 La SABENA à l'Indépendance du Congo
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If it was
necessary to prove the contribution of the SABENA brings
to the national life, the independence of Congo in 1959
provided a beautiful opportunity of it. Between the 7 and
July 27, the SABENA participated in one most impressive
air-lifts of the history of the civil aviation.
Requisitioning in some hours, all his/her/its capacity in
long mail, she/it succeeded in repatriating, in eighteen
days, 34.484 people. The five new Boeing 707 especially
became famous in this outstanding exploit, while doing a
few 1203 hours of flight during 62 movements. Well often,
the number of the passengers on board was superior to the
one of the seats, what is normally forbidden. The
absolute record was achieved July 16, by commander Jaspis
who had permitted to embark on his/her/its plane, 293
people in addition to the ten crew member. With the independence of Congo, the SABENA was brought to withdraw from the network that she had created at the heart of Africa. In July 1961, she yielded her/its prerogatives to the new company of Congolese right, Air Congo, to which she continued to lend a technical and operational assitance. The transition achieved itself in a good mind, four African administrators entering to the d board of directors the SABENA. The new company was allowed to assure some relations with Brussels with the help of a 707 of the SABENA raising his/her/its pavilion. Unfortunately, the traffic was to the decrease in these following days of independence, and the company mother who assured makes the services of it was not always certain to discern his/her/its share. His/her/its loads becoming heavy, his/her/its financial results had never been as bad with yearly losses, in 1961 and 1962, near of the half billion that the state covered without frowning with few of hope to recover something one day... History often occurred again; in February 1993, many Belgians were repatriated with a Jumbo following the movements of insecurity that had marked Kinshasa. Excerpt of the magazine "SABENA Pioneers of the aviation since 70 years" Edition Lannoo 1993 |
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 Inauguration du théâtre de la ville |
Saturday August 4, 1956 took place the
inauguration of the theater of the city, due to the
talent of architect Claude Strebelle. Click on the affaiche to enlarge it => |
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The
jubilee societies offered the Notre-Dame Basilica of the
Assumption, in construction to the Kenya district, a big
bell dedicated to the memory of Léopold II. The Governor of the General Society of Belgium and Mrs. Gillet are the sponsor and godmother of it. Sunday August 5, 1956, at 9.30 o'clock, took place the blessing of this bell. S. Exc. Mgr of Hemptinne first pronounced a brief speech, conducted the ceremony of blessing then. The godfather and the godmother hit the airin then; the bell was put then in movement and during long minutes sounded with full force. Excerpt of the "Loud-Katanga" magazine N° 39 - August 1957 |
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