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The History of....
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Eagle
Airways Ltd
1953-1960
Fortunately Harold Bamberg's passion
for aviation got the better of him and Eagle quickly settled into
a
new role as a short haul operator.
In 1952 the airline
began operating from Blackbushe Airport, including the setting
up of a maintenance base. At a
very early stage Eagle became known
for its engineering skills. In December of the same year Eagle
purchased its
first two Vickers Vikings, this was the result of
the liquidation of 'Crewsair'. The Viking was to play an important
part in the life of the airline. Eventually the Vikings were given
new class names - Mayfair for passenger
aircraft and Troopmasters
when being used on trooping contracts.
The Vickers Viking
served Eagle for almost a decade taking this legendary airline
from the role of an ad-hoc
charter operation to the position of
one of Europe's largest airlines flying scheduled, charter and
trooping services world wide. The Viking served the airline well.
As a result of Harold Bamberg and others' persistence with the
regulating authorities, independent airlines
were at last allowed
to apply for scheduled service licences as long as they did not
overlap with the corporation's.
What Harold Bamberg
desired was to bring affordable air travel to all. A 1956 Inclusive
Air Tours
pamphlet has Eagle up amongst the mighty Lufthansa,
Swisair, KLM, BEA, Sabena, an indication that
they meant business
in the Inclusive Tours market.
Various aircraft
were purchased during the early days of Eagle and a number of
subsidiary companies
were formed, one of which operated out of
Bermuda. For this operation Eagle purchased its
first Vickers
Viscount, a second was soon to follow.
The DC6 fleet began
with the arrival of G-APOM. A second DC6 G-APON was soon to follow.
A third DC6 arrived early 1959, G-APSA (this aircraft still flies
out of Coventry with Air Atlantique).
The DC6 fleet was to take
on the name Eagle Master
(See G-APSA
owners plate).
In the last days of Eagle Airways, they leased a Bristol Britannia
G-APYY from the Cuban airline"Cubana".
The aircraft returned to Filton for an overhaul and repaint in
the Eagle Airways colours.
Sad times were
ahead for in 1960 came the takeover of Eagle by Cunard the shipping
company.
A marriage that would not last long...........
Onward to Cunard
Eagle
