RMA Caledonia
As a boy of eleven, accompanied by my mother and 13 year-old sister, I flew from Poole Harbour, Dorset to Rangoon, Burma (Myanmar)in the Short C (Empire) Class flying boat Caledonia. The flight was over the period 2-8 May 1940. Imperial had only just become BOAC.. .My memories of this journey are still quite vivid, but I have just stumbled in my archives over a letter written by my mother (long deceased!) within days of our arrival in Rangoon. This has filled in forgotten details of places and timings.. .I am contemplating posting an account of our journey on this board, because there cannot be too many people around now who flew the Imperial route and who can review the experience through the eyes of a retired aviator of the jet era. (On the other hand, many might wish the bloody old fart just to shut up - which I could quite understand!).. .It would be useful if someone knew of a site with a good picture of a C Class boat, to which I could link my piece. There is a picture of Caribou in the Feb issue of the Aeroplane; but my scanner is not up to reproducing it adequately. <img src="smile.gif" border="0">
[ 26 January 2002: Message edited by: Flatus Veteranus ]</p>