British American Air Services Bovingdon 1948. Humber car boxed and mint underslung.
The USAF returned to Bovingdon in 1951. Maybe someone can date this postcard from the cars in the car park?
G-AGNY Avro York Eagle Aviation at Bovingdon 1950. Photo - The late Arthur Huswitt.
G-AKCC Avro Tudor 5 William Dempster Ltd. On arrival at Bovingdon from Tripoli Libya 26 October 1951 the aircraft ran off the side of the runway after its second approach. No fatalities. Photo-the Late Frank Hudson with thanks to Mike Hudson.
G-AJZD Douglas C47a Dakota. British Nederland Air Services. Unknown location. Photo- saadonline
G-AHDX HP70 Halton 1 Worldair Carriers. Mt Hohgant,Bern,Switzerland 16 April 1950. En-route Amsterdam-Brindisi with a cargo of Philip's Radios. No survivors. Photo-baaa-acro.
G-AHON Vickers Viking 1A Trans World Charter at Bovingdon 1950. Photo-the late Arthur Huswitt.
G-AKAD HP Halifax 8 British American Air Services.Unknown location.Delivered March 1948 w.o. May 1948 u/c collapse on landing Rennes. Photo-baaa-acro.
G-AIWT HP Halifax 8 LAMS/Payloads Charter co, location unknown. Having earlier that year tramped right around the world this aeroplane was damaged beyond repair landing Bovingdon 5.9.47. Photo - baaa-acro
In 1947 The Ministry of Civil Aviation obtained the airfield for civilian use.With its proximity to London and good road and rail links to The Midlands Bovingdon soon became the base for numerous charter companies that took part in an air transport boom which lasted until the end of The Berlin Airlift in 1949. Thereafter demand dropped off and with the State Airlines maintaining a complete monopoly on all scheduled services (although contracting some of these services to Independents) many companies cut their losses, sold their aircraft (at this time good prices were paid for C47 Dakotas) and ceased operations.
In the meantime anything that could be carried by air was. Apart from passenger flights Bovingdon imported an enormous amount of cargo particularly (when in season) fruit and vegetables from Southern Europe and The Lowlands, textiles from France and Italy. Exports world-wide included heavy machinery, Ship's and Aircraft spares - the list is endless.
Several companies participated in The Berlin Airlift and also in the lesser-known 'Milk Airlifts' of 1947 and 1948 when milk churns were flown from Nutt's Corner Belfast to Liverpool and Blackpool.
Home and Abroad the safety record of several of these outfits left much to be desired. The Chiltern Hills collected a scattering of lost souls while the 4,900 foot main runway witnessed a few spectacular runoffs. With reference to Tony Merton Jones' 'British Independent Airlines 1946-76' I've attempted to list air charter companies and their period of operation at Bovingdon. If you can get hold of a copy of this wonderful book it will give you a greater insight into these companies.
Air Charter Ltd. 1947-1951 DH Dragon Rapide, Airspeed Consul,Miles Gemini.
Air Contractors Ltd 1948 C47 Dakota. Miles Aerovan.
Air Freight Ltd 1946-1948 HP Halifax.
Air Transport Charter (C.I.) 1948 C47 Dakota.
Blue Line Airways Ltd 1949 C47 Dakota.
Bond Air Services Ltd 1947-1948 HP Halifax.
British American Air Services Ltd 1947-1950 HP Halifax.
British Nederland Air Services Ltd 1948-1950 C47 Dakota, Vickers Viking.
Eagle Aviation Ltd 1948-1952 HP Halifax, Avro York.
Hunting Air Travel/Transport/ Hunting Clan Ltd 1948-1954 C47 Dakota,Vickers Viking. Avro York.
Lancashire Aircraft Corporation/Skyways Ltd 1947-1952 HP Halifax, HP Halton, Avro York.
Skyflight Ltd 1948-1949 HP Halifax.
Trans World Charter Ltd 1948-1951 Vickers Viking.
William Dempster Ltd 1950-1951 Avro Tudor.
World Air Freight Ltd 1948-1950 HP Halifax.
Worldair Carriers Ltd 1950 HP Halton.
I might add that B.O.A.C. had a maintenance facility at Bovingdon 1946-1948.