North Central Airlines

North Central Airlines
Founded	1944; (as Wisconsin Central Airlines)
Commenced operations	1952; (as North Central Airlines)
Ceased operations	July 1, 1979; (merged with Southern Airways to become Republic Airlines)
Hubs	Chicago–O'Hare; Detroit; Milwaukee; Minneapolis/St. Paul;
Headquarters	Clintonville, Wisconsin (1944–1947); Madison, Wisconsin (1947–1952); Minneapolis, Minnesota (1952–1979);
Key people	Francis Higgins (President); Hal Carr (Vice President);

North Central Airlines was a local service carrier, a scheduled airline in the Midwestern United States. Founded as Wisconsin Central Airlines in 1944 in Clintonville, Wisconsin, the company moved to Madison in 1947. This is also when the "Herman the duck" logo was born on Wisconsin Central's first Lockheed Electra 10A, NC14262, in 1948.^[1] North Central's headquarters were moved to Minneapolis–St. Paul in 1952.^[2]

Following a merger with Southern Airways in 1979, North Central became Republic Airlines, which in turn was merged into Northwest Airlines in 1986. Northwest Airlines was then merged into Delta Air Lines in 2010.

^ World Airline Directory. Flight International. March 20, 1975."482.
^ "World Airline Directory." Flight International. 22 April 1978. p. 1181. "Head Office: 7500 Northliner Drive, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55450, USA."