Imperial Airways research.
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Hi all,
I'm a History undergraduate at the University of Exeter and I'm conducting a primary source based investigation into Imperial Airways in the 1930s, focussing particularly on its political and cultural significance to the British perception of the late - Empire.
One thing I'd love to examine is an Imperial Airways pilots memoir or autobiography - however, I have so far been unsuccessful in tracking one down. So I thought it might be worth asking if anyone here knew of any material of that sort, that I may have overlooked in my initial sweep.
Many thanks,
Joe
I'm a History undergraduate at the University of Exeter and I'm conducting a primary source based investigation into Imperial Airways in the 1930s, focussing particularly on its political and cultural significance to the British perception of the late - Empire.
One thing I'd love to examine is an Imperial Airways pilots memoir or autobiography - however, I have so far been unsuccessful in tracking one down. So I thought it might be worth asking if anyone here knew of any material of that sort, that I may have overlooked in my initial sweep.
Many thanks,
Joe
The SolentSky musueum ot Southampton would be a very good place to visit for info about imperial Airways (and, course the Spitfire). You can climb aboard their Sandringham flying boat and get a good feel of what aviation at that period was actually like. Solent Sky
Good luck,
Oleo
There's a substantial amount of Imperial Airways timetables and some other ephemera such as tickets on this airline historic timetable website. Many of the timetables have all the pages, and the residual details around the actual times are of interest in themselves. If nothing else they can give researchers some original artwork to illustrate their studies.
Imperial Airways - Indian Trans-Continental Airways
Imperial Airways - Indian Trans-Continental Airways
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IMPERIAL AIRWAYS - Percy W ('Darby') Kennedy
I'm an aviation writer researching the life of the legendary Irish aviator, 'Darby' Kennedy. His career started with Imperial Airways in 1935 flying HP42s and Short L17 airliners after time spent at the Air Training School at Hamble. Subsequently, he qualified as a seaplane pilot flying on the Lake Victoria and Nile routes. He was a founder member of the British Air Line Pilot's Association before leaving Imperial Airways to return to Ireland in 1938.
Darby died in Spain in 2015 aged 102 and I understand he may have contributed personal reminiscences to Imperial Airway or Handley Page groups - I am very anxious to trace this material and any other relevant information on this outstanding pilot.
Darby died in Spain in 2015 aged 102 and I understand he may have contributed personal reminiscences to Imperial Airway or Handley Page groups - I am very anxious to trace this material and any other relevant information on this outstanding pilot.
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Two more books I can recommend by pioneer pilots of the time are:
Pioneer Pilot by William Armstrong
Brackles: Memoirs of a Pioneer of Civil Aviation by Frida Brackley
Pioneer Pilot by William Armstrong
Brackles: Memoirs of a Pioneer of Civil Aviation by Frida Brackley
Last edited by Aerodynamik; 27th Oct 2018 at 08:05.
Join Date: Aug 2006
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Very many years ago, I had a brief acquaintance with Capt. Gordon Olley, one time Chief Pilot of Imperial Airways and the first person to log one million miles. I treasure his autographed book. "A Million Miles in the Air" has been out of print for ages but eBay or Amazon may come up with a used copy. If you are looking for specific events or dates, you may not find his writings of much help - he can be vague on details but with a view to social history, it could be useful. In any event, it is an entertaining read.
As an unconnected and wholly irrelevant aside, I once shared a breakfast with Capt "Flaps" Rendall when weather/gremlins had trapped us in Hanover. He also had flown the North Africa routes before the War.
There are plenty of youtube clips available including the BBC's 'High Flyers' documentary which outlines the beginning of Imperial Aiways back in the gay old times of the 20's
https://www.youtube.com/results?sear...perial+airways
https://www.youtube.com/results?sear...perial+airways
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Slightly before the Imperial Airways years, but an interesting read and gives information regarding pre Imperial Airways operations is "Airways to the East 1918 - 1920" (and the collapse of No 1 aerial route RAF) by Clive Semple.
Published by Pen & Sword, ISBN 184884657-6.
Information about the Imperial Airways aircraft and routes is covered in "The Sky their Frontier" by Robert Jackson,
Published by Pen & Sword, ISBN 184884657-6.
Information about the Imperial Airways aircraft and routes is covered in "The Sky their Frontier" by Robert Jackson,
