Goodall, Geoff Double Sunrise

Qantas Empire Airways Indian Ocean Wartime Services 1943-1946

Japan's conquest of Southeast Asia in the early months of 1942 severed Australia's air link with Britain. In its darkest hour, with its own territory under attack, Australia was isolated. However, in June 1943, the route was reopened when Qantas Catalinas began flying between Perth and Ceylon, a distance of 3,500 miles and at that time the longest air route in the world. With an average flight time of 27 hours, the route was flown in radio silence as it crossed Japanese patrol territory. Due to the length of the flights, passengers on board experienced two sunrises, which gave rise to the term double sunrise service. Five months after its opening, the route was extended by another 1,490 miles to Karachi. In mid-1944, Qantas Liberators began flying the route, which were much faster and allowed for a shorter distance between Ceylon and Exmouth Gulf. Finally, in 1945, Qantas Lancastrians were introduced. Despite the length and remoteness of the route, flight operations during the war were accident-free. Unfortunately, this record was marred when a Lancastrian disappeared during one of its last flights across the Indian Ocean in March 1946. Shortly afterwards, the flight service was moved back to the traditional route via Singapore. Qantas' wartime service across the Indian Ocean is a story of remarkable flying skill and professionalism. Decades later, Qantas founder Sir Hudson Fysh commented, I have always believed that this was the most fascinating and romantic undertaking Qantas has ever undertaken.