History: Polar Flight – Anchorage Special

The Flight Detective
a large airplane on a runway

British Pathé have a large archive of news reels and some of them are available online. Polar Flight – Anchorage Special features the introduction of flights from London to Japan over the North Pole in 1969. The aircraft featured is a BOAC Boeing 707. This three minute full colour video contains some remarkably interesting things, one of which is the meal service. People always comment that the food on aeroplanes was better back in the 1950s and 1960s yet the Economy Class meal looks very similar to what I received in Premium Economy on Cathay Pacific a couple of months ago!

The Japanese stewardess in her Kimono and fantastic hair is just excellent! I like how a little time is spent on the Anchorage stop over as though passengers could actually get off and go on a snow mobile. I would have enjoyed writing up a trip report about this flight.

Overall Thoughts

I hope you enjoyed this little video as much as I did and if you have any comments, please leave them below. Enjoy your day!

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Bonnie Hall

I worked for Northwest Airlines in ANC at that time. We did the ground handling for “BOAC” at that time. They referred to their aircraft as Speedbird (flt number). They called their airline
B O A C but we all said Boack. Told them it stood for Bought On American Credit.

Stephen Oliver

I was a passenger on that flight. We were given a certificate and a paper fan, unfortunately neither has survived.

GrabAsia

Mr Detective, another wonderful foray into the past when people wore suit, tie & pocket squares when travelling!

Flight Detective

I am glad you enjoyed it! I certainly like watching these historical films to see how it was back then. It also makes for an easy post when you’re going on holidays haha!!

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