Just happened to see your email re Poole Flying Boats.
Fabulous Flying Boats- A History of the worlds passenger flying boats - should do the trick.
When I first moved here from the family home in North London, I was able to meet some of the senior pilots who had retired to the area whose experiences I was able to incorporate within the research for both books.
Shame we are unable to meet at the bar of the Salterns Way hotel, the former Marine Terminal, which has now been demolished.
Kind regards
Leslie Dawson
lesliedawson5@aol.com
Rachel Sweasey, e-mail, 15.06.2023 14:36
Hi Leslie, I'm really interested in your books about the flying boats. I am an author currently writing a book set in Poole Harbour during WW2. My first book is also set in Poole and centres on Poole Pottery and I'm hoping it will be published soon.
I grew up in Poole and for this current book I'm looking for as much information as possible for that WW2 period, and particularly what it was like for passengers travelling on the flying boats, staying at the Harbour Heights Hotel etc, going through customs at the Pottery showrooms on Poole Quay and so on.
Which of your books would you recommend as being the best one to buy for the information I need please?
Many thanks for your help, Rachel
Rachel Sweasey, e-mail, 15.06.2023 14:31
Hi Robert, I have just found your comment on the Aviastar website for the Short Empire flying boats. I am an author currently writing a book set in Poole harbour during WW2 and I am looking for as much information as I can find about the Flying Boats. I am very interested to hear your account of what it was like to fly as a passenger, the embarkation process, the interior of the flying boat etc. Any information at all that you can share would be extremely welcome. Please feel free to contact me on email. With kind regards Rachel
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Charles A Embleton, e-mail, 23.01.2023 16:51
Anyone who may remember Imperial Airways and BOAC Captain "Mack" Gurney of flying Boat fame please let me know if you have anything to tell me about him.
Lesley Aylwin, e-mail, 26.10.2022 14:51
I have just spotted your email! I too travelled with my mother and brother and sister on this particular Flying Boat, and have the certificate for crossing the equator. We were evacuating from Singapore on 7th November 1941 to Sydney and yes, it did take 3 days, stopping in Sourabaya, Darwin and Townsville before reaching Sydney. Pearl Harbour was a month later. I have a copy of the Crew and Passenger list - Captain Ambrose and four crew and 17 passengers including General Sir Thomas Blakey and three staff officers who were travelling from Cairo. I was 3 years old, and we were the only children on board.
William Leon, e-mail, 25.08.2022 09:54
Not really what this site is all about.
Leslie Dawson, e-mail, 26.04.2022 21:09
Hallo David,
One of the flying boat captains I had met and included within my earlier hardback Fabulous Flying Boats - A History Of The Worlds Passenger Flying Boats - had been a former tour-expired bomber pilot with No 70 Squadron flying Wellingtons out of Kabrit and had converted at the Imperial Airways school at Vaal Dam.
Now writing about the life and times of a pilot from Hampshire who had been flown to Vaal Dam on his way to a South African EFTS, I have just come across your email to aviation/org.
If you have the time, I would be very interested to hear about your father who started the Vaal Dam flying boat school.
With Best Wishes
Leslie Dawson
Bournemouth.
Barry Slatter, e-mail, 14.10.2021 06:43
Hello David, My Australian father Captain John (Jack) Slatter was also a senior captain with BOAC flying several of the Short Flying Boats from Durban to Cairo from 1941 to 1945. I know your father was connected to mine and I seem to remember he may have been in my parents wedding party in Durban in February 1942. I know he spent time at Vaal Dam as it may have been either training or his honeymoon. I would love to hear about your literature and/or history. I have a copy of his log book detailing his flights however BOAC unfortunately do not have very much information about those days.
Adrianna Lazzarini, e-mail, 21.07.2021 14:15
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Leslie dawson, e-mail, 15.07.2021 10:34
Hallo Sandra As a follow up to my earlier Wings Over Dorset, Fabulous Flying Boats (Pen and Sword) details what it was like to pilot or be flown by these superb aircraft. The services mentioned include the Vaal-Dam route. My 20th Century Passenger Flying Boats is now available as a pictorial follow up, with over 100 large photographs. Both titles include an Index listing every single flying boat that was operated commercially. A lot of research with enjoyable interviews with the pilots that flew them that had retired- fortunately for me- to the very attractive Poole harbour area . Regards Leslie Dawson Bournemouth, Dorset
Leslie dawson, e-mail, 15.07.2021 10:23
Hi Geoff Following on from my earlier Wings Over Dorset, my Fabulous Flying Boats (Pen and Sword) details the history of the Empire or C-class flying boats and what it was like to pilot or be flown by these superb aircraft. It also has a comprehensive Appendix which lists every single flying boat operated throught the world. My 20th Century Passenger Flying Boats is now available (Pen and Sword) as a pictorial follow up, and features over 100 large photographs while including the same detailed list of every commerical flying boat. Regards Leslie Dawson Bournemouth, Dorset
Leslie dawson, e-mail, 15.07.2021 10:14
Hallo Beverley Canopus was the flagship for the famous empire or C-class flyingboats operated from Southampton (Imperial Airways) and then Poole Harbour (BOAC) during the war. My Wings Over Dorset- and more recently Fabulous Flying Boats (Pen and Sword) details their history and what they were like to pilot and to be flown by as a passenger. The Solent Sky museum in Southampton is crammed full of historic aircraft and features- and was built for- the flyingboat operated by Charles Blair as Southern Cross. The Aussies subsequently requested it was exhibited as Beachcomber, its former name, before bought by Charles Blair, whose wife was the lovely Maureen O'Hara. You might also be interested in my latest book - 20th Century Passenger Flying Boats- a pictorial follow up to Fabulous Flying Boats with over 100 large photographs of their history. Regards Leslie Dawson Bournemouth, Dorset
Leslie dawson, e-mail, 15.07.2021 09:57
Hallo Ken As detailed in my book Fabulous Flying Boats ( Pen and Sword), a more recent follow up to my earlier Wings Over Dorset, RMA displayed on the side of the Imperial Airways flying boats meant it was a Royal Mail Aircraft. It was the demand for mail that financed these huge aircraft, made possible by the hugely popular Air Mail Service that required no more than the usual one and a half pence stamp to send a letter, via the usual red pillar box, to anywhere in the British Empire. Regards Leslie Dawson Bournemouth, Dorset
Yoel Sher, e-mail, 13.12.2020 10:15
Hi, I flew 80 years ago (10-15.1.1941) from Lourenço-Marques to Tiberias on Canopus and Cleopatra, but cannot remember which was first and which second. and if we changed planes in Khartoum or Cairo. We "landed" on the lake of Tiberias either near the Lido Beach in town or at Tsemach, on the southern shore of the lake. The crew was two charming gentlemen. Do you have any details? I still have my air ticket...
(Message to Paul Sheehan)
Anonymous, 28.11.2020 19:27
My father flew home from his army service in Kenya at the end of the war in a C-Class, he flew the same route as you did from Kisumu to Khartoum and thence to Cairo.
Paul Sheehan, e-mail, 29.10.2020 04:15
Hi there - I have it on very good authority that 'Aotearoa' was never used as tearooms at Mission Bay. Apparently this is another myth that has perpetuated through the years. You could inspect the interior which most of the time was in unkempt, grubby condition.
Paul Sheehan, e-mail, 29.10.2020 04:12
Hi there Geoff. If you can give me the dates of your travel, I can give you all the details. Please feel free to email me. Cheers Paul Sheehan
Lyle Beavers, e-mail, 23.06.2020 00:33
I have two certificates of contemporary travel from the Canopus dated 14/1/1939. The commander George C. Bults. Would be happy to send you a picture if you are still around and interested.
Derek Hughey, e-mail, 24.07.2017 10:01
This message is for Charles Woodhouse. A number of years ago, I acquired a large grouping of your father's career papers and his uniform insignia. I would be very interested in asking you some questions about his career. You can contact me at d.hughey@comcast.net. Thank you.
DON CARLINE, e-mail, 20.07.2017 08:19
I was Apprenticed to TASMAN EMPIRE AIRWAYS LTD (TEAL) from 1953 to 1958, working on SHORT SOLENTS S45 Mark IV. One is preserved at Auckland, NZ Museum of Technology and Transport (MOTAT). RMA stood for Royal Mail Aircraft as mails were more important than passengers in those days!
Warwick Pryce, e-mail, 20.04.2017 15:15
Answer for Trevor More -- the last S.23 to be broken up was Qantas VH-ABG "Coriolanus" at the end of 1947/beginning of 1948. The one you mention as lasting till 1954 was TEAL S.30 ZK-AMA "Aotearoa" which had ended service in mid-1947 & was used as a tearooms at Mission Bay, Auckland NZ from August 1948 till October 1950 when it was scrapped in that month in 1950. The 1954 date is a much repeated mistake, and a visit to the library copies of the NZ Herald & Auckland Star daily newspapers of Oct 1950 will confirm the facts.
Robert Egerton, e-mail, 02.12.2016 00:23
I flew from Poole to Karachi in Canopus on 16 May 1940, I know we landed at Biscarosse then Marseilles then near Rome. I remember landing at Alexandria and know we broke a float strut wire at Habbanayah.... My mother and I left the flying boat at Karachi and went on, I believe by land plane, train and dugout canoe to Pasi Ghat in Assam...
Doug Lambert, e-mail, 14.05.2015 22:34
Ken-- Presumably R.M.A. stands for Royal Mail Aircraft.
Charles Woodhouse, e-mail, 14.04.2015 16:55
My father, Hugh Oswald Woodhouse, forever known as "PG" from his Point Cook days was a Senior Captain on S23's and S30's from January 1938 to November 1946, having notched up nearly 2,000 hours on HP42's. In December 1946 just before my third birthday I and my family flew from Durban to Paris in a C Class 'boat and on to Southampton in a Sunderland conversion and I can still remember snippets of this journey, including being put out on the wing on Lake Vitoria to dry out after my brother and I vomited on Captain Parker and were subsequently hosed down! I have all my father's log books from Point Cook, 16 Squadron RAF and Imperial Airways/BOAC until he was grounded in November 1946 with suspected Glaucoma, and they make fascinating reading. I also have a few small parts from S23's which I am donating to the Imperial Airways Museum in the UK.
Ken Simmons, e-mail, 22.12.2014 05:23
I have a postal cover that was carried on the Cavalier in its first flight from Bermuda to New York (16 June 1937). Stamped on the cover is R.M.A. Cavalier. Does anyone know what the abbreviation R.M.A. stands for?
Patricia, e-mail, 25.05.2014 07:02
I flew from Australia to Singapore on 24th July, 1941 with my mother in the Empire flying-boat "Canopus" G-ADHL and have a Qantas Empire Airways certificate re having crossed the equator in it. I was not quite 2 years of age, so have no recollection of the journey. Mum told me it took 3 days to get there (don't know if that's a fact). More information can be found on:- Short Empire, C Class Flying Boat - Museum Victoria (Australia) museumvictoria.com.au/collections/.../short-empire-c-class-flying-boat The Short S.23, C Class Empire flying boat was designed for long-range ... Class flying boat G-ADHL ' Canopus' was donated to the Museum by Qantas Empire ...
Beverley Dawes, e-mail, 07.10.2013 11:48
HI, My grandfather was crew on the Canopus but thats all we know. We would really love any details, photographs etc. If anyone has anything at all we would appreciate it. His name was Joseph Hibbs and he worked for Imperial Air. Thank you. Bev Dawes, Buckinghamshire, UK.
Brian Tilley, e-mail, 27.01.2013 13:36
I was in the RAF and flew in th Canopus flying boat from Cairo in Spring 1946 to Dubai landing to refuel on the Dead Sea and on lake Habbaniyah for an overnight stop then Kuwait & Bahrain Onto Dubai. For duty at RAF Sharjah It truly was a wonderful experience for a young man of 18 . Canopus was the first C Class to be built and was dismantled in December 1946 the year in which I flew in her.
David Gurney, e-mail, 21.11.2012 22:17
My father Captain 'Mack" Gurney was a senior captain flying these aircraft from Durban to England. He also ran the Imperial Airways Flyingb Training School at Vaal Dam. Have some literature and history about thewse wonderful machines.
Tom Heald, e-mail, 26.06.2012 17:25
I also servrd my apprenticeship in Shorts 1951/56 and had many flights on the Sunderland as ballast?? We had 2015 Air Training Squadron and apprentice supervisor was Squadron Leader that's why we got the flights. Even had one landing in bomb aimers position. Quite an experience landing in Belfast Lough
John White, e-mail, 05.03.2012 11:55
I served on the last of the R.A.F. Sunderlands of 205/209 Sqdrn in the Far East from 1956 to 1959 when they were finished . They were wonderful aircraft to work on, and fly in.
Doug Rodrigues, e-mail, 06.07.2011 21:37
I don't know if Shorts made more than one type of Flying Boat, but there is a Shorts flying boat on display at the Air Museum located next to the Oakland International Airport in Oakland, California, USA. I got to walk through the plane a couple of years ago. It's still there.
Jeff Renshaw, e-mail, 27.09.2010 18:26
My father, E. W. "Ted" Renshaw, was navigator/radioman on the Canopus and other "C" class flying boats. Used to enjoy listening to him tell of flights throughout Africa and the east. I believe there is a front section, including cockpit, of a Short Brothers flying boat at the museum in Southampton, not sure which model.
Yoel Sher, e-mail, 16.03.2010 03:52
I have wonderful memories from a five day flight as a child on both the oldest boat Canopus and the newest one Cleopatra in January 1941, from Lourenco-Marques (Maputo, today) to Tiberias. Part of the trip was a fantastic safari, flying probably not higher than one thousand feet.We "landed" wherever there was some water, and stayed overnught at Mombassa, on Victoria Lake at Kisume, on the Nile at Khartoum and then in Cairo. Would it be possible to find photos and the names of the crew members operating at that time?
Martin Holmes, e-mail, 12.09.2009 22:30
What a way to travel. How I wish it were still possible! My Dad worked on these beautiful machines up and down Africa and along the Nile during the War with Imperial Air/BOAC...Cairo, Khartoum, Wadi-Halfa, Durban,and other places. At one time, both he (Stanley) and his elder brother (Dick), were "web-footers".
JACK CAIRNS, e-mail, 18.04.2009 04:42
HI - I SERVED APPRENTISHIP IN SHORT BROS + HARLAND IN BELFAST IN 52-57 - ON SUNDERLANDS ETC. THERE IS A LOT OF INFORMATION ON THE INTERNET - TRY ENTERING SHORTS FLYING BOATS - THANX J.C.
Geoff Gurr, e-mail, 30.10.2008 23:38
I flew as passenger in a C Class 'boat from Cairo to Nairobi, then later from Mombasa to Diego Suarez in Madagascar in 1944. Is there any way to trace the names of these 'boats, please?
sandra.walters, e-mail, 31.10.2007 12:30
Can you please give details of which flying boats were used on the Southampton - Vaal Dam South Africa route. Also what speed did she travel, how many passengers and the exact route (with stops) many thanks
Trevor More, e-mail, 05.08.2007 10:37
The last S23 Empire boat was broken up in 1954. So, sadly, none survive and you cannot fly in one.
John Haggman, e-mail, 25.04.2007 13:32
Where can I fly one? Can you please advise where any S.23's presently operate? Thanks, John Sydney, Australia
