Star Dust Falling - Softcover

Rayner, Jay

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0552999083 ISBN 13: 9780552999083

Publisher: Black Swan, 2003

Synopsis

In August 1947 in the highest of the High Andes, one of the earliest long haul passenger aircraft, a Lancaster called Star Dust, disappeared en route to Santiago, Chile. It left behind only questions: was it sabotage; was there a horde of gold on board; and what was the meaning of the radio operator's mysterious final message before the air waves fell silent? Only with the discovery of the wreckage by two Argentinian climbers in January 2000 could those questions finally begin to be answered. "Star Dust Falling" is the story of those on board that pioneering aircraft and of the ramshackle airline British South American Airways which sent them to their deaths. Run by an austere Australian war hero newly arrived from bomber command, BSAA's flying crew consisted entirely of ex-bomber pilots. The fleet of converted Lancaster Bombers operated on a shoestring, regularly flying without sufficient fuel or access to adequate weather forecasts. The result was that it became one of the most dangerous airlines in the western world. Yet it wasn't until a third of its planes had crashed and dozens of its passengers had died that the Government finally called a halt. In this account, Jay Rayner recreates the events surrounding the loss of Star Dust and her discovery 50 years later, piecing together the lives of the characters involved: the Chilean-Palestinian passenger with a diamond stitched into the lining of his suit; the King's Messenger with his bag full of diplomatic secrets; the crew of fearless pilots working in unbelievably strenuous conditions; the Argentinian climbers who risked their lives to find the wreck; and the Argentinian military men who declared war on each other in an attempt to claim the credit.

About this title

About the Author

Jay Rayner is an award-winning journalist and broadcaster who now writes for The Observer. He is the author of two noveis, The Marble Kiss and Day Of Atonement. He is married and lives in London with his wife and son.

From the Back Cover

In August 1947, one of the earliest long-haul passenger aircraft, a Lancastrian called Star Dust, disappeared en route to Santiago, Chile. Was it sabotage? Was there a hoard of gold on board? What did the radio operator's mysterious final message mean?

Star Dust Falling is the story of those on board that pioneering aircraft and of the ramshackle airline - British South American Airways - which sent them to their deaths. Run on a shoestring, regularly flying without sufficient fuel or access to adequate weather forecasts, BSAA became one of the most dangerous airlines in the world. In this fascinating and compelling account, Jay Rayner recreates the loss of Star Dust and her discovery fifty years later in the High Andes and vividly captures the characters involved. Combining the glmour of the early days of long-haul flight with the solving of one of aviation's greatest mysteries, Star Dust Falling is an exhilarating and moving read.

Edition details

• Publisher: Black Swan
• Publication date: 2003
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0552999083
• ISBN 13: 9780552999083
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 272