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THE HISTORY OF THE AIRLINE FROM ITS FORMATION IN 1948 UNTIL IT CEASED OPERATIONS IN 1968.

The immediate post war period saw the birth of a number of independent airlines. The reason was the need for support for the re-settlement of those who were known as displaced persons well as supplementary assistance for the military, who overnight found themselves all over Europe, the Middle and Far East with conflict now ceased. The spectre of possible Russian domination of Eastern Europe also brought the potential for new conflict which soon became known as the cold war. In April 1948 Mr Harold Bamberg  brought into being Eagle Aviation by registering it as an Air Charter company.

In the summer of 1948 the Russians blockaded the City of Berlin's surface connections with the rest of West Germany. Some 4 months later following the purchase of, initially, 3 Handley Page Halifax 61 freight aircraft, one of these types entered service in what became known as The Berlin Airlift -- the airborne life line for the beleagured city that was to last for just over 1 year.

The name Eagle had arrived at the beginning of a 20 year 7 month life which would be vibrant, innovative, challenging, and at the forefront of the independent sector of British civil aviation. A link to the entry, in 1948, of what became known as the finest independent British civil airline continues to this day, 58 years later, through the reunion of former employees held on a frequent basis.

Mr Bamberg and 'Eagles' arrival in the field of independent civil aviation had not allowed much time for setting up house due to the emergency that had taken place and been responded to. With the airlift finished and the fleet of Halifaxes returned to the U.K. a home was sought. Aldermaston in Berkshire became the airline's first operational base. Whilst the airlift was the main focus of activity in the new airline's first year it had acquired the fleet of Halifax freighters used by purchasing Air Freight before the airlift started, obviously a well timed event as would be subsequently proved. In 1949 aircraft formerly operated by Blue Line Airways at Tollerton were purchased by Eagle Aviation. Eagle Aviation's first 18 months had been spent carrying freight. With financial restrictions being lifted and an economy beginning to move into higher gear Eagle began to focus on carrying people. The Halifax fleet was getting a little old now and a new type was sought, this time with a dual role in mind. The type selected was; the Avro 685 York.

The York had design links with the famous Lancaster bomber from which Avro had produced a civil version called the Lancastrian. October 1949 saw the announcement  by Mr Bamberg of the purchase of three Avro York aircraft from the then B.O.A.C. The aircraft could either seat between 30 and 50 people or with the seats removed provide a useful area for the carriage of freight. The York also benefitted, with its tail wheel design, by having its loading area very close to the ground thereby making it ideal for operation in to places where specialist ground equipment was not available. The next three years until 1952 saw Eagle's Yorks operating on a world wide basis on both ad hoc passenger and freight charter flights. During this period the Halifax was withdrawn from service.

Another type which had its origins in the pre war period was the Douglas Dakota known also as the DC3, and its military variant, the C47. During the war some 11,000 of the type were built leading on directly from the DC1 and DC2 which had entered commercial service in the 1930s. With this type available in large quantity Mr Bamberg purchased the first of a number in January 1950. The type again had the same versatility as the York by being able to operate in the freight and passenger role. By purchasing the Dakota Eagle Aviation was providing the equipment to enable an entry into the short haul scheduled service sector. This part of post war civil aviation was closely guarded by the two State Corporations and the licensing authority. Newcomers were not particularly welcome. Nevertheless applications were made to operate domestic scheduled service to places like Bristol and Cardiff and Plymouth and Penzance, the licensing authority responded by granting one sector of the two applied for thus rendering the operation uneconomic from the outset andthus they were not operated. Eagle's arrival in the scheduled service sector was put on ice but by the end of the 1950s a reappearence would be made. The Dakota, accompanied shortly by others, joined the Yorks in both long and short haul ad hoc passenger and charter work.

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