This Martinliner had it's most productive years with original owner Eastern Airlines (1951 - 62). Operated next by local service airlines Mohawk (1962 - 65) and Ozark (1965 - 67), the aircraft had several would be start up owners until operated by Petroleum Air Transport after 1976. Bought out by DHL in 1978, , the airliner was one of three M404s brought to Hawaii for cargo services, but they never got off the ground (DHL Island Airways, another DHL start-up did fly with Beech 18s, DC-3 and DC-6s). N471M was the only aircraft to wear titles and all three Martin 404s were broken up by 1983.

The illustrious list of former operators of this classic Martin starts with Eastern, followed by Mohawk and Ozark. Bought by Fairchild-Hiller Corp in 7.67 (no doubt as a trade-in by Ozark for FH-227s) and passed through private hands till bought by Petroleum AT in 1977. Leased to the embryonic DHL a couple of years later but broken up 1983. Note cabin curtains still fitted