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The History of....
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Eagle
Airways Ltd
1953-1960
It is not planned to give a full or in-depth history of the airline but just to give some interesting points about the airline that will perhaps encourage the reader to purchase David Hedges' book "The Eagle Years" which gives an in-depth history. Information about this book can be found in the Publications Pages of this site. It is planned to give a brief history of each aircraft in the section titled "Aircraft flown by Eagle". ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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. 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). Sad times were
ahead for in 1960 came the takeover of Eagle by Cunard the shipping
company.
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