Vol. XV No. 2 May-June 1974 Price $1.10 Registered for posting as a periodical - Category B Aviation Historical Society OF Australia Founded 1 959 Captain P.G.Ti^or; Frigate Bird 1 and M III Jillill The Consolidated Catalina VH-ASA Frigate Bird H at Rose Bay NSW in 1951. Capt. P.G. (later Sir Gordon) Taylor is standing on the bow via G.J.O. Reddall Collection ilii ■II .I The crew of Frigate Bird II at Rose Bay — from left to right — J. Percival, Capt. H.V. Purvis AFC, Capt. P.G. Taylor GC, MC, A. Allison and L. L'Huillier via GJ.O. Reddall Collection II . ii nil . iHll! tlliliillBlBir lii'lilillillli ililiiliiii i iiiii ✓ ■ ^•1 j f* * -W j J.V’: ■ f » , 'i r ♦ m .M. ■ ■ i■li« ■I Consolidated Catalina VH—ASA Frigate Bird II after take-off from Rose Bay. via G.J.O. Reddall Collection iiiiii Iiiii Frigate Bird II being assembled at Camden NSW. G. Banfield AVIATION HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF AUSTRALIA JOURNAL -21- Vol. XV No. 2 May-June 1974 Patron: Sir Donald Anderson CBE President: Dr L.V. Turner EDITORIAL Secretary: G.H. Stone Journal Distribution COMMITTEE OF INQUIRY ON MUSEUMS AND Secretary: C.H. O'Neill NATIONAL COLLECTIONS Journal Editors: N.M. Parnell T.W. Boughton In April 1974 the Australian Government appointed a Committee of Assistant Editor: G. Banfield Movements/Register Inquiry to report on the future development of national collections and museums. J.L. Bell Editor: Details of the Committee's scope can be found on p.22 of this Issue. It will be noted Art Editor: D. Stephens Contributors: G. Banfield, that the Inquiry Is an ail embracing one where private individuals, organisations and T.W. Boughton, E. Favelle, groups are invited to make submissions. This Inquiry represents an opportunity to R. McDonald, D. McDonald, draw attention to the need for a National Aviation Museum which complements the N.M. Parnell, H. Quinlan, D. Thollar. existing collections that are spread throughout Australia - this could include aircraft, aircraft engines, servicing equipment, printed records of all types, clothing and Photographic Prints by Norman Nicholls insignia awards. Contents: Page The submissions will have to come to grips with a number of factors, Editorial 21 some of which oppose each other, and at the same time propose a plan of action. Museum Inquiry 22 Frigate Bird I and II 23 Existing collections are privately owned or controlled and it would be most undesirable Airshow Reports 26 for this situation to change in the future. Specific plans are required to enable the SE 5a B4895 27 present situation to continue - method of management and long term ownership, Monthly Notes - Civil 31 - Military 32 publicising the collection, methods of financial assistance for general operation and - People 33 restoration work, sources of future display material. In previous Journals the Editors - Third Level 33 have drawn attention to the need for a National Aviation Museum and posed some Papua New Guinea Notes 34 Nowra Air Display 34 questions that must be answered - see p.3 March—April 1973, p.23 May-June 1973 Supplements: and p.59 September—October 1973. Civil Aircraft Register 1 Complete Civil Aircraft Register TAA- 7 The time available to make these submissions is very short and those interested subscribers should not delay hoping for somebody else to make the first, move. All manuscripts for publication in the Your Committee is thinking about it. Journal should be typed (if possible) * * * * * double spaced using one side of each sheet only. All work on this Journal is voluntary and no payment can be made for published material. THE COMPLETE CIVIL AIRCRAFT REGISTER - TAA to TZZ Membership is for one full calendar year commencing March 1st. Annual In this issue the Editors have recommenced issuing the Complete Civil membership fees of $7.00 (Australian Aircraft Register - the long awaited T' block. It is based on records made available currency) will be due for renewal during February each year. by the Department of Transport, Air Transport Group (formerly the Department of Civil Aviation) and has been compiled by N.M. and R.N. Parnell with assistance from J. Bell, M. Davis, N. Daw and J. Hopton. The listing is correct to the date of issue Published by: Aviation Historical Society of Australia Limited, shown at the top of each page. Box C.208, Clarence Street, Sydney, N.S.W. 2000. RESIGNATION OF CO-EDITOR Printed by: Legal Copying Co. Pty. Limited, 44 Margaret Street, This will be the last Journal prepared by Trevor Boughton, as a Sydney, N.S.W. 2000. Co-Editor, due to lack of time owing to business commitments. © 1974 Aviation Historical Society of Australia Aviation Historical Society of Australia Journal -22- May-June 1974 /iL Committee of Inquiry 10 The Sydney Morning Herald, on Museums and Sydney National Collections man to The Australian Government has appointed a Committee to advise on head the future development of national collections and museums. In particular the Committee has been asked:— (i) To advise on the scope, objectives and functions of an Australia Institute to develop, co-ordinate and foster collections, research and museum displays of historical, cultural and scientific material of national signi­ ficance, giving particular attention to its relationship with Government and other institutions; inquiry (if) to recommend steps to establish such an Institute; CANBERRA, Wednes­ (iii) in relation to the Australian Government’s direct field of responsibility day. — A Sydney busi­ and interest, to recommend measures which should be taken in the nessman and conserva­ immediate future to tionist, Mr P. Pigott, will (a) Improve collection and conservation facilities for national material, head a Federal Govern­ with particular attention to research needs and training; ment committee inquiring (b) ensure effective co-ordination of the Australian Government’s into the establishment of activities in this field; an Australian institute of (c) institute new developments and institutions, with particular atten­ develop museums and tion to the establishment of a national museum of history in historical collections. Canberra; Mr Pigott is managing (!v) to recommend longer term measures in the field of museums and col­ director of several com­ lections, with particular attention to the Australian Government’s role panies, ^ including the in relation to state, local government and institutional authorities. Surgical Dynamics The Committee has also been asked specifically to cover In its report Company Pty Ltd, and a any proposals relating to marine archaeology. trustee of the National Parks and Wildlife The Committee does not see museums as simply buildings where Foundation. ancient objects are preserved and displayed. It sees museums as vital places of education, entertainment and research whore facets of the daily The Special Minister of life of past generations of Australians can be displayed and where our State, Mr Bowen, an­ heritage of old trades, crafts and skills can be studied and practised. The nounced the terms of ref­ Committee is Interested in proposals relating to a museum of natural erence for the committee history, industrial archaeology and collections of working machinery or in Parliament last week. Imaginative plans that can effectively recreate vanished ways of life. The proposed institute is intended to ‘'develop, Persons, organisations and groups who have an interest in any of the co-ordinate and foster col­ matters covered by the above terms of reference are invited to make a lections, research and dis­ written submission to the Committee. Submissions should be typed plays of historical, cultural wherever possible, and addressed to:— and scienlifc material of The Secretary, national significance.” Committee of Inquiry on Museums and National Collections, Other members of the Box E286, P.O., committee v/ill be: CANBERRA, A.C.T. 2600 Professor G. N. Blalney, Pro­ fessor of Economic History To assist the work of the Committee, submissions of private persons should University of Melbourne; Mr R. W. Boswell, chairman. Atomic be lodged if possible, with the Secretary by 31 July 1974, and submissions Energy Commission; Professor D. of organisations, institutions and societies by 31 August 1974. J. Mulvaney, Professor of Pre- History, School of 'General Stud­ At a later stage of its inquiries, the Committee may wish to have dis­ ies, Australian National Univer­ sity; Dr F. M. Talbot, Director, cussions with persons or representatives of groups and organisations who Australian Museum, Sydney; Dr D. F. Waterhouse, Chief of Divi­ have made written submissions, to seek elaboration and further information sion (Entomology) CSIRO; Mrs on views put forward in their submissions. The Committee proposes to visit Andrew Clayton, member of the executive board of the National a number of centres to inform itself about existing collections in Australia Parks and Wild Life Foundation: and invitations to meet the Committee will be arranged, wherever possible, Mr Frank Waters, former general in conjunction with these visits. A separate committee will be examining the possibility of establishing a Gallery of Aboriginal Australia. An announcement regarding the pro­ cedures to be adopted by that Committee in seeking public comments or views on mattters covered by its terms of reference will be made as soon as practicable. Aviation Historical Society of Australia Journal -23- May—June 1974 FRIGATE BIRD I AND \l by David C. Eyre P.G. (later Sir Gordon) Taylor will always be remembered for his pioneering flights. In 1934 he was Sir Charles Kingsford-Smith'sco-pilot on a flight from Australia to America, the next year he was credited with saving the Southern Cross on an abortive trans-Tasman flight and was later awarded the George Cross for this action while in 1939 he flew with a survey team, in the Catalina Guba, on a flight across the Indian Ocean to South Africa.