Albert 'Bert' L. Zimmerly Sr.

Foil: 15 Panel: 3 Column: 1 Line: 70

Wall of Honor Level:
Air and Space Friend

Honored by:
Mr. Albert Bert Zimmerly

Bert was born August 8, 1907 on a farm in Pioneer, Washington, near Vancouver, Washington. He attended school at Ridgefield, Washington, and was working as an auto and truck mechanic after graduation. He married a classmate, Edna Marie Jackson, in June, 1930. His brother, Fred, had learned to fly in 1928 and taught Bert to fly in 1931. Fred continued to fly in Washington and Idaho. Fred had an opportunity to buy a flight operation in Lewiston, Idaho in 1934. Fred convinced Bert to move to Idaho along with his family in March 1934. They operated a flying service that included flight training, backcountry flying to isolated landing strips with freight and passengers, flew U.S. Forest Service contracts and did hazardous mercy flights. Zimmerly Brothers Air Transport operated a Zenith Z6B, Student Prince, Kinner Bird, and Piper J-2 Cubs. In March 1937 they brought a new Cessna C-34 Airmaster into the Northwest. It was faster than most other aircraft of the times by 50 mph. In 1938, brother Fred was hired by Northwest Airlines. Fred helped Bert when possible and during the war when he was able. Fred was also a help when Bert was starting Zimmerly Airlines. Fred retired October 10, 1970 from Northwest Airlines.
With the advent of war in Europe in 1939, the U.S. government established the Civil Pilot Training Program (CPT). When we entered the war in 1941, this program expanded into the War Training Service (WTS). In conjunction with the Lewiston State Normal School, Zimmerly Air Transport had a Navy contract to train primary Naval pilots. In the course of the next four years, they trained over 1700 students without serious accidents or injury to any students or flight instructors. With the war coming to an end, Bert and with the help of those that worked with him during the war, started planning an airline operation that would operate within the state of Idaho. The proof of concept airline operated with four Cessna Airmasters and a S6000B Travelair. Bert flew the inaugural flight April 11, 1944, under the name of the Zimmerly Airlines. To be certified as an intrastate airline, evidence was presented to the Civil Aeronautics Board in San Francisco, California in November 1944. In 1945, three Boeing 247 Ds, 10 passenger aircraft, were secured for more passenger capacity and twin-engine safety. It was significant of the dependability of the Boeings, the skill of the pilots, the adequacy of maintenance, and the capability of management, that in two years and two months of interstate airline operation that they had a perfect safety record. The final hearing before the CAB was held in Washington, D.C., in October 1945. The decision was rendered May 22, 1946, granting a certificate of public convenience and necessity to Empire Airlines (formerly Zimmerly Airlines) for transportation of persons, property and mail. Empire was the second airline certified after WWII.
It was obvious to Bert, that more modern equipment would be necessary for the feeder line industry to succeed. Boeing was proposing a new aircraft to satisfy those needs. The Boeing 417 was a high wing, twin engine aircraft that could operate with a minimum of ground support equipment. On August 8, 1946, Bert signed a purchase order for three Boeing 417s. It was his 39th birthday. However, Boeing did not build this aircraft. It was reported that engineering data for the 417 was given to Fokker in the Netherlands. In October 1946, Bert was financially forced out of the airline. This was heartbreaking to him, but he did not seek two years of remuneration for expenses due him so as to not burden the new airline. He continued his operation, Zimmerly Air Transport, doing charter, GI Bill flight training, forest spraying, backcountry flying, and was starting an agricultural operation. Bert was killed in a weather accident in February 17, 1949. His widow, Edna Zimmerly, continued the operation until she sold in 1953. Bert's son, Bert Jr. and his grandson, Steven, are corporate pilots.
Empire Airlines merged with Westcoast Airlines in 1952. Westcoast was the first feeder line to operate a modern, high wing, twin engined aircraft, designed by the Dutch, and built by Fairchild, the F-27. Bert, Sr. was way ahead of his time in thinking of what was necessary for feeder lines to survive.