July 16, 2005

Lost in the Sahara , the story of Captain Bill Lancaster. In 1933, Lancaster set out to make a record breaking solo flight from England to South Africa in a very small plane, his Avro Avian. Twenty-nine years later his journal of his last 8 days alive was found by a French army motorized desert patrol in an area of the Sahara the Bedouins call The Land of Thirst.

A pilot lost in the Sahara makes me of The Little Prince. I suspect, but have no proof, that Antoine de Saint Exupéry knew of Lancaster's disappearance in the Sahara.

posted by un- 19 years ago
  • That's the first thing I thought of too. The Little Prince is one of my favorites. "If some one loves a flower, of which just one single blossom grows in all the millions and millions of stars, it is enough to make him happy just to look at the stars. He can say to himself, 'Somewhere, my flower is there . . .'"
  • We're both new monkeys! Hurrah! Awesome story, I rather liked last-night's desert-explorer post too. The Little Prince is a favourite of my girlfriend, I've yet to read it myself but I think perhaps I ought to.
  • Welcome, mazpa! un-, thanks for another stirring tale of desert doom. Fascinating to read about, though the adventure of Lancaster's life couldn't have been easy at the end, poor fellow.
  • fascinating! thank you
  • lovely, thanks much. Bring the wrecked kites, any kind, alll times!
  • Oops, I meant to say it "makes me think of The Little Prince". I hope I wasn't too incoherent. Need to sleep more I guess. I've always loved that little book, especially the one I got inscribed by Olivia, wherever she is.
  • Speaking of "lost in the desert" does anyone out there remember a film (early 70's) involving a boy who is flying with his uncle(?) in a light plane over the desert in S Africa. The uncle has a heart attack, the plane crashes and only the boy and his little white dog survives? He has many adentures (including friendly natives - Massai I think)... Saw it when I was little - gave me nightmares for weeks but can't remember the title. Any ideas anyone??
  • Dr_Evil, could it be Dirkie: Lost in the Desert, by Jamie Uys? Also, a review.