Vickers Vimy Memorial | Keetmanshoop

Information

Landmark: Vickers Vimy Memorial
City: Keetmanshoop
Country: Namibia
Continent: Africa

Vickers Vimy Memorial, Keetmanshoop, Namibia, Africa

The Vickers Vimy Memorial is a historical monument located in Noordoewer, Namibia, situated on a hill overlooking the B1 highway near the Orange River border post.

Visual Characteristics

The memorial is a modest stone and concrete structure featuring a plaque and a stylized representation of an aircraft. It is positioned on an elevated site that provides a panoramic view of the Orange River valley and the rugged mountain ranges of the Richtersveld. The surrounding terrain is typical desert pavement, characterized by dark, sun-baked rocks and minimal vegetation.

Historical Significance

The monument commemorates a landmark event in aviation history: the first flight from London to Cape Town in 1920.

The Pilots: Wing Commander H.A. (Pierre) van Ryneveld and Flight Lieutenant C.J. (Quintin) Brand.

The Incident: On March 6, 1920, their Vickers Vimy aircraft, named the Silver Queen II, crashed during a forced landing at this site due to a catastrophic engine failure.

The Outcome: The pilots survived the crash and eventually completed the journey to Cape Town in a third aircraft (a DH.9 named Voortrekker), becoming pioneers of the trans-African air route.

Location & Access Logistics

Access: Reached via a short, unpaved track turning off the B1 highway, approximately 2 kilometers north of the Noordoewer border control.

Status: It is a public site and does not require an entry fee or permit.

Visibility: The memorial is visible from the road but requires a brief climb or drive up the hillside for a close inspection of the plaques.

Key Highlights & Activities

Aviation History: The site is a point of pilgrimage for aviation enthusiasts, marking a critical failure that highlighted the extreme difficulty of early long-distance flight in African conditions.

Viewpoint: It serves as an excellent vantage point for photographing the Orange River bridge and the border infrastructure between Namibia and South Africa.

Geological Context: The rocks at the memorial site are part of the ancient Namaqua Metamorphic Complex, exhibiting intense weathering.

Infrastructure & Amenities

Facilities: There are no facilities (water, toilets, or shade) at the memorial itself.

Proximity: All essential services, including fuel, food, and accommodation, are available 2 kilometers south in the town of Noordoewer.

Connectivity: 4G mobile signal is strong and consistent due to the proximity of the border town.

Best Time to Visit

The site is best visited during the early morning or late afternoon to avoid the intense desert heat and to benefit from the side-lighting, which makes the inscriptions on the monument easier to read and enhances the mountain scenery.

Facts & Legends

A specific technical fact: the Silver Queen II was actually the second of three planes used in the attempt; the first Silver Queen crashed in Egypt. The successful completion of the flight after the Noordoewer crash earned both pilots knighthoods. Local lore often mentions that fragments of the original aircraft were scavenged by locals in the 1920s, though no original wreckage remains at the site today.