Cape to London
Who attempted to run an alternate service Capetown > London possibly as early as 1947?
At this time naturally B.O.A.C. and S.A.A., had duopoly on this route.
I remember the news coverage of the first flight. Were there ever any more? The northward progress of the aircraft was reported stop by stop. The Board of Trade said it would not provide any fuel. The company claimed they were only operating a Cape to Paris service and the final leg was optional and free of charge. The aircraft would refuel in Paris for a return trip to London.
Now recollection is vague I seem to think that at sometime service was refused at colonial airports and the route became a bit circuitous being obliged to use either French or Portuguese facilities only.
The captain on this first flight was a Fred McCauliffe (spelling?) between careers WW2 and later in the R.A.F. This I know for a fact because his son taught me the basic difference between girls and boys, however I don't think even he knew then why there was a difference!