|
The
long forgotten story of two hectic years 1947-1949 when ad-hoc
charter flights carried thousands of migrants from Europe to Australia.
The era commenced with Australian pilots flying war disposals
aircraft on a shuttle from Sydney to Rome, Athens and London,
using Hudsons, Lodestars, a biplane DH.86, DC-2s, DC-3s and even
a DC-5.
The lucrative trade was soon joined by an eclectic mix of foreign
operators, cramming wretched passengers into C-46s, DC-4s, Italian
tri-motors and even Short Stirling bombers.
The Australian Department of Civil Aviation fought a frustrating
battle to regulate these international arrivals, but the national
airlines Qantas and BOAC did not have the seat capacity. The Australian
operators were stopped first and the "The Caper" ended in late
1949.
|
