The First Viceroy To Arrive In India By Air, 1943 Photo.
Rare 1943 photo of a flying boat with Lord Wavell on board, he was the first Viceroy to arrive in India by air. Shown is a BOAC (British Overseas Airways Corp) flying boat taking off near London and on the way to India with the viceroy on board. Captioned on the back of this news photo is “Gen. Wavell leaves this country to take up his appointment as Viceroy of India. O.P.S. The departure of Lord Wavell.”
Lord Wavell was the Viceroy of India from 1943 to 1947. Flying boats were more common then because of the abundant water bodies. Furthermore, airfields were not much developed during this time of early aviation. Commercial aviation was a risky proposition until the 1940s.
Because of the lack of navigational aids and instrumentation, the pilots, had to depend on sight compounded by quick thinking. Especially when they were caught in fog or other atmospheric conditions. But this changed for the better from the 1940s onwards. Prior to this, Viceroys usually arrived by steamer to Bombay (Mumbai).
From Bombay, they would then board the Viceregal train to New Delhi. The journey from England to India by ship was long, it took several weeks. By flying boat, it took a mere 7 days to reach India. The era of these water-based airliners was completely discontinued by the 1950s. Due to several problems it encountered especially operational and mechanical problems.
See post on early air travel Calcutta To London Flight By Flying Boat, 1946 Print.
To see the video of this same flight go to Lord Wavell First Viceroy To Go By Air. Read more British Airways 100th Anniversary Special.
Did you know – to a certain extent, it can be said that it was Wavell who did his best among all the Viceroys to preserve India’s unity.
From the collection – Antique Painting of Madras Fort St George., Horse Trams On Esplanade Road Bombay, 1906 PC., Cannon Accident Fort St George Madras, 1870 Print., Bombay – Antique Bellin’s Map 1764.
