Page 54 - Aviation News (February 2020)

Mbeya-Dodoma-Moshi-Nairobi before Eight DC-3 aircraft were used on fl ights in As demand on the intercontinental route
arrival at Kisumu. The Imperial fl ying South Africa between 1946 and 1970. In 1943 to Britain further increased, three monthly
boat service also made a stop at Kisumu ZS-DJB had been the SAAF’s fi rst C-47 (6801) fl ights by Skymaster were introduced to
and it returned to military ownership as 6869
where airmail and passengers to or from in 1971. Bob O’Brien Collection supplement the Yorks. Finally, the Yorks
SAA aircraft were transferred. The next were returned to BOAC and replaced by
regional service was to Lourenço Marques and to start up intercontinental air services an all-Skymaster fl eet. Cabin crew were
(Maputo) where airmail also destined when hostilities ended. As the original Rand introduced in 1946, at fi rst only on the
for Imperial fl ying boats was transferred. airport in Johannesburg was too small internal fl ights and later on the Springbok
A route from Rand (Johannesburg)- for such operations, a new airport was service, along with in-fl ight movies. By the
Palapye Road-Maun-Windhoek was also built south of the city at Palmietfontein end of 1946, the fi rst of two de Havilland
introduced. Shortly before World War Two, to accommodate the envisaged route to Doves entered service on domestic routes.
this service was extended up to Luanda. Britain. BOAC planned to operate this with They were not suited for SAA’s operation
In order to cope with the rapid expansion, Avro York aircraft, eight of which were and both were sold in 1952.
SAA ordered Lockheed Lodestar aircraft leased to SAA to operate the reciprocal The next type to be acquired by SAA
from the USA. These twin-engined airliners service. SAA’s fi rst intercontinental fl ight, was the Vickers Viking, a 28-seater airliner,
were delivered during the hostilities, but known as the Springbok Service, started and they were used on both domestic
immediately integrated into the SAAF. on November 10, 1945 and routed and regional fl ights. Their service life with
From February 1, 1934 until the start Palmietfontein-Nairobi-Khartoum-Cairo- SAA was fairly short and all eight aircraft
of World War Two, SAA carried 118,822 Bournemouth (as Heathrow had not yet were sold to BEA in 1951. In August 1950,
passengers, 3,278 tons (3,330 tonnes) of opened). The fl ight took three days to the airline introduced four Lockheed
airmail and 248 tons (225 tonnes) of cargo. complete, and overnight stops were made Constellations on the Springbok service,
On May 24, 1940 all operations were at Nairobi and Cairo with a fl ying time reducing the fl ying time to London to 28
suspended due to the war. Aircraft like the of 33-34 hours. At fi rst a weekly service hours. Pressurisation enabled the aircraft
Ju 52/3m were transferred to the air force was o ered and as the demand for seats to cruise above most of the fearsome
for troop carrying and the Envoys and Ju increased, more fl ights were introduced African weather. The Constellation soon
86s were converted into bombers. During until fi nally six per week were fl own. proved popular, o ering a much smoother
the early part of the confl ict, some Ju 52s Douglas DC-4 Skymasters joined the and more comfortable journey with 46
still operated limited services around the fl eet in May 1946 (the last of its seven passengers being carried on the typical
country, however. of the type was retired in 1967) on the Johannesburg-Nairobi-Khartoum-Rome-
Johannesburg-Cape Town route whereas London route.
INTERCONTINENTAL Douglas DC-3 Dakotas began operating
SERVICES in the same month on the Johannesburg- NEW ERA
On December 1, 1944 six Lockheed Durban route. The Skymasters had The jet age came to South Africa on May
Lodestars (ordered by SAA prior to the war, double doors at the main passenger entry 3, 1952 when a BOAC Comet 1 landed at
but delivered to the SAAF) were released to position, the interior fi ttings could be Johannesburg’s Palmietfontein Airport.
the airline. The remaining Lodestars from the removed and the airliner was used to haul The journey from London had taken
SAAF were handed over after the war. SAA freight, including karakul sheep pelts and less than 24 hours to complete with fi ve
would use a total of 28 of the type, the last of racehorses. The Dakotas came from the refuelling stops on its route. The following
which was withdrawn from service in 1955. surplus SAAF C-47 inventory. SAA would year, SAA began jet operations using
During the war, SAA took the time to eventually operate eight of them between two chartered Comets from BOAC. The
look ahead and plan to open new airports 1946 and 1970. aircraft had dual BOAC-SAA titling and
In 1945-46 SAA leased eight Avro 685 Yorks from BOAC, including G-AGNR, to operate its fi rst intercontinental SAA service between South Africa
and London. SAA Museum Society Archives

52 AVIATION NEWS FEBRUARY 2020

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