THE FLYING BOATS OF IMPERIAL AIRWAYS
From the early 1930s to the outbreak of the Second World War Flying boats used the sheltered bay of Elounda between the village and Spinalonga island to stop on the flight from London to South Africa and the far East and back. Imperial Airlines used to refuel here and the stop over was for only an hour. The crew would be lifted by motor launch and taken to the imperial offices (restaurant) the passengers where allowed to transfer to the the MV Imperia, moored near the refuelling area.
THE IMPERIA RESTAURANT
SPECIAL GUESTS
The building is alleged to have been where both Churchill and Gandhi spent the night on a stop over in Crete on a journey between England and the Indian Empire.
SCIPIO CRASH
On the 22nd of August 1936 G-ABFA Scipio crashed into the bay killing the crew of 2, Parts of the flying boat are reputedly still in the bottom of the bay. Scipio was stopping over on a mail-run between India and England. The 2 crewmen are buried close by looking over the bay where they lost there lives. The cemetery Agia Triada can be reached by foot by following a path from the village of Mavrikiano.
From the early 1930s to the outbreak of the Second World War Flying boats used the sheltered bay of Elounda between the village and Spinalonga island to stop on the flight from London to South Africa and the far East and back. Imperial Airlines used to refuel here and the stop over was for only an hour. The crew would be lifted by motor launch and taken to the imperial offices (restaurant) the passengers where allowed to transfer to the the MV Imperia, moored near the refuelling area.
THE IMPERIA RESTAURANT
(offices) can be found just off the main square in Elounda at the southern end of Imperia Street just up from Quick and Fresh. As far as I know the building is listed but in very bad condition and needs some big repairs. There are stories that there are some original papers of the time of Imperial Airways in the building.
SPECIAL GUESTS
The building is alleged to have been where both Churchill and Gandhi spent the night on a stop over in Crete on a journey between England and the Indian Empire.
SCIPIO CRASH
On the 22nd of August 1936 G-ABFA Scipio crashed into the bay killing the crew of 2, Parts of the flying boat are reputedly still in the bottom of the bay. Scipio was stopping over on a mail-run between India and England. The 2 crewmen are buried close by looking over the bay where they lost there lives. The cemetery Agia Triada can be reached by foot by following a path from the village of Mavrikiano.
