Letters to the editor
Information for the traveller.
Dear Editor,
I thought you would be interested in the attached letter and envelope sent from Imperial Airways to mark the first regular weekly British Air Mail service between Calcutta and London. The envelope is postmarked Calcutta, July 10, 1933 and the air mail stamp depicts a de Havilland Hercules. The letter was addressed to the Salvation Army in London where my grandfather worked at the time and this piece of postal history has passed down to me.
Richard Lonsdale, Caversham
Ed: What an absolutely incredible nugget of aviation history. Enormous thanks for taking the time to share it with us and our readers.
Dear Editor,
The recent article describing the extra engine ferry flight by Qantas to Johannesburg reminded me of a fifth pod journey I was involved with early in my career in 1972.
At the time, BOAC (British Airways) were operating six Boeing 747-136 from London to New York, Johannesburg via Nairobi and various stopping points out to Australia.