Contact
How to shop
Delivery
Shopping guide
Double Sunrise
English
57 b
Top
Up to 30 days for returns
Customers also purchased
The Japanese conquest of Southeast Asia in the early months of 1942 severed Australia's air route to Britain. In its darkest hour and with its own territory under attack, Australia was isolated.
However, from June 1943 the route was reopened when Qantas Catalinas began flying Perth-Ceylon, a distance of 3,500 miles and at the time the longest air route in the world. With an average flight time of 27 hours, the route was flown in radio silence as it crossed Japanese patrolled territory. The length of the flights meant that those aboard witnessed two sunrises, hence the term "Double Sunrise" service was born.
Five months after it commenced the route was extended a further 1,490 miles to Karachi. In mid-1944 Qantas Liberators began operating the service, which were much faster and enabled a shorter Ceylon-Exmouth Gulf route to be flown. Finally, in 1945 Qantas Lancastrians were introduced.
Despite the length and isolation of the route, it operated accident-free during the wartime period. Unfortunately, this record was blemished when a Lancastrian vanished during one of the final Indian Ocean flights in March 1946. Shortly afterwards services reverted to the traditional route via Singapore.
The Qantas wartime Indian Ocean service is a story of remarkable airmanship and professionalism. Commenting on it decades later, the Qantas founder Sir Hudson Fysh said:
I have always felt that this was the most fascinating and romantic undertaking ever performed by Qantas.
About the book
English
Give this book today
It's easy
1 Add to cart and choose Deliver as present at the checkout 2 We'll send you a voucher 3 The book will arrive at the recipient's addressYou might also be interested in
/
Hardback
6 380
Ft
/
Paperback
12 926
Ft
/
Hardback
7 799
Ft
/
Hardback
8 789
Ft
/
Paperback
10 179
Ft
/
Paperback
12 926
Ft
Hi! I'm Libroamiko, your book advisor.
How can I help you?