International Operations
A year later the airline would start its first overseas service when
it took over the Darwin to Singapore leg of the joint operation
from Imperial Airways.
The aircraft chosen for the route was the four-engined de
Havilland DH.86 Express and the machines wore the initials
RMA (which stood for Royal Mail Aircraft) on the nose. The
journey to Singapore could take up to four days.
Due to growing demand for the service, larger aircraft were
needed by 1938 and Qantas ordered C Class Empire flying boats
from Short Brothers. These were a far cry from anything the
airline had previously operated and a new base had to be opened
at Rose Bay on Sydney Harbour to accommodate them. In turn
this led to another change of headquarters; this time moving
from Brisbane to Sydney in New South Wales.
With seaplane operations up and running Qantas could now
begin operations all the way through to Southampton in the
UK, carrying passengers, cargo and mail. The service operated
thrice weekly and took nine days with passengers staying in
hotels overnight at each stop-off.World War Two
With the outbreak of war, the airline played an important role
in the Australia’s war efforts and found itself often transporting
people and cargo in a range of difficult situations. A number ofQantas pilots were to play key roles in Royal Australian Air Force
(RAAF) operations in Papua New Guinea and further afield
while the flying boats, DH.86s and newly acquired Lockheed
Lodestars were also pressed into use by the military.
The airline’s service to Southampton became a vital link in
the war effort but this came to an end in 1942 when its first
point of call (Singapore) fell to the Japanese forces. In its place
Qantas, the British Air Ministry and BOAC devised a plan toThe f irst four seat de
Havilland DH.50A
was pressed into
service in 1924.Captain Russell
Tapp poses with actor
Charlie Chaplin and
his wife Paulette
Goddard after their
f light aboard a Qantas
DH.86 in 1936.
The first overseas
services – to
Singapore - followed
the establishment
of Qantas Empire
Airways and four-
engined de Havilland
DH.86 Express
aircraft were chosen
for the f lights.
94 AIRLINER Classics 2018