Photograph of airmail pilot Paul Collins

c. 1924

Airmail pilot Paul Collins began flying mail for the Post Office Department on February 12, 1921 and ended his service with the Department on September 3, 1927. During his years with the Department he flew out of the Chicago, Illinois and Cleveland, Ohio airmail fields. Following his service Collins became involved in the fledgling commercial aviation industry. He worked for Transcontinental Air Transport (TAT), where he met Amelia Earhart, who became one of his partners in founding National Airways. The company held a contract for flying the Boston-Maine route in 1933. The company was purchased and renamed Northeast Airlines, and Collins stayed on, serving as president and chairman of the board before his retirement.