PQBH Marina Guide 2022 v10

Wartime in
Poole Harbour
Throughout the war and until 1948, BOAC had 600 staff in Poole
to support their various flight crews and the flying boat services.
Up to 24 of its passenger flying boats were based in
the Harbour.
Its Marine Department had 60 more staff operating 12 high
speed launches used to convey flight crews, passengers, mail
and freight from Poole Quay and the Marine Terminal to the
Flying Boats.
There was another fleet of 14 fast launches used for Water
Control - operated by the Ministry of Civil Aviation and
maintained by the British Power Boat Company with its Poole base
in West Quay Rd. These marked out runways and kept them
clear of all obstructions.
Sometimes small, powerful boats called pinnaces were required
to assist the Flying Boats between the runways and their
moorings.
www.poolemuseum.org.uk
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The Poole Harbour and Marina Guide 2022