eaw143996 ENGLAND (1964). Fiddlers Reach, M.V. Magdeburg disaster, 1964

One of the 42 Leyland Olympic EL 44.5 buses due for Cuba. 450 of these British Leyland buses had already been sold to Cuba. The sale and export defied the United States' embargo set in 1963 to isolate Cuba economically and commercially at the height of the 'Cuban Missile Crisis'. In October 1964 this East German ship the "M.V. Magdeburg" was loaded with the Leyland buses bound for Cuba when it was involved in a collision with a Japanese vessel in the Thames, ruining the buses. Controversial conspiracy theories surrounded the accident. A total of 54 crew including three stewardesses and also two passengers all survived the collision...one man was thrown into the river, but was picked up safely, and just two other persons were injured.

3 of the Leyland Olympic EL 44.5 buses originally destined for Cuba

2 of the Leyland Olympic EL 44.5 buses due for Cuba

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