An aeroplane that is always identifiable with the Point Cook Fly-Ins; CAC Mustang A68-170. For more on the Point Cook Fly-Ins see this editions feature article, “Get to the Point”. Contents: Presidents Message Get To The Point Heard at the Hangar Door From the Editorial Desk One of my pet peeves regards the lack of research, with respect to aviation, apparent Our Committee in film, television and the media. Some years ago, Prince Edward, the Duke of Dave Prossor President Wessex, produced a television series on wartime Britain. In a sequence on the Neil Follett Vice President London Blitz he showed Japanese Mitsubishi Betty bombers. Her Majesty Allan Trower Secretary would not have been amused. Just recently, a documentary on the DeHavilland Robert Van Woerkom Treasurer Comet screened on FOXTEL also talked about the Vickers Viscount, while David Knight Membership continually showing images of a Bristol Secretary Britannia. Roland Jahne Committee We‟ve all seen films where a Douglas DC 9 Member takes off and a Boeing 727 lands which is an extremely good trick, if you can do it. Mind you; when enthusiasts do complain, they often lose the plot. On the release of Jerry Bruckhiemers film, Pearl Harbour, there was a hue and cry from the Australian Aviation Historical Society Inc. cognoscenti regarding the inaccuracy of the P.O. Box 461 paint schemes on the Mitsubishi Zeroes. Lilydale, Victoria, Australia 3140 They wore late war green camouflage A.B.N. 60 092 671 773 rather than the early war pale grey. This earth shattering little revelation ignored the Website: www.ahsa.org.au fact that the film was complete and utter Email: [email protected] rubbish, but the prattling aviation “experts” Editorial email: [email protected] weren‟t concerned with the fact that the film was trash. The media is even worse. Recently a news report aired regarding the new Chinese jet bomber menacing the West. It was a Cold War era Soviet Tupolev Tu16 dating from the 1950‟s. This nonsense aired on a well The views expressed in this publication are respected news program. those of the authors and do not, necessarily, represent the views of the Aviation Historical All of this is, of course, a first world Society of Australia Inc. problem. In the greater scheme of things, these oversights and inaccuracies don‟t amount to a hill of beans: but it would be nice if people got it right occasionally. Keith Gaff Dip. Mktg; Dip. Bus. Mgt; Dip. eComm; Cert 4 TAE 40110 Dave Prossor We again held the annual December members BBQ at the Australian National Aviation Museum at Moorabbin airport. The 15 December event weather held out for us and some 25-30 members attended and enjoyed a sausage and drink in the museum‟s BBQ area. More than one member took a wander through the museum to see the new exhibits. The annual BBQ is always to great time to have a chat with fellow members without the constraints of the monthly meeting. On the subject of meetings the next members meeting will be on Wednesday 27 February. The monthly flyer will be sent around as a further reminder. On another tack we are looking for a new secretary. Our Secretary of the last eight years, Al Trower, has announced that he will retire at the elections later this year. Therefore we are looking for another Secretary. Al tells me that he will coach the new Secretary as he or she moves into the job. Alan has done great work over those eight years and I for one have enjoyed working with him. Who would like to volunteer for this important role? In early December it was announced that the Australian War Memorial (AWM) was to receive a $266m upgrade and expansion. The construction will be spaced over some 12 years and will include an extra 5000 square metres of exhibition space and a new storage facility. That can only be good for the AWM which even now is said to be busting at the seams. The AWM may be called a memorial but it is also a museum and as such can be considered the best in the country. The fact that the Government has seen fit to fund the long planned expansion can only be good for the AWM, for Canberra, and the country at large. Having said that one can only be disappointed that the Government has not seen fit to fund the construction of a National Aviation Museum. In today‟s big world aviation is a key element in both the civil and military sphere. Yet the Government cannot see fit to fund a national aviation museum. Two aircraft that come to mind that should be included are the Vickers Vimy and the Southern Cross of Kingsford Smith. Both are off the beaten track at their respective current locations and if left much longer will suffer from more than just time. Both South Australia and Queensland would resist any move of the aircraft but as both Governments are not looking to look after the aircraft something more needs to be done to preserve these national icons and revered historical aviation pieces from Australia‟s aviation history. A national aviation museum has been mooted in the past but nothing has come from any of the past expeditions towards a NAM. Perhaps now is the time to not just review an NAM but to actually fund it and plan an opening date. Aviation represents a very major portion of the welfare of this country, in piece and war, in the past, the present and will continue to do so in the future. We need to remember that by way of a National Aviation Museum and not just pay lip service to it. It is unfortunate to record the passing of long time AHSA member, Bill Baker. Bill passed away on 26 October. He had been in ill health for the past few years. Bill was the editor of the journal for some years and he also was the editor of the newsletter. A long time aero historian Bill had a particular interest in the Australian Auster breed. His work and interest in aviation history is appreciated. QANTAS HISTORY Seen in the Melbourne Herald-Sun newspaper of December 2. „Seeking relatives of Wilfred Arthur Baird, Qantas first engineer‟. Contact Colin at [email protected] QUESTION AND ANSWERS 1. Can anyone advise the current status of Joe Palmer and Hockey Treloar? One can presume that both have passed on. If this is the case can anyone detail the date, location and cause. Both Mr Treloar and Mr Palmer have featured in Australian aviation history over the years, in particular in the period of 1950-70. AVALON 2019 For most Avalon means just that, Avalon, but the formal name is the Australian International Airshow 2019. The AHSA Inc. (Victoria) plans to have a stand at the event, hopefully at the same location as Avalon.2017. The event is at Avalon airport 26 Feb – 03 March 2019. The stand is well located in amongst the organisations area. It is a great place for members to get out of the sun, meet other members and in particular interstate members and maybe even leave „stuff‟ for a short time. We can also hope to sign up a few new members at the event, after all Avalon is an enthusiast‟s focal point. AIRCRAFT DISAPPEARANCE. There have been several disappearances of light aircraft over Bass Strait over the last 40 years or so. Several Cessna 172‟s in the west side of Victoria, a Fiji, a Partenavia P68 and of course the mysterious disappearance of the Cessna 182 of Fred Valentich on October 21, 1978. Valentich took off from Moorabbin bound for King Island. He did not get there and reported on the radio that he was being followed by a mysterious unidentified aircraft. His aircraft disappeared and no wreckage was ever found. From then to now the commentators have speculated as to what did happen that fateful day. Did he get swept up by the mysterious other „aircraft‟, did he have a mechanical event in his aircraft or did he just commit suicide. We will never know. The questions as to his fate will remain unanswered just like that fate of Earhart and Kingsford-Smith and MH370. SIGN UP A NEW MEMBER As an organisation the AHSA has a slow trickle of members coming and going. Over the past year we have had a few members, unfortunately, pass on. Bill Baker is one who instantly comes to mind. Bill was a long time members of the AHSA and a founding members of the Antique Aeroplane Association of Australia. We have had a few members not renew their membership, sometimes for reasons never disclosed, perhaps again due to their passing. All this means that as an organisation we need to constantly keep thinking about signing up new members. New members who have an interest in Australian aviation history and perhaps have an interest in contributing to the recording of it, be it civil or military history. As members of the AHSA it is to our long term benefit that we sign up new members to both further our work and to expand on our recordind of Australian aviation history. You can assist here by looking to sign up a new member. Do it! NEW BOOKS New aviation books constantly appear. It is amazing how two people can run parallel doing the same thing. That applies to book writers. Hot on the tail of the Peter Fitzsimons book Charles Kingsford Smith and Those Magnificent Men comes a book entitled: King of the Air: The Turbulent Life of Charles Kingsford Smith.