Seen at Palmietfontein in the then Transvaal in 1952, Yoke Peter carried out the very first commercial flight operated by a jet aircraft on 2 May 1952 flying from London Airport (today's LHR) via Rome, Beirut, Khartoum, Entebbe and Livingstone before landing at Johannesburg's Palmietfontein Airport almost 24 hours after take off.

A rather war-worn York arriving in Johannesburg. SAA leased nine Yorks as interim equipment, this one as ZS-ATP Springbok. Back in BOAC service G-AGNR crashed in Iran in July 1947. Photo from: DRISA

G-ALYU was the airframe put in a water tank for metal fatigue research following the crash of G-ALYP in January 1954. Note that KLM had their own stairs at Johannesburg's temporary airport. Photo from: Nationaal Archief (Netherlands)

The second prototype of the DH.106 Comet during its first visit to Palmietfontein in July 1951, while on proving flights. Note the large single mainwheels and the square cabin windows.

South African Airways photo. ZS-BXG to South African air force in 1971. Photo from: Civil Aviation Historical Society, Melbourne, Australia

South African Airways photo. ZS-BNL returned to the UK as G-AMGI in 1951. Photo from: Civil Aviation Historical Society, Melbourne, Australia

Sold in the US as N667 in 1955. South African Airways picture. Photo from: Civil Aviation Historical Society, Melbourne, Australia