Bovingdon's Constable David Lord chats with four year old David Dalgado on the occasion of the little boy's final arrival at Bovingdon Airport from America, mid-morning 7th June 1950.
I was pleased to stumble across this image because I had briefly mentioned the circumstances of this much delayed War Brides' Flight on the thread last October but never followed it up. With the DC-4 grounded at Bradley Field, Conn, its subsequent slow and devious progress towards England added much grist to the mill for the British Press Corps.
Here I have to admit that I had never heard of Transocean Air Lines until now and recommend a look at their entry in Wikipedia. An American Supplemental Carrier 1946-60. The Douglas DC-4 being the backbone of a very large and diverse fleet. During much of its existence at odds with the US CAB particularly over Trans Atlantic Charter Flights and the licensing thereof.
Nevertheless a major air line who took part in The Berlin Air Lift, and carried many thousands of people from diverse nationalities away from the poverty of their war torn existences to start their lives anew in fresh pastures.
'Forty-four displaced persons varying in age from fifty to babies in arms, sat in the lounge of Shannon airport most of the night. Their Transocean Air Line 'plane was held up by unsuitable flying conditions. They were on their way from Munich, Germany to Venezuela, by devious routes, a distance of 5,000 miles. Most of them were from Estonia and Lithuania and through interpreters said that they had fled from Russian rule. They included farmers whose lands had been confiscated, tailors and musicians whose fingers had been broken, carpenters, painters, locksmiths, a physician and a surveyor.' (Coventry Evening Telegraph 20th May 1948).
In June 1947 the Canadian Government awarded the company a contract to carry 7,000 emigrants from Britain to Canada. The first of these flights left from Northolt on 3rd August 1947 whilst Scottish emigrants were carried from Prestwick later that month. Not surprisingly Air Canada took over the contract at the end of September 1947. In December 1948 Transocean were contracted by the United Nations to evacuate 13,000 Europeans and White Russians from Shanghai to Manila and the Western Pacific during the China Civil War. During 1949 Italian emigrants were flown to Venezuela. 'War Brides' or 'Bassinet ' flights' from the USA to Britain were operated by Transocean during 1949 and 1950 and organised by The Britannia Brides Club of Oakland. The first flight arriving at Northolt from Oakland on 28th August 1949. I believe the majority of these services operated to and from Northolt. These flights were the subject of contention as they didn't strictly comply to the letter of the British regulations which the US CAB were at pains to enforce.
Here is a scarce bit of footage of a Transocean departure from Burbank to Northolt (Quite probably 24th-25th April 1950 when the eastbound service had to call in at Shannon for fuel).
To return to
Bovingdon.............
The Transocean DC-4 finally arrives Bovingdon at about 10 a.m. 7th June 1950.
ITENARY
Thursday 1st June Transocean DC-4 departs Oakland overnight for Bradley Field, Conn where it seems an aircraft change is to be made to possibly an Iceland Airways DC-4. However Iceland Airways who are said to be joint operators of this particular charter have been refused landing permission in Britain. So it could well be that when Transocean Air Lines (Capt Roach i/c) arrives at Bradley Field, Iceland Airways are not to be found. US CAB will not permit Capt Roach to proceed with his aircraft to England. (Much gnashing of teeth, head scratching, nappy changing over next couple of days ?).
Sunday 4th June Capt Roach departs Bradley Field overnight for Miami and Havana. Reading between the lines It would seem that in order to facilitate a transit through Havana the Cubans want a slice of the much diminished cake inasmuch that they will provide an aircraft to carry some of the passengers from Miami to Havana (DC3?) and another larger aircraft (DC-4 ? Capt Roach names 4 Cuban Flt Deck crew ) to operate the Havana- Bermuda sector while Capt Roach brings up the rear with his aircraft ? Thus at Miami:
'The original group had been split up because no plane large enough to take them all will be available for some stages of the flight'. (Daily Herald).
Edinburgh Evening News 5th June 1950.
Havana Monday 5th June. Four passengers throw in the towel and abandon their journey. 'Britain's wandering war brides, detoured on their flight home as a result of red tape, today formed a committee which called on the British Legation in Havana to help to get them home immediately. Pretty Mrs Ida Johnson who heads the committee protested at "Being shoved around from city to city and stared at like a refugee". The old marble halls of Havana's Sevilla-Biltmore Hotel echoed to the cries of the war brides' babies. Amletto Battisti, the hotel owner said "We will do everything to help the poor mothers - even if we have to tear up the hotel linen for nappies".
(Yorkshire Observer 6th June 1950).
Our Man in Havana.
'British Charge d'Affaires Havana, Mr Thomas Brimelow obtains permission from London for the plane to land at Bovingdon, Herts.'
(Northampton Chronicle and Echo 6th June 1950).
Afternoon ? of Monday 5th June Passengers depart Havana for Bermuda where they will night stop. Note how their onward route avoids USA Airspace and the threat of having their aircraft impounded.
Tuesday 6th June Passengers on Transocean DC-4 depart Bermuda for Gander then overnight direct to Bovingdon.
South Wales Evening Post 7th June 1950.
'On reaching London Captain Roach went into the cost of the trip and went to bed with a headache. To keep down costs he will return to America early tomorrow, without passengers or cargo - there is nothing for him to take back. Captain Roach refuses to theorise as to why the flight was made so difficult, but an official of the company associated with his airline Transocean, says the American Government is fighting non-subsidised airlines on behalf of those it subsidises.'
(Daily Herald 8th June 1950).
On 18th July 1950 Transocean Air Lines announced that they would make no more chartered flights to Europe for War Brides and their children. Citing (1) the US CAB ban because War Brides cannot be classified as Religious, Educational or Philanthropic Enterprises and (2) The cost of re-routing such flights.
Coventry Evening Telegraph 15th August 1949.
A version of the accident report can be found on this link:
https://aviation-safety.net/asndb/336352
OUR BOYS IN BRAZIL
The above was written by Jonas Liasch in 2008 and I thank him for this which was published on an Internet Blog 'Cultura aeronautica Brazil'.
