Bulawayo, Zimbabwe’s second largest city, celebrates the landing of the first plane in Zimbabwe, the Silver Queen, a 100 years ago, with a public talk to be held at the Silver Queen Memorial.
The talk, hosted by Robert Burrett, will touch on the Silver Queen II, a Vickers Vimy bomber, flown in by Lieutenant Colonel Pierre van Ryeneveld, DSO, MC, and Flight Lieutenant Quinton Brand, DSO, DFC, paying special attention to the actual crash site on the Bulawayo Golf Course.
Bulawayo was a stopover on the first direct flight from Britain to South Africa and the Silver Queen II landed in the city on the Ascot racecourse on the fifth of March, 1920, crashing on the next day while attempting to take off.
“Four stamps will be issued to commemorate the 100 years of aviation in the country,” says a representative of the National History Museum through their invite to the public, adding that the Silver Queen will be the lead denomination.
“We plan to have a special box for commemorative covers at the memorial site.”
The event is being held by the National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe, in conjunction with Mbizo Consulting and Tours.
