coast of the USA. ONA also had a dedicated Douglas DC-7F for freight operations. From 1964 until 1965, ONA went into Chapter 11 bankruptcy to reorganize and flights resumed in October 1965, operating Douglas DC-8 aircraft. Operations expanded to include flights to the Caribbean, Europe and to India. In 1968, ONA acquired a fleet of 11 Lockheed L-188 Electras used for freight operations with DC-8s servicing the trans-Atlantic routes. The next aircraft to be put into operations were Douglas DC-9s, which replaced the Electras and then in 1973 two Douglas DC-10s were acquired. When airline deregulation went into effect in 1978, the board of directors decided to liquidate the airline and not to compete in the newly deregulated environment. Operations ceased operations in October 1978.

The second airline to be named Overseas National Airways was created when officials of ONA formed a FAR Part 129 leasing company known as United Air Carriers on July 21, 1977. When the Overseas National Airways folded in 1978, the company was renamed to Overseas National Airways and was certified in 1980 under FAR 121 as a cargo and passenger charter company. In 1982 the company gained approval for scheduled service, leading to the company purchasing the name National Airlines from Pan American World Airways in anticipation of scheduled New York to Paris service. The scheduled service never materialized, although charter flights were flown on the route. Due to financial problems the airline ceased operations in December 1985, filing for bankruptcy in May 1986.

There are small but definite differences between the 4th and 5th issue. The center logo on the 4th issue is darker than the 5th issue. And note that the Captain wing on the 4th issue has a different style for the star and wreath.