The saga started many years ago when I started to search pictures of the
2 Lockheed Super Electra (OO-CAG and OO-CAH) used by Sabena in Congo between
1940 and 1945. Although few pictures of the Lodestars of the Sabena are well
known, I cannot find anything until 2017 where Aviation Society of Antwerp
published pictures of OO-CAG (http://www.asa-be.com/photogallery_BCR_C.htm)
The aircraft is camouflaged as the Lodestar were. I also heard a lot of
rumours about a VHS Video which include a video where Lodestars and Super
Electra in Congo are on film. But although everybody seems to know this video,
nobody had a copy. While sorting of aviation magazines, I found a picture of
OO-CAG in Aluminium colours in Les Ailes Militaires Françaises (Nr 12). The
colours were again the same as the ones of the Lodestar.
Finally, in 2017, I found a VHS titled “Sabena in Congo during the war”
containing well a film explaining the post services between Congo and South
Africa during the 2nd World War and showing colour images of a Super
Electra in aluminium colour.
In the same time, I was looking for pictures, I was already searching
for a suitable model of the Lockheed 14. In Hoboken, I already bough in the
past scale models of Modellbaustudio Rhein-Ruhr (http://www.classic-plane-mrr.de/ ) and I had the good surprise to find amongst others gem they made a
kid for the Lockheed 10 Electra as well as a conversion kit to transform a
Lockheed Hudson in Lockheed 14 Super Electra. Talking with Detlef, he said to
me he was interested to prepare a kit for the Sabena Super Electra if I can
provide to him the needed information. I spent a lot of to prepare colour
profiles, I sent to him.
Last Saturday, I had the very good surprise to discover the kit based on
the Italeri Hudson (I had already bought myself as a base for an Hudson of John
Mahieu Aviation.
A good example of a long quest where history and scale modelling
passions meet.
It is also a good example of the role played by Sabena during World War
2, keeping open strategic links in Africa. A good occasion to remember the permanent
connections between civil and military aviation in Belgium since the origins as
it seems there are again there are attempts to rewrite history and to delete this
fact. (http://www.congoposte.be/posteaerienne.htm)
Un rapport de la SABENA ("L'
effort de guerre de la Sabena"), 30/3/1945.
Special Thank you to Detlef of Modellbaustudio Rhein Rhur as well to the wonderful peoples of the Aviation Society of Antwerp and their continous efforts since so many years to perserve the history of the aviation in Antwerp and in our country.
Special Thank you to Detlef of Modellbaustudio Rhein Rhur as well to the wonderful peoples of the Aviation Society of Antwerp and their continous efforts since so many years to perserve the history of the aviation in Antwerp and in our country.
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