Botswana National Airways: The Journey to Botswana's First National Airline

Botswana celebrated one hundred years of powered flight in 2020. Laverick and Morgan cover in detail at the first 50 of these. From the first flight to Palapye Road in 1920 to the collapse of the first national airline in 1969, regional politics were never far away. Whether it was traversing inhospitable terrain in fragile biplanes, avoiding inter-war German influence, spiriting Liberation Movement leaders out of the country, or the mysterious circumstances around the demise of Botswana National Airways, aviation in Southern Africa was never dull. The book looks at the first flight from London to Cape Town, Inter-War Aviation, the impact of the Second World War, Wenela - Africa's largest airline, Bechuanaland Safaris - a British Intelligence operation, the formation and collapse of Botswana National Airways itself, and the men and women behind the stories. This account includes interviews from aircrew and many previously unpublished photos from a vintage era of flying. It also looks at the development of the Bechuanaland Protectorate into Botswana, one of Africa's biggest and most successful safari destinations - something that would not have happened without the dawn of aviation. '...an impressive, extremely well-researched work documenting some very interesting history, whether socially or aeronautically.' Aeroplane Magazine

Botswana celebrated one hundred years of powered flight in 2020. Laverick and Morgan cover in detail at the first 50 of these. From the first flight to Palapye Road in 1920 to the collapse of the first national airline in 1969, regional politics were never far away. Whether it was traversing inhospitable terrain in fragile biplanes, avoiding inter-war German influence, spiriting Liberation Movement leaders out of the country, or the mysterious circumstances around the demise of Botswana National Airways, aviation in Southern Africa was never dull. The book looks at the first flight from London to Cape Town, Inter-War Aviation, the impact of the Second World War, Wenela - Africa's largest airline, Bechuanaland Safaris - a British Intelligence operation, the formation and collapse of Botswana National Airways itself, and the men and women behind the stories. This account includes interviews from aircrew and many previously unpublished photos from a vintage era of flying. It also looks at the development of the Bechuanaland Protectorate into Botswana, one of Africa's biggest and most successful safari destinations - something that would not have happened without the dawn of aviation. '...an impressive, extremely well-researched work documenting some very interesting history, whether socially or aeronautically.' Aeroplane Magazine