BILL DUFF
1946 - 1947
AIRCRAFT MECHANIC
DEN


BROTHER OF INSPECTOR HARRY DUFF

Duff owns JW Duff Aircraft located to the north side of the old DEN 
Stapleton Field.  He was with Summit Airways a predecessor of Challenger.  
He was a mechanic turned entrepreneur.  
He was involved with several Frontier accident recoveries including the 
PHX wing replacement on N-65276 "The Suicidal DC-3."
He recalls bringing down a new wing after Welling left 12' or so of the 
left wing on top of a 5000' mountain just a few miles north of Phoenix.  
After they replaced the wing, Barry Goldwater recalled that no photos 
were taken of the damaged wing on the aircraft.  Duff recalled the he, 
along with Fred Fragan and a man named Nelson removed the good wing and 
replaced the damaged one for the photo opportunity.  Then they swapped 
the wings again and he hauled the damaged wing back to his place in DEN.  
-Billy Walker
(3/11/05)

From Bill's website:
With over 500 damaged planes and a warehouse and hanger full of parts, J.W. Duff Aircraft Co. 
in sight of what was Stapleton International Airport's old North-South runway, 
is one of the largest aircraft "salvage" yards in America.  
Our company president, J.W. Duff and his crew retrieve damaged planes for insurance companies and airlines,
buys them by a bidding process, and then sells the used parts at a substancial savings to the customer. 
We have a two-level warehouse and over fifteen acres that contain fuselages, wings, 
surfaces, props, engines, gears, wheels, tires, brakes, and other misc. parts.   
J.W. Duff, a Denver native, entered the aircraft parts and salvage business in 1949 
when he began to buy aircraft parts with his $1,250 sale of his beloved 1940 Ford convertible. 
He made do instead with a 1931 Ford Model A Coupe with a rumble seat.  
-http://jwduffaircraft.com/aboutus.html
(3/11/05)

I read the Central Airlines (Airliners magazine Jan/Feb 2005) story twice so far.
When Central was flying through Pueblo I got some good pictures of your DC-3s.  
I have them in storage but after I get a new studio built this spring 
will be able to get them out and plan to publish some on our website too.   
Right now I am trying to figure out how I can get a retired Boeing 727 
fuselage and nose section and incorporate it in the new studio design.  
My hero Bill Duff is going to help put the deal together.  
He has been one of my best friends since I was fifteen years old.  
I worked for him as a teenager.
-Rick Broome
Spg 2005 FL News

I would like to share some 'history' with you as I remember it to be.
My name is Faye (Shields) Duff.  
In September, 1946, I was hired by Monarch Airlines as Secretary to the Sup't of Mtnc, Jack Burnell.   
At that time, I was a student at a Business School and met a lady, Fay Cox,  who knew Ray Wilson.  
I made an appointment to interview, and the rest is history.  I was 17 at that time. 
I worked with Harry Russell, assistant to Jack, and remember, fondly, knowing Harry Summerton, 
Conrad Greenemier, Tunie Bergen, 'Pop' Burnell, Jerry Kimmel, Carl Willman, Jack Mericle, 
Charles and Dorothy Meisenbach, Florence and Walter Dyess, Swede, Bill Hayes, 
so many more good, great people... all pioneers.  
At that time, Monarch was not an 'operational airline'.   
The DC-3's were being converted from military C-47's.  
Before Monarch was certificated to operate, it was necessary to have 'weight and balance' 
and 'check' rides and the employees, bravely, loaded into the aircraft, 
and off we went, flying out of the old Stapleton Field.   
This gave the pilots and  'stewards' an opportunity to 'practice'.   
Many of the pilots, mechanics, and other employees were WW2/vets.  
A stewards' job was serving the passengers, as well as helping the ground personnel to handle cargo, etc.  
Stewardesses were hired much later.   
Inasmuch as, after the War, the Air Force was downsizing its 'aircraft and parts',   
Conrad Greenemier, Harry Duff, Jr., and Dick Flieder were hired early in 1946, 
to obtain parts from Military Surplus sources, etc., and set up the aircraft parts department. 
It was, at this time, I met Harry Duff, and in October, 1948, we were married.   
Harry left the airlines several years later, to work with his brother, Bill Duff, 
(a former Challenger-Denver employee) and, together, 
they formed the largest surplus aircraft parts company in the United States.     
Needless to say, as we all were a part of the new 'Airline Business', 
we thought we were 'hot stuff'...and we were.  That was approximately  65/67 years ago.  
I know there must be a  few of us still around from the FAL-1946-era....God Bless All....
AAAH ! ! !...MEMORIES...Those were the good old days...
-Faye Shield Duff (85)
(6/22/14)

Please extend my subscription for the FLNEWS for two more years.
In September, 1946, I was hired to be Secretary for Jack Burnell, Sup't of Mtnce. 
In reading the News, there are few names I recognize inasmuch as the people I remember are long retired and/or gone West, 
whatever And at 86 years young, my memory may not be as sharp, but) certainly remember many of the good old times.
I was hired at the time the military C47's were being refitted in Hangar 5 into commercial passenger DC3's. 
After being completed, they were ready to be airborne and put Monarch Airlines in the blue skies.
It was at this time I met my husband-to-be. Harry N. Duff, Jr. and married in 1948. 
Ray Wilson knew Harry and in 1946, ask him to join his adventure.
Harry, Dick Flieder and Conrad (Dutch) Greenmier, began setting up and organizing the aircraft parts room.
Harry had an A&E Mechanics License and transferred to the floor to become, eventually, a Lead Mechanic and an Inspector.
Years later, Harry left to join his brother, J.W. (Bill) Duff, and together, 
Harry and Bill formed the largest privately owned aircraft salvage business in the USA, if not the world. 
Also, please note that Bill Duff was a Challenger Airlines employee, around 1946/47, working with ground maintenance based in Denver.
Harry passed in January, 1991, Bill in January, 2013 and Dick Flieder a few years ago, and Dutch many years ago.
Yes, it was a glorious time in my life, 
Thank you for recording Frontier's story and bringing back the best 
of remembrances for me of good FLOLK people and wonderful times.
-Faye Shield Duff
(5/1/15)

I have always enjoyed reading about FAL history.  
I had met a lady in 1946, at the business school I was attending.  
She gave me info that Monarch, not yet a certified airline, was hiring.  
In Sept, 1946, I went for an interview with Jack Burnell, Sup't. Of Mtnce.  
Jack, after my interview, said I was hired, even though I was much younger 
(17 soon to be 18) than he would have preferred, age-wise.  
(Note:  I graduated at 16, attended a business school, and, soon to be 18, 
it was time to become a secretary as I hoped to be. A great event in my life.)
Harry Duff met Ray Wilson while working at a small airport where Ray had his flight school.  
Ray ask Harry to join him at the new airline he was organizing.  
Harry, a mechanic,  was assigned, as well, to work with William 'Ham' Hamilton, 
'Dutch' Conrad Greenmier, and Dick Flieder in setting up the Parts Stockroom.  
It was Dutch and Harry's job to attend as many private and/or government surplus aircraft parts sales, 
to buy for the stockroom, the type of parts needed to be used in maintaining 
the surplus military aircraft (DC3's) being  converted to passenger use for Monarch.
That 'parts experience' was a great education for Harry, and, with his brother, J. W. 'Bill' Duff, 
who had worked for Challenger in 'ground mtnce', Denver, later formed 'Duff Aircraft'.  
It become the largest of its type of aircraft parts and salvage business in the world. 
Harry and I were married in 1948.  Harry passed in 1991 and Bill in 2013.
With fondness, I remember 'old timers', 
Harry Russell, his happy laugh, Asst. to Jack Burnell; gruff but helpful,  
Tunney Bergen, engine shop;  Harry Summerton, with Maybell Scott, 
George Swonger, Norma Jean Rasmussen,  Dorothy Meisenbach, all in Records; 
'Swede' Nettleblad and Bill Hayes, pilots, and so many more, their names escape me.  
(Some names may be misspelled or, ...  Sorry.)
Thanks for the memories...without your publication, I would not have such happy 'recall'.  
( I will soon be '90').  I have so many memories stored.  Ahem!!  Thank you. 
B. Faye (Shields) Duff, ... 303-366-7055.  680 S. Alton Way, 5C,  Denver 80247.
-Faye Shield Duff
(1/4/18)

Bill is not on the Jul 15, 1948 Challenger Employee Roster.
His sister-in-law, Faye Shields Duff, recalls he was there 1946/47
so I'll show him with Challenger 1946 - 1947 until info otherwise is received.
-Jake Lamkins
(2/1/19)

FLacebook - FL Club
FLight West: Bill Duff
DEN aircraft mechanic Bill Duff's memorial webpage is posted at
http://FAL-1.tripod.com/Bill_Duff.html
He was a Challenger mechanic before going on to being the world's largest used aircraft dealer.
Bill was also the brother of inspector Harry Duff whose webpage was recently posted.
-Jake Lamkins
(2/4/19)

Re: FLight West: Bill Duff
Duff was the original Living Legend.  
I nominated him for CAHS Hall Of Fame and he went in on first vote.  Rare then.  
First observed in Pueblo in 1958 he soloed but was actually afraid of flying.  
Duffs west of the runway Pueblo recovery effort was cool as the authorities 
put up some ropes but Mr Ballantyne had airport access and we got closer.  
I probably shot photos.  
After recovering the Frontier DC-3 my actual introduction to Bill came in 1961 
at Jeffco after a tragic midair between a Comanche and Clinton Cessna 150.  
Went to work for him in the summer of 1963 but Harry hated a kid around the yard.  
Rick Broome
(2/4/19)