This may interest some of you. In 1960 the Managing Director of BOAC, Basil Smallpeice commisioned a history to be written about BOAC by the noted historian Robin Higham. It was to be published in 1964, the 25th anniversary of BOAC.
In December 1963 Basil Smallpeice and Chairman Matthew Slattery were given the sack by then Minister of Aviation Julian Amery. Higham's book was not published in 1964 as it was deemed controversial, even though it was finished in time.
I recently found out that this book which has been 43 years in the making, will be released in April 2013. With such a background it may contain some very interesting insights into the problems and challenges that BOAC encountered along the way, including the much talked about VC10 orders.
Speedbird: The Complete History of BOAC
Well done to mr. Higham for staying with this task and getting this book published! I for one am looking forward to it.