Challenger Airlines  Douglas DC-3  NC53376         (c/n  19542)
               
                                 

                                      Challenger Airlines was founded in 1941 as Summit Airways, which was basically a flight school
                                      and FBO operator.  When the CAB granted it an operating certificate in 1946 it acquired two
                                      DC-3s and renamed itself Challenger Airlines.  Passenger and mail service began on 5 May 1947
                                      on a route from Billings to Salt Lake to Denver (with many interim stops).   Seen below is an un-
                                      identified DC-3 enplaning a typical load of ranch hands, circa 1948.   Challenger was acquired
                                      by Monarch Airlines in December of 1949, with whom it had had an association since the summer
                                      of the previous year (shared schedules, ticketing, etc).   Seen below is an unidentified DC-3 em-
                                      planing a typical load of ranch hands, circa 1948.