Five Hurt As C.A.A. Plane Crashes In Mist Near Blantyre

From Our Correspondent
Blantyre,. Sunday.

When a Central African Airways Beaver aircraft made a forced landing and crashed 11 miles from Blantyre last night, the pilot, Mr. R. M. Holmes, who had one leg broken and had injured the other, crawled back into the wreckage to rescue one of the passengers

There were four passengers in the plane, which was on: a scheduled flight from Lilongwe to Blantyre. When the pilot and the passengers were being taken to hospital by car, the car skidded into a ditch but they were able to proceed.

The four passengers were Mr. R. W. Kettlewell, Director of Agriculture, Nyasaland, Mr. I. Berry, of the Federal Civil Aviation Department, Salisbury, Mr. G. McCalman, a Nyasaland Labour Officer, and Mr. F. I. Scott, of Nyasaland..

Mr. McCalman told me the story of the crash.

"We were going down the Shire River," he said. "It got dark early and then the real difficulty came when cloud and mist closed In.

"The pilot followed the railway line, flying very low to the ground, but after a time he told us that unless he put down we might go into the hills around Blantyre. We fastened our belts and waited.

Wings Torn Off

"The pilot found a little open space and we set down, but it was too short and the trees rushed towards us; tearing off the wings.

"We were tossed all over the place.

" When the plane came to rest it was on its port side. The engine had fallen out.

"The starboard door was opened and the others crawled" out, but I found that my left arm was trapped by the seat. The others had a look and: found that the whole weight of the. plane was trapping me.

"Then the pilot crawled back into the plane to see if he could help. He must have been pretty brave to have done that for he knew he had a broken leg."

Above: Mr. R. KETTLEWELL, one of the passengers who were Injured on Saturday when a C.A.A. Beaver aircraft made a forced landing in Nyasaland.

Further Newspaper Cutting
Air crash victim in hospital Mr. F. I. Scott, one of the passengers injured when a C.A.A. Beaver aircraft crashed near Blantyre on Saturday night, was flown to Belvedere Airport yesterday.

He was taken to the Salisbury hospital in an ambulance.

The pilot of the aircraft, Mr. R. M: Holmes, is expected to arrive in Salisbury today.

End of newspaper reports

Dave Vermaak recalls:-

For info. the accident took place on Saturday 21 April. Mike was the last to be moved from the accident site by ambulance. To add insult to injury the ambulance en route to the tar road ran into a ditch before it could get underway again with young Mike.

He was fairly newly married and I collected his wife next day at Chileka Airport and took her to the old hospital in Blantyre to lavish further care and attention to speed his recovery! I think they went back to Salisbury on the Monday or Tuesday.

His widow Val now resides in Pretoria. For info. whilst undergoing his flying training in the SAAF at Dunotter he had his Harvard's wing taken off by another aircraft and he had to bail out!

Using the Irving parachute to save his life made him a member of their Caterpillar Club and earned him a Golden caterpillar lapel pin.

End

Extracted and recompiled by Eddy Norris from the December 1959 publication which was made available by Dave Vermaak

Thanks to Dave for sharing his memories with ORAFs.

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A Tale of Six Tails

Six well-developed bunnies, British girls selected from a large number of applicants, are pictured at London Airport before leaving for Chicago, where they will undergo training at the Bunny Warren for four months prior to the opening of a bunny club in London.

 Four of the girls come from the Greater London area, one from Bristol, and one from Glasgow.

Anything to declare? Search me!

"My, what long legs you've got" says 16-month old Eva
 Holland of Forest Hill, London, niece of one of the bunnies,
 as they adjust their tails before boarding the aircraft.
  

With a smile, the SEXtet of bunnies turn their backs Britain.

End

Dave Vermaak (Air Rhod,) Writes:-
The back page of the August 1966 SCAAner (Publication of CAA) was to prove that the Sunday Times (South African Sunday newspaper)  did not have sole-rights to good looking girls on the back page!

Extracted and recompiled by Eddy Norris from the August 1966 publication which was made available by Dave Vermaak

Thanks to Dave for sharing his memories with ORAFs.
Thanks also to BOAC (now BA) for the use of their material.

Comments are always welcome, please mail them to Eddy Norris at orafs11@gmail.com  and they will be loaded to this article.

Ref. Rhodesian Aviation  

 

The Central African Airways Group 1964

Central African Airways - Air Malawi - Air Rhodesia - Zambia Airways

The Creation of the Group
 Out of the political break-up of the 1953-63 Federation has come the 1963 Act of Agreement entered into by the  Governments of Southern Rhodesia, Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland, whereby a new Central African Airways  Corporation has been born, with new and greatly increased responsibilities. For, within each Territory the  Corporation has undertaken to form separate airline companies, owned by CAA. In Southern Rhodesia, CAA's new  subsidiary, Air Rhodesia, will have its headquarters in Salisbury; in Northern Rhodesia, Zambia Airways at Lusaka;  and Nyasaland's Air Malawi at Blantyrc. Needless to say, the hard-won experience of CAA over the years, together  with the skills and loyalty of its personnel, will stand the entire group in good stead. Now, along with the familiar emblem of CAA, the distinctive markings of Air Malawi, Zambia Airways and Air Rhodesia will take their place in the  African sky.

Sir Robert Taylor, C.B.E.,
 Chairman, CAA.
     

M. Stuart-Shaw, C.B.E., M.Inst.T
 Chief Executive, CAA.

Central African Airways Viscount in flight.

Rolls-Royce Engine Maintenance—Central African Airways Base

CENTRAL AFRICAN AIRWAYS
 In 1962 CAA contracted for the delivery of two BAC One-Eleven rear engined jet liners, mainly for regional service in  mid-1965. These will augment the existing Viscounts, which in their turn had superseded CAA's Vikings of the fifties. Such has been the forward thrust of Central African Airways that today it offers a fast commercial link over  an area of more than 485,000 square miles—larger than the British Isles, France, Germany and Holland combined.  Incidentally, the BAC One-Elevens will cut the flying time between Salisbury and Nairobi from 5½ hours to 3½  hours; Ndola-Nairobi from 3¾ hours to 2 hours; Blantyre-Dar-es-Salaam from 2¾ hours to 1 hours, and Salisbury-Durban from 3¼ hours to 2 hours only. Reputedly the first airline outside the U.S.A. to offer family  excursion fares, CAA were also the first in Africa to organise all-inclusive holidays by air. This breakthrough resulted in the overwhelmingly popular Flame Lily holidays. Now, under its new constitution, CAA will be jointly owned by  Southern Rhodesia (45 per cent), Northern Rhodesia (45 per cent), and Nyasaland (10 per cent). A specially constituted Higher Authority for Civil Air Transport, which is composed of the Ministers of Transport of each  Government, has been formed to represent the interests of the three Governments, and Central African Airways will  be responsible to this Higher Authority for its operations, including the subsidiaries. The Higher Authority will also  negotiate air traffic rights for all the Territories, and approve such important matters as inter-Territorial fares and  rates. CAA's DC-3's and Beaver aircraft have been transferred to the newly formed subsidiaries and will carry the  Territories' various colours. All services will be operated by CAA on behalf of the three subsidiaries. The training and scheduling of aircrews and engineers, together with inspection and maintenance, will be in the hands of the parent  body—CAA. Maintenance will be carried out at CAA's Rolls-Royce-approved workshops at Salisbury Airport, so that on whichever of the Group's airlines you travel, you fly with the great experience accumulated over 17 years airline service.

---

AIR MALAWI
 Symbolic of the start of a new era in Nyasaland, the leopard of Malawi spreads its wings from the modern Blantyre  Airport. Viscounts and DC-3 airliners will link points in Nyasaland with the other two Territories, and East Africa,  providing both a passenger and freight service. The justly famed Beaver service will continue to make  communications and travel possible for the communities in outlying areas. The Beavers cover 11 stations over a 775- mile network between Blantyre and Mbeya in Tanganyika. Piloted by CAA's experienced Captains, Air Malawi's  passengers will be well looked after by the Company's air hostesses in their attractive new red uniforms. All  engineering and technical services will be provided for Air Malawi by CAA. And passengers and freight bookings to  anywhere in the world may be arranged through any of the local offices of the Territory's airline.

   P. Howard, O.B.E.,

 Chairman,Air Malawi.

Highly experienced crews fly Air
 Malawi aircraft.

   

An Air Malawi DC-3 at Blantyre Airport
     

Beavers serve the less developed areas

     

---

 AIR RHODESIA
 The famous Zimbabwe bird flies again. This time as the emblem of Air Rhodesia, the new Southern Rhodesia  subsidiary of CAA. Soon this symbol and the blue, while and black markings of Air Rhodesia will be familiar at the  modern Southern Rhodesian airports of Salisbury, Bulawayo and Kariba, in the adjoining Territories and in South  Africa and Mocambique. Air Rhodesia will also operate Viscount and DC-3 airliners and the Passenger Booking  Offices and Freight Offices previously occupied by CAA in Southern Rhodesia. Through the new national airline, the  many spectacular sights of Southern Rhodesia will continue to be enjoyed by visitors from all parts of the world. Air  Rhodesia will also provide the highest standard of traffic handling for all the international airlines which operate  through Salisbury Airport.

 An Air Rhodesia Viscount.
 

 Air Rhodesia's City Air Terminal, Bulawayo

 

 Salisbury Airport—home base of Air Rhodesia

 Traffic handling at Salisbury Airport

---

 ZAMBIA AIRWAYS
 The fish eagle, proud emblem of the North, is Northern Rhodesia's chosen insignia for Zambia Airways. Along its national air routes, in the neighbouring Territories and East Africa, Zambia Airways Viscounts and DC-3 airliners will provide passenger and freight services to and from Northern Rhodesia. And above the Barotseland Territory of Northern Rhodesia, Zambia Airways Pratt and Whitney-engined Beavers will link 10 stations, spread over 800 miles. As with Air Malawi and Air Rhodesia, the Zambia Airways fleet will be captained by CAA's experienced pilots. The Zambia Airways air hostesses, in their smart green uniforms, will add a note of national colour to the service. Maintenance and specialist services will be provided by CAA. Travellers may book through Zambia Airways main offices at Lusaka, Ndola and Livingstone, or through any of the airlines local offices, to anywhere in the world.

 M. T. D. Miine, Chairman,
 Zambia Airways
 

 Zambia Airways airliner with its green, black and copper markings

 Passengers boarding at Lusaka—home base of Zambia Airways

 Passengers enjoy the friendly service on board a Zambia Airways Viscount

 

---

End

Extracted and recompiled by Eddy Norris from a publication which was made available by Dave Vermaak

Thanks to Dave for sharing his memories with ORAFs.

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Rhodesian Aviation 

Vic Mackenzie Artwork: Jumbo Aircraft

"Naturally we couldn't allow T.A.P. and SAA to corner the Jumbo market in this country.*'

Rhodesia Herald May 7, 1975
TAP and SAA had introduced Jumbo service to Europe. Air Rhodesia were still flying our second hand Boeings.

End
Thanks to Vic for sharing his memories with ORAFs.
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Vic Mackenzie Artwork: Air Rhodesia Concordes

"With their sales being so low they just couldn't resist a cash offer."

Rhodesia Herald May 21, 1974

Remember when Air Rhodesia used to run at a profit? Yes it did actually make a profit because it was superbly managed by people like Pat Travers. The Concorde was the most advanced passenger air plane in the world flying between Paris and NY. I think we Rhodesians could have afforded a couple of them and still run at a profit.

End
Thanks to Vic for sharing his memories with ORAFs.

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Miss M.E. G. Dorehill

Miss M.E. G. Dorehill

 A Londoner by birth, Miss Dorehill comes from an Army family, whose mobility undoubtedly influenced her subsequent career. She received her early education at a convent in Berkshire, later studying in France and Belgium. Following secretarial training in London, Maggie worked first in Italy and then in France, where the war caught up with her. With many others, she eventually got away, and after a nightmare journey in a grossly overcrowded cargo ship she reached Britain by way of Oran and Gibraltar.

 After a spell with the Red Cross, cooking and nursing at a military hospital in Yorkshire, Miss Dorehill joined the Political Intelligence Branch of the Foreign Office, where some of her varied activities remind one of an E. Phillips Oppenheimer story - but better than that,-truth being stranger than fiction.

 On demobilisation Miss Dorehill joined Vickers Armstrong, Weybridge, where a chance encounter with the then G. M. of C.A. A. led her to coming to Rhodesia. Her initial appointment (August 1947) was in Traffic, Belvedere, as driver and passenger attendant. She transferred to Johannesburg when that office opened and has worked there for more than ten years on reservations and sales. Off duty, her interests incline towards music, dancing, tennis and swimming.

 So in Maggie we have a first-class all-rounder - in fact just the type that helps to make C.A.A. 'tick'.

 End

 Dave Vermaak Writes:-
 Maggie Dorehill was a great personality in the airline industry in JNB (Johannesburg). We worked together for the years I was stationed there.

Extracted and recompiled by Eddy Norris from the SCAANER of April 1959 which was made available by Dave Vermaak. Thanks Dave
 
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"Viscounts Flight Heralds New Era"

These were the headlines which followed the opening of our new services to Bulawayo on the 5th January, 1959, when for the first time C.A.A. operated Viscounts between Salisbury and Bulawayo, and Bulawayo and Johannesburg.

A tremendous amount of goodwill towards C.A.A. (Central African Airways) was evidenced by the fact that so many prominent people gave their time to take the flight with us to Bulawayo and back. Our guests included such busy people as the Federal Minister of Transport, Mr. W.A. Eastwood, the Mayors and Mayoresses of Salisbury and Bulawayo, the Presidents of Chambers of Commerce and

Industry, the Postmaster General, travel agents and members of the Press.

The City of Bulawayo itself "went to town" in welcoming the new C.A.A. venture by giving a Civic Luncheon to mark its appreciation, at which 137 guests attended. In his speech at the luncheon, the Mayor of Bulawayo paid a warm tribute to C.A.A. Our Chairman, in his reply, was in his best form and was able to give the pleasing news that we are operating within our subsidy figure.

Above: Passenger Attendants SHEILA BUCHANAN and ANN WILLCOCK presented corsages to the lady passengers on arrival at Bulawayo of the first Viscount service.  In this picture Sheila hands Mrs. Pocket her corsage and Ann pins another on Mrs. McNeille's frock

While we cannot say at this stage that the Viscount services into Bulawayo will run at 100% load factors, we are quite sure that there will be many converts back to air travel over the coming months.

Readers will recall that the last time a Viscount visited Bulawayo, we had the honour of carrying Her Gracious Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother.

End

Extracted and recompiled by Eddy Norris, from the C.A.A. magazine "The SCAANER" dated January 1959, which was made available by Dave Vermaak Thank you Dave.

In the original copy the title of this article had VICOUNTS, ORAFs made thee change to VISCOUNT.

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Ref. Rhodesian Aviation