Ovambos Fly To Oranjemund

[Michael Alexander]

From Pat Honeybournes Scrapbook.

Nov 1953:

Ovambos Fly To Oranjemund

Another milestone in the C.D.M's progressive policy was reached on Tuesday. In 1935 Ovambo wagon transport had to walk 135 miles from Pomona to Oranjemund taking seven days. In 1945 mechanised transport speeded up this procedure to one day.

On tuesday, a Dakaota of Africair Ltd. left Grootfontein at 7.00am and touched down at Oranjemund at 10.30 am covering 625 air-miles and carrying 30 Ovambos.

After re-fuelling, the aircraft returned with 24 repatriates saving 10 days travelling time. Two trips per week are arranged for the future.

Ovambos are good air travellers and no air sickness occurred. Each repatriate was issued with a badge to show his compatriates that he was airborne.