Short Hoppers

Ozark Air Lines began public operation in the US in 1950, operating from their headquarters located at Lambert–St. Louis Municipal Airport. Ozark purchased Douglas DC-3s from the defunct Parks Airline with regular flights between St. Louis and Chicago, including short hops along the way, and to Tulsa and Memphis. By 1955, the airline used its thirteen DC-3s to serve thirty-five cities between Sioux City, Indianapolis, Wichita, and Nashville. By 1960, turboprop Fairchild F-27s (above) replaced the aging DC-3s with its first Douglas DC-9-10 jets introduced in 1966. Ozark Airlines was unable to compete in the airline price wars and in 1986 was purchased by Trans World Airlines, itself unable to sustain profitability and was purchased by American Airlines in 2001. 

Note: The three swallows in Ozark's logo represented on-time flights, referring to the legend of the swallows that return to the Mission San Juan Capistrano, in California each year. 

Ozark Air Lines

Founded in 1943, Ozark Air Lines operated flights between Springfield and St. Louis, Missouri for about two years until the Civil Aeronautics Board ceased their operations. By 1950, Ozark was granted a certificate to operate unactivated routes using Douglas DC-3s from St. Louis to Chicago, Tulsa and Memphis. In 1955 the airline had 13 DC-3s flying to 35 cities between Sioux City, Indianapolis, Wichita, and Nashville. By 1960, turboprop Fairchild F-27s were introduced along with piston-engine Martin 4-0-4s in 1964. By 1967 the 4-0-4s and F-27s were replaced with newer Fairchild Hiller FH-227s. The last DC-3 flight was in 1968, making the regional airline an all-turbine operator. Ozark's first jets, Douglas DC-9-10s, were introduced in 1966.

Ozark Air Line's main hub and headquarters were St. Louis Lambert International Airport from 1950-86. Ozark was then purchased by Trans World Airlines and by 2001, itself merged into American Airlines.