Vol. XVI No. 3 July—August, 1975 Price $1.55 Registered for posting as a periodical Category B.

Aviation Historical Society OF TOURNAL

Founded 1959 D

The Lockheed Era

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Guinea Airways Lockheed 10A VH—UXH at Mascot Aerodrome. P.J. Ricketts H

WllMiiiilii Ansett's Lockheed 10B VH—UZP "Ansalanta" at Mascot. via. F. Walters

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Guinea Airways Lockheed 10A VH-UXI at Mascot. Reddall Collection

Guinea Airways Lockheed 10A VH-UXH at Mascot. P.J. Ricketts AVIATION HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF AUSTRALIA JOURNAL -29-

Vol. XVI No. 3 July—August 1975

Patron: Sir Donald Anderson CBE President: Dr. L.V. Turner THE LOCKHEED ERA by G. Goodall Vice President: R.J. Gibson Secretary: G.H. Stone The Civil Use of Lockheed 10-18 Series in Australia Treasurer: P.J. Ricketts Journal Distribution: C.H. O'Neill (This is the first of a series of three articles on this subject by the author. Journal Editors: P.J. Ricketts F. Walters The remaining two parts will be published in later Journals) Photo Pages - Layout J. Gallagher A sleek pale blue Lockheed 12A parked on the grass at 's Movements: E.S. Favelle Bankstown Airport, and a portly orange blue and white parked Register Editor: J.L. Bell on the apron at Tamworth Airport in northern NSW are the two remaining air­ Museum Notes: P.N. Anderson worthy examples In Australia of a line of transport aircraft that are just as signi­ Contributors: ficant to this country's aviation history as the Douglas DC-3. ¥ R. McDonald N. Apperley M. Davis A. Hope Lockheed's series of twin-finned, twin-engined transports entered Aus­ K. Kerle P. Lea tralia at the same time as the DC-2 was introduced, out-lived that type, and R. Cuskehy D.C. Eyre went on to fly the same miscellany of duties as its bigger cousin the DC—3. Pre­ G. Reid J. Vella war Australian airlines flew the Lockheed 10 Electra and the Model 14 Super Western Airletter Electra; with World War Two came the military Model 414 Hudson bomber and South Australian Air Journal the Model 18 Lodestar transport as well as the ultimate development in the Lae Aviation News Ventura bomber; and with the return of peace a new era In the use of Lockheeds News in Australia when large numbers of military Lockheeds were sold cheaply through disposals and converted for a fascinating range of short-lived airlines, long­ Contents Page distance charter operators, and aerial survey. The Lockheed Era 29 Monthly Notes - Civil 33 The story of these impressive aircraft can be effectively broken up Military 34 into three periods: — Third Level 34 THE PRE-WAR PERIOD: People 35 Museum 35 The introduction of Lockheed airliners into Australia can be attributed 36 to the disastrous early career of the de Havilland D.H.86 Express Liner which A Message from the President 36 had been ordered by the newly-formed Holyman's Airways Pty Ltd for their -Launceston service and Qantas Empire Airways for their section Australia—Singapore of the Empire Air Mail Scheme. All manuscripts for publication in the Journal should be typed (if possible) Holyman's began their new DH.86 service across Bass Strait on double spaced using one side of each October 1, 1934, and eighteen days later their flagship DH.86 VH—URN Miss sheet only. All work on this Journal Hobart fell into the sea off Wilson's Promontory, Victoria with the loss of is voluntary and no payment can be twelve lives including Victor Holyman. Less than a month later on November 15, made for published material. 1934 Qantas' second DH.86A VH-USG crashed soon after departing Longreach, Membership is for one full calendar on the last stage of its long delivery flight from England to Brisbane, year commencing March 1st. Annual killing all four on board. membership fees of $10.00 (Australian The subsequent grounding of the DH.86 type and the publicity of currency) will be due for renewal the extensive investigations into the cause of these two accidents placed both during February each year. airlines in extremely difficult situations, and caused Ivan Holyman to firmly Published by: Aviation Historical challenge the Australian Government Customs Ban on the Importation of Society of Australia Limited, American aircraft. He claimed that the American aircraft industry had far- Box C.208, Clarence Street, superior all-metal monoplane airliners to offer than the British manufacturers Sydney, NSW, 2000. with whom Australian operators had been forced to deal with solely up to date because of the embargo on American aircraft and the conditions of Government Printed by: Legal Copying Co. Pty. airmail contracts which specified the use of British aircraft only. Holyman won Limited, 44 Margaret Street, his fight with the lifting of the Customs Ban, but not before another five lives Sydney, NSW, 2000. had been lost in the DH.86 VH-URT Liona in the sea off Flinders Island on October 2, 1935 and had a narrow escape from more deaths when DH.86A VH-USW Lepena crash-landed on the small and rugged Hunter Island on © 1975 Aviation Historical December 13, 1935 after the interplane struts broke away in flight and the Society of Australia pilot believed the wings were about to collapse — incredibly none of the eight on board were seriously hurt, and the aircraft was later salvaged by boat and ISSN 0045-1185 rebuilt. Holyman ordered the DC-2 and established Australian National Airways Ltd to operate the new aircraft. In Melbourne in 1935 Brown & Dureau Ltd, a subsidiary of the firm E.L. Heymanson Pty Ltd, formed an aviation division under the former Chief Pilot of Adastra Airways in Sydney, Mr. Norman Adam. Brown & Dureau anticipated the lifting of the Government ban on American aircraft, and negotiated the Australian agency for Lockheed and Consolidated-Vultee aircraft, as well as Pratt & Whitney aero engines. Aviation Historical Society of Australia Journal - 30 - July—August 1975

The company then enthusiastically promoted the Lockheed 10 Electra to the Australian airlines — carrying ten passengers the Electra cruised at 185mph powered by two 450hp Wasp Juniors. In March 1936 their first big sale was announced when Guinea Airways Ltd's Chairman C.V.T. Wells announced in Adelaide that they had placed an order for one L.10 Electra and one L.12A, this order later being changed to two Electras. The following year Brown & Dureau accepted orders for three Electras for Ansett Airways, two for M.M.A. in Western Australia, and a VIP L.12A for the Zinc Corporation. Also in 1937 a significant success was recorded with the firm order by Guinea Airways of the new L.14 Super Electra off the drawing-board before the prototype had been flown, and this was followed by the first military contracts when the RAAF ordered an initial batch of 50 Hudson bombers and 17 Convair Catalinas. Australia's first Lockheed twin import was the L.10A Electra c/n 1060 which came off the production at Bur­ bank, California on March 3, 1936. Three months later it left San Francisco asdeck-cargo on board S.S. Hauraki for Adelaide for Guinea Airways. The new aircraft caused much interest while the ship was docked at Dunedin, NZ en route, and arrived at Port Adelaide on July 30. After assembly at Parafield aerodrome by Guinea Airways under the supervision of Mr. Vernon Dorrell, Lockheed's representative from USA, the Electra was test-flown by Dorrell on August 5. Local press reports quoted Dorrell as saying the aircraft performed well, and that Parafield was one of the best flying-fields anywhere in the world. Registered VH—UXH and named CJ. Levien after Guinea's founder, the Lockheed flew to Essendon on September 3 for a series of demonstration flights for Brown & Dureau, and then departed for New Guinea flown by Guinea's Chief Pilot Eric Chater, arriving at Wau on September 19, amidst a blaze of publicity. Guinea Airways' new Lockheed was used for internal flights in New Guinea as well as occasional charter flights down to the Australian mainland, but was found not to be economical to the company's New Guinea operations, and in February 1937 the airline surveyed a new and desolate route so far not attempted by any other company, Adelaide—Alice Springs—Darwin. The Electra was ideally suited for the long stages of this route and the service was commenced by VH-UXH. The second Electra VH-UXI arrived at Port Adelaide in late July 1937 on board S.S. Mirrabooka and after assembly at Parafield joined its sister on the Darwin route. Surplus plant and men were transferred to Adelaide from Guinea's successful New Guinea operations, and the two Electras settled down on the weekly return flight to Darwin. Two months later the third Electra VH-AAU arrived at Port Melbourne on board the S.S. Wairuna on September 29 and was assembled at Essendon by Brown & Dureau, then ferried to Adelaide. The service was then increased to twice-return weekly, over the initial route of Adelaide-Farina-Oodnadatta-Alice Springs-Tennant Creek-Daly Waters-Katherine-Darwin. In July 1938 a Government contract was negotiated to carry airmail three times per week Adelaide—Darwin to connect with the new Empire Flying Boat Service to England, and it was in anticipation of this contract that Guinea had ordered the bigger L.14 Super Electra which carried 14 passengers and cruised at 230mph. This aircraft VH—ABI arrived at Port Adelaide in early June 1938 and was assembled at Parafield under the supervision of Lockheed test-pilot Mr. Marshall Headle. On July 3 the Super Electra left Parafield on a demonstration tour to Melbourne and Sydney, flown by Guinea's Chief Pilot Captain H. Cook with Marshall Headle. They failed by 5 minutes to break the Melbourne-Sydney record, but their average speed of 235mph proved the new Lockheed to be the fastest commercial aircraft in Australia. After a goodwill visit to Canberra, the L.14 returned to Parafield and went into service on the Darwin run on July 10. For a short time the Electras were used on Guinea Airways' ambitious Adelaide-Sydney route which was originally surveyed by Electra on July 28, 1937 when VH-UXH departed Parafield at 8.37am and after stops at Mildura, Hay and Cootamundra landed at Mascot at 5.30pm Sydney time, making an average speed of 160mph. The new route was commenced using the Electras in June 1938 but suspended shortly afterwards on July 16, due to the demands of the Darwin route, and handed over to Ansett Airways. Guinea's fleet of four Lockheeds now settled down on the northern run to Darwin, the aircraft proving themselves to be excellent performers along the arduous route although there were regular problems with the motors caused by the dusty conditions on all the landing strips along the way. On April 25, 1937 at Tennant Creek a truck backed into the moving propellor of VH-UXH breaking 6" off each tip and distorting the blades - because of the lack of facilities the Captain flew on to Darwin where the Electra was grounded by the Civil Aviation Branch, and after investigation the airline was severely reprimanded. On October 1, 1938 the tailwheel was ripped out of the rear of VH-ABl when it struck a rock taxying at Oodnadatta, and the following month on November 11 the L.14 was again damaged when it groundlooped violently on landing at Tennant Creek, but again the big Lockheed was quickly repaired and returned to service. During 1939 Guinea lost two Lockheeds both in early morning accidents- on January 18 VH-ABl took off from Katherine at 7.50am and after a sluggish climb turned right and descended into the gorge of the Katherine River, then dived Into the river and broke up. Captain Jukes and his seven passengers were killed, their bodies being flown down to Adelaide on VH-UXH. On December 18 the Electra VH-UXI suffered failure of its starboard engine when twenty miles south of Darwin after a 5.30am departure for Adelaide, and unable to maintain height due to its load made a forced-landing in timbered country and was badly damaged. The ten passengers were all Army personnel and escaped injury except for one who was knocked unconscious, and shortly after he was dragged clear of the wreckage by Captain Nobby Buckley and his First Officer. The air­ craft burst into flames and was completely gutted. Guinea Airways then entered WW2 with its remaining two Electras hard-worked running mainly military men north to the Darwin area, a task that it was to carry out under Increasing demands throughout the war years. Ansett Airways Ltd commenced services on February 17, 1936 with the Fokker Universal VH-UTO on a route from Hamilton to Melbourne in Victoria. The Airspeed Envoy VH—UXM was ferried out from England to add to the fleet and the service was increased to a daily return run, but Reginald Myles Ansett wanted to expand to Inter-capital routes, and floated a public company to operate Adelaide-Melbourne-Sydney. He chose the L.10 Electra as the aircraft best suited to his pro­ posed services, but had extreme difficulty raising the necessary finance for their purchase, and when the 3 aircraft arrived at Port Melbourne in August 1937 only desperate financing allowed Ansett to take delivery. He called on the Minister for Cus­ toms to drop the £14,000 Import Duty which the Government had levied on the Lockheeds, claiming there were "comparable" British aircraft available. Ansett disputed this and eventually had the levy dropped, in a similar way to the waiving of the duty on Ansett's Boeing 727 jets in 1963 based on alleged comparability with Britain's DH. Trident. Aviation Historical Society of Australia Journal - 31 - July-August 1975

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The Lockheed L-lOllTriStar.

The most reliable big jetliner in the world.

Based on U.S. Government statis- big jet by the U. S. Federal Aviation - tics, the Lockheed L-1011 TriStar has Administration. achieved a standard of reliability never Six of the Free World's ten largest . reached by any other wide-body aircraft. airlines — based on passengers carried Its on-time departures have been — have chosen TriStar. And recently exceeding 987o. And before it reached Saudi Arabian Airlines ordered a longer that unequalled level, its dispatch range version. reliability — on-time departures was The L-1011 TriStar. It's the most over 97%. reliable way to go, the quietest way U.S. Government figures also put to go, the most comfortable way to go. TriStar ahead in another area. TriStar was certificated as the world's quietest Lockheed L-1011 TriStar

087021 Aviation Historical Society of Australia Journal - 32 - July—August 1975

The three Ansett Electras, VH- UZO, UXO & UZP were assembled at Essendon and commenced services on the new route network Melbourne —Narrandera—Sydney; Melbourne—Hamilton—Adelaide; and Melbourne—Mildura—Broken Hill. In July 1938 the Sydney—Cootamundra—Narrandera—Mildura—Adelaide sector was added to the network, and daily services were provided on most routes. The Lockheeds were a great success as Ansett concentrated on perfect schedules and good cabin service, however the network could not operate without Government subsidy and this was received from November 1938. In February the following year the young airline received a major blow with the loss of Electra VH-UZN in a hangar fire at Essendon in which three smaller company aircraft were also gutted; however Ansett was able to maintain most services with the remaining two Lockheeds and other aircraft, until the deteriorating war situation led him to cease passenger operations. MacRobertson Miller Aviation Company began their Western Australian operations on October 3, 1934 on the barren 2,252 mile route from Perth to Daly Waters, NT after winning the Government airmail contract from the well-established West Australian Airways Ltd. (See J—ASHA Vol. XH No. 3). The initial MMA fleet was three DH.84 Dragons, and these bi­ planes faithfully plodded back and fro twice-weekly along the track; but by 1937 more comfortable and speedier aircraft were needed and an order for two Electras was placed. However the introduction of the Empire Flying Boat Service from England to Australia on August 4, 1938 changed the northern terminal of MMA's route from Daly Waters to Darwin, and brought a significant increase in the volume of airmail to be carried. With their two Lockheeds still on the production line at Burbank, MMA urgently needed replacement aircraft for the aging Dragons, and negotiated the purchase of two Qantas DH.86As. VH-USC & USD in July 1938. The two Electras were shipped to Port Adelaide and erected at Parafield by Guinea Airways in December 1938. On December 17 VH-ABV was ready for its ferry flight to Perth, while VH-ABW was in the hangar having its assembly com­ pleted. MMA's fabled Captain James Woods was taxying out in ABV soon after dawn, and while running up the engines prior to takeoff for Perth, the undercarriage collapsed and the aircraft fell to the ground on its belly, damaging the props and Captain Woods' pride! However the Electra was quickly repaired and departed three days later on delivery to WA being followed soon after by ABW. The two Lockheeds were fitted out for the NorthWest run in MMA's hangars at Maylands aero­ drome, Perth and both entered service on the Darwin route in January 1939, alongside the two DH.86s. The Lockheeds took two days to cover the route, leaving Perth at 7am on Tuesdays and Thursdays and arriving at Darwin at 6pm on the following day, compared with the four full days travelling required by the Dragons with overnight stops at Carnarvon, Broome and Ord River Station. The L.12A ordered by the Zinc Corporation was used for VIP transport duties by Essington Lewis and other executives of the Broken Hill Associated Smelters Pty Ltd and operated by their private aviation division. Associated Airlines Pty Ltd_at Essendon. Just as this company's present Grumman Gulfstream 11 jets are ahead of all comparable VIP types in performance today, then the Lockheed 12A was just as spectacular in November 1937 when it entered service. BHP were so satisfied with the type that they obtained two more L.12A's after the War when much more modern equipment was available. Their first aircraft was VH—ABH which arrived on S.S. Moomba at Port Melbourne on October 11, 1937 and was taken to Essendon for assembly. The shiny silver and red Lockheed had the name Silver City proudly painted on its nose, and in late November made its first trip for the company, appropriately to Broken Hill, NSW. On December 4 it arrived at Maylands aerodrome, Perth after an effortless flight from Melbourne, and then proceeded north to inspect the company's developments at Yampi Sound near Derby, WA - the first of numerous visits this aircraft was to make to this mineral develop­ ment area. VH-ABH was based at Essendon and major servicing was done by Ansett Airways. Little remembered today are the extensive pre-war operations of KLM's East Indies subsidiary K.N.I.L.M. Koninkiljke Nederlandse Indiesch Luchtvaart Maatschappij, N.V. - which was the second overseas airline to fly into Austra­ lia after the Imperial Airways partnership with Qantas on the Enqiand-Australia Empire Airmail Scheme KNILM was formed on July 16, 1928 and was referred to as Royal Indies Airways, commencing its services on November 1 that year from Batavia (now Jakarta) initially with a fleet of various models of Fokker monoplanes and covering a network throughout the Netherlands East Indies and Timor. The parent airline KLM introduced their twice- weekly DC—2 service Amsterdam—Batavia on June 12, 1935 and naturally wished to continue on to Australia. After much opposition from within Australia, the Government finally granted KNILM rights to fly twice-weekly Batavia—Sydney to join with the KLM European service. Orders were placed by KNILM for Lockheed 14F—62 Super Electras, and during 1938 took delivery of three PK-AFM, -AFN & -AFO (C/ns 1411, 1414, 1415) and later an additional two PK-AFP & AFQ (C/ns 1442, 1443). The inaugural flight left Amsterdam on June 28, 1938 in a KLM DC—3, and at Batavia transferred to one of the brand new KNILM Lockheed 14s, which arrived at Mascot on July 5 under the command of Captain Van Messel. After a goodwill visit down to Canberra, the Lockheed returned to Batavia and the service then settled down to a regular operation, the total time from Europe to Sydney by KLM was 8 days compared with the Empire Flying Boat Service which took 9y2 days between London and Sydney. The Australian press found the Dutch service much more attractive, and KNILM regularly placed large advertisements in the Sydney papers under the banner of Intercontinental Airways, boasting Breakfast In Sydney, Dinner In Darwin, Luncheon in Bali, Arrive Batavia Before Dinner. Sir Hudson Fysh recalls instances of the shiny silver KNILM Lockheeds flying circles around the Short "C" Class flying boats as they sedately winged their way over Java, and as a touch of glamour the Lockheeds always taxied at Australian ports with the Dutch flag fluttering from the cockpit. The route flown by KNILM was Batavia-—Bali —Koepang-Darwin—Cloncurry — Longreach —Brisbane— Sydney, with the overnight stop at Darwin east-bound, and at Clonburry west-bound. One Lockheed PK-AFO was lost in a takeoff accident from Bali on January 22, 1940 killing all on board, but the remaining aircraft continued on the Sydney ser­ vice and the longer internal routes within the NEI until the Japanese invasion of Java. In the early war years occasionally DC-2s and DC-3s did the run down to Sydney as some KLM aircraft were flown out to the East Indies, and when Germany- invaded Holland the management of KLM moved to Batavia, later moving to New York with the Japanese advance through the NEI. Aviation Historical Society of Australia Journal July—August 1975

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Registration Type Constructor's No. Added Register Operator Name VH-UXH L.10A 1060 20. 8.36 Guinea C./. Levien UXI L.10A 1105 12. 8.37 Guinea Moresby Crashed Dec, 18, 1939 near Darwin, NT. AAU L.10A 1108 15.10.37 Guinea Salamaua ABI L.14H 1418 23. 5.38 Guinea Koranga Crashed Jan. 18, 1939 Katherine, NT. UZN L.10B 1106 3. 9.37 Ansett Burnt out Feb. 28,1939 Essendon, Vic. UZO L.10B 1107 26. 8.37 An sett Ansirious UZP L.10B 1109 21.10.37 Ansett Ansalanta ABV L.10A 1130 21.12.38 MMA Gascoyne ABW L.10A 1131 21.12.38 MMA Kimberley ABH L.12A 1236 15.11.37 Zinc Corp. Silver City

MONTHLY NOTES - CIVIL

Qantas has sold two further Boeing 707 aircraft. The first VH-EBX leaving on May 15 and the second VH—EBW on May 29. Both were painted in British Caledonian colours before departure. Their tenth Boeing 747B VH—EBJ City of arrived in Sydney on June 3. The aircraft is the first to be used commercially with the Pratt and Whitney JT9D-7F(W) engines of 50,000 lb. thrust. These engines will enable the aircraft to use higher pay loads on longer sectors such as Bangkok to Athens. Qantas has revealed it is considering the purchase of either DC—10 or Boeing 747SP as replacement aircraft for their Boeing 707 fleet. The airline has excluded the A300B Airbus from their considerations because of range limitations. Qantas has ceased its Norfolk Island to Auckland service, the last flight departing Auckland on June 1 with DC4 VH-EDA Pacific Trader under the control of Captain W. Tainton. The service was flown under charter to Air Aviation Historical Society of Australia Journal - 34 - July—August 1975 who now use New Zealand National Airways Friendships for the run. The departure from Auckland by the DC4 was reported as the last commercial flight by a piston engined aircraft out of New Zealand. Qantas commenced regular services to Paris on June 6 when their Boeing 747B VH-EBH under the command of Captain K. Nicholson arrived at Orly Airport. The Annual Report of the Australian National Airlines Commission, operators of TAA, for the year ending June 30, 1974 was tabled in Federal Parliament on May 13, 1975. The much delayed report disclosed a 94.9% reduced profit of $99,681, compared to the previous year's $1.9 million. The reasons for the reduced profit were given as being a loss of revenue from a pilots dispute of $1.5 million, the Professional Radio Engineers dispute at $.7 million and an abnormal increase in wages and salaries. The two Fokker F27-500 series on order for Ansett Airlines of NSW (see AHSAJ Nov/Dec 1974 P78) are due to be delivered at the end of this year. The first VH —FCA c/n 10522 will be delivered in December and the second VH —FCB c/n 10524 will arrive in January 1976. It is reported that the airline will be ordering an additional two of these aircraft. The Chairman of East-West Airlines Mr. D.M. Shand and the General Manager, Mr. J. Riley visited Norfolk Island I during April to discuss the Norfolk Island air service with local authorities. The May issue of East-West News reporting on the visit, said the airline was continuing to look at the route as a possible extension of their network. In other East-West develop­ ments, the company signed a firm contract in May for two new Fokker F27—500 series aircraft. The first, VH —EWP c/n 10534 will be delivered during June 1976 and the second, VH-EWQc/n 10539 is due to be delivered during September 1976. Since the beginning of 1975, the Northern Territory Aerial Medical Service — Darwin Base, has been operating two TAA Twin Otter aircraft. The aircraft, VH-TGF and VH-TGG, still in full TAA colours, are supplementing the Service's own Dove aircraft which, from reports, are experiencing a shortage of suitable spares. The Government has ordered three G.A.F. Nomad aircraft to replace the Doves. The Brisbane based Aerocopters Pty Ltd announced plans early in May to operate services between Brisbane city and nearby Moreton Bay Islands, particularly Stradbroke. The Brisbane City Council is providing a temporary helipad near Victoria Bridge until a permanent one is constructed in South Brisbane. An Australian Tiger Club has been formed at the Royal Newcastle Aero Club, West Maitland Aerodrome. The Club is affiliated with the English Tiger Club and will use the leaping Tiger emblem on member's aircraft.

MONTHLY NOTES - MILITARY

The Minister for Defence Mr. Barnard has announced that the RAAF is to obtain 8 Lockheed P—3C Orion air­ craft to replace the Neptunes of No. 10 Squadron. When the Orions are delivered they will operate from RAAF Edinburgh in SA where the No. 11 Squadron Orions are currently based. It is reported that the RAAF base at Townsville will be then used by and Caribou aircraft. The announcement of the Orion order was one of the last major decisions by Mr. Barnard before retiring as a Minister and member of Parliament and becoming the Australian Ambassador to Sweden. Five GD F-111C aircraft were detached to RAAF East Sale on May 26 until June 13 for bombing trials on a nearby range. An open day was held on June 1 and interesting types noted included the five F-111C A8-128, 129, 138, 147 and 148; a UH-1 Iroquois A2-391 carrying the logo Air Force in white instead of the usual Royal Australian Air Force. Other aircraft displayed were Dakota A65—86, HS748, A10—604, Winjeel A85—32, CT4A Air Trainer A19—029 and Macchi MB326H A7-032. The United States Navy aircraft carrier USS Cora! Sea, visited Freemantle Harbour during early June. Aircraft types noted on board were F-4N Phantoms, LTV A-7E Corsair IIS Grumman A-6A and KA-6D Intruders, Sikorsky SH-3D Sea Kings, Grumman E-2B Hawkeye and LTV F-8J Crusader.

MONTHLY NOTES - THIRD LEVEL

New England Airways of Armidale commenced a Armidale-Tamworth-Newcastle service on June 10 on a frequency of 4 return services weekly. The Chairman of East-West Airlines Ltd, Mr. D.M. Shand, officially opened a new administration and hangar complex at Armidale Aerodrome for New England Airways on June 15. During the ceremony, the Chairman of New England, Mr. D. Wright, said his airline was examining further routes, mainly to the north coast of NSW. Henebery Aviation of Caloundra currently operate Cessna 210 VH—PQU Pnde of Caloundra and Cessna 172M VH-WXAon their daily Caloundra to Brisbane service. The Managing Director of Air Tasmania Pty Ltd, Mr. J. Young, said in Queenstown, Tasmania on June 25 that the Australian Deputy Prime Minister, Dr. Jim Cairns, had promised in January the company would be offered at reasonable cost, the next Commonwealth owned Dakota/DC3 aircraft which was to be disposed of. Mr. Young said he knew of such an aircraft available but the company had not received any advice from Dr. Cairns. A new commuter operation based at Hay NSW commenced services on May 5. Cobden-Air operate four weekly return Hay-Griffith flights connecting with Airlines of NSW Sydney services. On two days per week there is an exten­ sion through Hay to Ivanhoe and Willcannia in far western NSW. The Company operates Piper Seneca VH-CTT, while the company's previous aircraft Cessna 310D VH —BTP has been sold in Western Australia. Advance Airlines received their full third-level licence for Sydney- services from the Austra­ lian Department of Transport, commencing June 1. (See AHSAJ May/June 1975 P.21). The company has been operating on demand charter services to the Island since Airlines of NSW ceased their Heron service. The first Swearingen Merlin 4 VH-CFO arrived in Australia on May 5, for Civil Flying Services (W.A.) Pty Ltd, to operate the company's Perth to Barrow Island air service contract for West Australian Petroleum. After obtaining its Aviation Historical Society of Australia Journal - 35 - July-August 1975

Australian CofA in Melbourne, the Merlin made its first flight to Barrow Island on May 19. Another Merlin is on order for early October delivery and will be used on CiviTs commuter services, particularly to Esperance and Albany. Amberair flew their last commuter service on February 28 on the Adelaide—Eucia route. The service was then flown by the South Australian Piper Distributor, Williams General Aviation Pty Ltd until early May on a charter basis, when their newly formed subsidiary, Williams Airlines,was licenced to operate the service. The first ''official" flight by Williams Air­ lines was on May 5. Piper Navajo Chieftans owned by the parent are used on the services, however, VH-WGF appears to operate most flights. The marks of the Unionair subsidiary, Islandair, again appeared on aircraft during May. Initially the ex TAA Twin Otter VH-TGY was noted and later in May, Islanders VH-ISE, VH-RUT and VH-AIA were painted in Islandair marks. All these aircraft are being based at Maryborough Airport to ferry personell and equipment to Fraser Island in connection with the extensive sand mining operations being commenced on the Island. Pagas Airlines ceased their once weekly connection from Oodnadatta to Finke and Alice Springs at the end of May.

MONTHLY NOTES - PEOPLE

Pioneer Australian pilot Mr. Sidney Marshall M.B.E. died in Sydney on the evening of May 7 at the age of 72. Mr. Marshall made the first flight between New Guinea and Australia in 1934 when he flew his Westland Widgeon VH-UGI between Port Moresby and Cooktown. On the day of Mr. Marshall's funeral Sydney pilot John Cameron flew a Tiger Moth under the Sydney Harbour Bridge as a tribute. When Bush Pilots Airways Senior DCS Captain, Chris Braund landed at Groote Eyiandt on March 17, he com­ pleted 24,000 hours flying time. An article in the Cairns Post for May 17 covering Captain Braund's long flying career, initially with the RAAF during W.W.11, then pilot of the Vacuum Oil Company flying company executives around Australia and nearby territories. He subsequently joined East—West Airlines to fly Avro Anson, Lockheed Hudson and DCS air­ craft for a period of 18 years before joining Bush Pilots. While with East—West, he owned Mustang VH —FCB. The article noted Captain Braund's legendary sense of humour and in particular the surprise he gave Sydney Airport Controllers when he sang his version of the popular Sydney Flour radio advertisement Sydney Tower is our Tower l/l/e use it every day!!! The article concluded that the well known author, Paul Brickhill,is gathering material for a book on Captain Braund's aviation career. The Chairman of TAA, Sir Fredrick Scherger retired on June 30 after 9 years as Chairman of the Australian National Airlines Commission. Prior to his TAA appointment. Sir Fredrick served 44 years in the RAAF. A pioneer of Australian Aviation, Captain Jimmy Woods M.B.E., died in the Albany (W.A.) hospital on May 9 aged about 82. Captain Woods long career in aviation began with the Royal Flying Corps, in Egypt in 1916, following which he became a commercial pilot in New Zealand. Later in 1924, he joined Sir Norman Brealey's Western Australian Airways Ltd and stayed with that company until its incorporation into the new Australian National Airways. Captain Woods left Perth on July 2 1933 in DH60 Moth VH-UPD for an attempt on the Australia-England Record, but failed when he made an emergency landing six days later in India. He joined the Fledgling MacRobertson Miller Aviation Co in 1936 and stayed with them through the war years for which he won much praise for his evacuation and other flights throughout the north of Western Australia. His association with MMA ended in 1948 when he founded his own airline. Woods Airways, to operate the then shortest air route in the world, between Perth and Rottnest Island, using two Avro Anson aircraft VH-WAB and VH-WAC. This was his only route and aircraft until the service ended on January 1 1962 following compulsory grounding of Anson aircraft in Australia. On October 10, 1963 Captain Woods announced the formation of Woods Helicopters Pty Ltd to operate helicopters VH-WHR, VH-WHS and VH-WHQ, this became the first helicopter company to be based in W.A. Captain Woods retired from aviation during 1971 following which his business was purchased by Autair Helicopters of the U.K. and re-named Wescopters Pty Ltd. This company ceased operations shortly afterwards. Captain Woods spent his years of retirement in the Albany district telling all enquirers that he was only aged 65!

MONTHLY NOTES - MUSEUM

The Airforce Associations (WA Division) Inc. Aviation Historical Group has received Australian Government support to cover the cost of professional planning their Air Museum complex which is situated on a 4 acre site at Jandakot Airport. The support is being given through the Regional Employment Development Committee of the Department of Labour and Immigration. Fokker F.XI D-8572 owned by Ansett Airlines of Australia was displayed publically for the first time in December 1974. The aircraft arrived in Australia in January 1974 (See Vol XIV No. 6) and restoration was undertaken at Essendon Airport, Melbourne by Adolf Brendel and Peter Mather of Ansett Airlines. It has been painted to represent VH-UTO, the Fokker Universal which made the inaugural flight for the then Ansett Airways on February 17, 1936. Plans for the air­ craft's permanent display are as yet uncertain. De Havilland DH.104 Devon NZ1817 was dismantled and moved by road from Perth to Adelaide for Coveair Pty Ltd during May. The ex RNZAF Devon was previously owned by Altair until their demise in October 1972 and had been stored for a number of years at the Perth Air Force Association's estate at Bateman. The badly damaged and incomplete of two Vultee Vengeance aircraft were recently purchased by the Lancelin Air Museum Inc from a Kalgoorlie scrap metal yard. The aircraft, two of thirty one Vengeances scrapped in Kal- goorlie during 1948, will be restored with parts obtained from various locations around Perth. In the May issue of East-West News, the management of the airline confirmed that work on the Avro Anson Aviation Historical Society of Australia Journal - 36 - July-August 1975

VH—ASM was still continuing. However, work on restoration was on a spare time basis and could take up to another two years to complete. When full restoration is completed, the company will house it in a museum at Tamworth. The Bleriot XI previously held in storage by the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences was transported to the Camden Museum of Aviation on May 7. This aircraft carried the first air mail in Australia on a flight between Melbourne and Sydney on July 16-18, 1914 and was obtained by the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences in 1934. It was refurbished in 1964 and displayed in conjunction with the 50th Anniversary celebrations of the historic air mail flight and returned to storage later that year. It will be restored at Camden to its original condition. Several components which were to be used as spare parts for Ross and Keith Smith's were recently donated to the Camden Museum of Aviation. These components, an aileron, tailplane, elevator, , oil tank, propellor guard and undercarriage struts, were purchased by the Smith brothers for an anticipated trans-Pacific flight which was however never undertaken due to Ross Smith's death in England. The parts had been stored in the roof of a Burwood private garage and donated to the Museum by Mr. J. Booker-Pain. The Sydney Morning Herald of June 10 reported that the personal collection of Sir Charles Kingsford-Smith has been donated to the Queensland Museum bv his widow and son. The collection includes log books up to 1932, letters § and other momentos. The collection's arrival in Queensland coincided with the anniversary of the Southern Cross' landing in Brisbane on June 9, 1928. The Mitsubushi Zero-Sen recovered by Messrs G. Pentland and B. Coran from the ocean floor near Cape Lam­ bert, New Britain in 1972 has been sold to the Japanese National Science Museum, Tokyo, Japan for an unspecified amount. The aircraft, badly in need of restoration, had been hangered for a number of years at Essendon Airport, Melbourne and at one stage was offered to the Australian Government.

MONTHLY NOTES - PAPUA NEW GUINEA

An Air Niugini DC3 aircraft P2—SBO has had its interior extensively re-worked to make it suitable to operate air tours throughout PNG. There are 26 forward facing seats, one rearward for the tour guide and such refinements as a public address system and cassette player have been installed. All doors and bulkheads have been painted with appropriate PNG mVjrals. The aircraft will operate regular fixed weekend tours from Port Moresby - on the first weekend of each month — the air tour will operate to the Wanigela & Trobriand Islands area; the second to Madang; the third to Lae and the fourth to Mt. Hagen and Goroka. The aircraft will also operate mid-week tours if the demand warrants them.

ERR A TA The English Electric Canberra T4 serial mentioned in the Museum notes of Volume XV No. 6 should read \/VD954 and not WD854.

A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

The continued success of the Journal is dependent on two factors. The editing, compilation and technical production and the quantity and quality of the articles which appear therein.

The editorial staff are coping well with the former, as evidenced by the continuing excellence of the finished product. However, there is an urgent need for more articles for future Journals.

It is with this in mind, that I am asking all members to give their earnest consideration to submitting articles, however short or long, for inclusion in subsequent issues.

Many people may think they lack the ability or the journalistic "know how" to write an article. May I quickly dispel this idea and entreat you to assist the Journal committee and thereby directly assist the society in its aims of recording and disseminating Australian Aviation history. I

illllillliaM K.N.I.L.M. Lockheed 14 PK—AFN seen arriving at Mascot. PJ. Ricketts

Associated Airlines Lockheed 12A at Maylands W.A. on December 4, 1937. via. G. Goodall

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The Fokker used by Ansett Airlines to represent their original Universal seen at Essendon during February 1975. P.J. Ricketts I ..©J t ■I 9

isiifc8»ip:i?sis5Hi The First Australian Swearingen Merlin 4 VH—CFO at Perth Airport. G. Goodall

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Seen at Sydney arriving from Lord Howe Island is Advance Airlines Aero Commander 690A VH—ATF. C.H. O'Neill

li - “ -

Henebery Aviations Cessna 210 VH-PQU at Caloundra, November 1974 P.J. Ricketts