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Old 24th Dec 2012, 14:21
  #17 (permalink)  
Jhieminga
 
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: near an airplane
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Nice additions! I went through
Charles Woodley's BOAC: An Illustrated History Charles Woodley's BOAC: An Illustrated History
but couldn't find all that much about O.P.:
On 24 September 1941 the running of the Return Ferry Service was handed over in its entirety to BOAC, operating under the AOC RAF Ferry Command. Ten Liberators were provided by the RAF, but BOAC took full responsibility for their maintenance, operations and crewing. The first crossing under BOAC control took place on that date, under the command of Captain O.P. Jones, and services were operated from then on six days of each week.
On 16 June 1946 L-049 Constellation G-AHEM 'Balmoral', under the command of Captain W.S. May, operated the first of ten BOAC Constellation transatlantic proving flights, and set a record of 11hrs 24mins for the New York-London journey. These flights paved the way for the inauguration of twice-weekly scheduled services between London and La Guardia Airport, New York on 1 July 1946, with G-AHEJ 'Bristol II' operating the first service under the command of Captain O.P. Jones.
About the initial Boeing Stratocruiser services:
On 1 March 1951 the De Luxe 'Monarch' service from London to New York was inaugurated, initially on a three-times-weekly frequency, but upgraded to daily from 1 May. The first westbound service ws commanded by Captain J.T. Percy, and the first eastbound schedule by Captain O.P. Jones, flying G-ALSB 'Champion'. Captain Jones was almost a legendary figure on the transatlantic services of this period, commanding most of the inaugural services, as befitting his great experience.

Last edited by Jhieminga; 3rd Jan 2013 at 15:58.
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