Imperial Airways – Hong Kong staff
On 28th August 2024 Phil Edward Kenny left the following comment attached to this article: The Imperial Airways terminal is still in London. It’s next to Victoria Station and is now used as the National Audit Office.
HF: Imperial Airways was an early British Commercial long-range airline, operating from 1924 to 1939 and principally serving the British Empire routes to South Africa, India, Australia and the Far East, including Malaya and Hong Kong. Passengers were typically businessmen or colonial administrators, and most flights carried about 20 passengers or fewer. Accidents were frequent: in the first six years, 32 people died in seven incidents. Imperial Airways never achieved the levels of technological innovation of its competitors and was merged into the British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) in 1939. BOAC in turn merged with the British European Airways (BEA) to form British Airways.(1)
Islay Jamieson has kindly sent the following information about his father, Maurice Curtis, who worked for Imperial Airways in Hong Kong. I would be delighted to hear from anyone else connected to someone who worked for IA, especially in Hong Kong.
Curtis, Maurice: From Islay: My father was often referred to as MHC.
I know he joined Imperial Airways in 1933 as a trainee at the age of 20.
Imperial Airways plane, location and date unknown
I think his wage was 350 pounds per annum and by 1939 he was earning 500 pounds.
Imperial Airways (BOAC) Cabin plan of Royal Mail Aircraft 1932
He was station manager in Hong Kong.
BOAC Mrs Curtis’s child. On board, seat location.
I have memories of all sorts of tales like being responsible for doing the weather reports and taking a small plane up to make recordings and flying over our house at the top of the Peak.
BOAC card explaining flight arrangements for flight 29FO4 17th July 1947
My father held a commercial pilots license and later went on to become the MD of HUnting Clan Air transport.
HF: I am afraid I was unable to insert the full length, undated, image of Maurice Curtis which Islay kindly sent me.
Sources:
- Wikipedia
This article was first posted on 23rd August 2024.
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The Imperial Airways terminal is still in London. It’s next to Victoria Station and is now used as the National Audit Office.