SPECIALISSUE No.87
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SPECIAL ISSUE No.87 February, 2013 –The Official Newsletter of the Australian Society of Aviation Artists Inc. 1988-2013 our 25th Anniversary ASSA DIRECTORY: From the President . Dear Members, The ASAA is a society of people sharing an interest in aircraft, Firstly I would like to specifically the depiction of aircraft and aviation related subjects in acknowledge and sincerely any medium - drawing, painting, photography, sculpture, etc … for thank those members and non- pleasure or for profit. The ASAA has members Australia-wide and overseas, and is based in Melbourne, Victoria. members who have made a contribution to this Newsletter. Your valuable contribution is OFFICE BEARERS for 2012/2013: certainly appreciated and made my job not only so much easier, President: Brian Evans Tel: (03) 9842 6498 but also so much more Email : [email protected] enjoyable and I trust that you Secretary: Alan Swann Tel: (03) 9435 8324 will be as proud of this historic Email: [email protected] 25th Anniversary issue as am I. Treasurer & Membership Secretary: Alan Swann Tel: 03) 9435 8324 Who would have thought that our newsletter would soar to Events co-ordinator: John Leeden (Vic) Tel: (03) 9723 2152 an issue in excess of 40 pages that was full to the brim with NSW Delegate: To be appointed. Volunteer welcome. examples of member’s artwork! Email: [email protected] And it was good to see that our members are not only WEBSITE: www.avartaustralia.org.au proficient in aviation art, but also in landscape, animals and figure work, the inclusion of which in the composition, plays NEWSLETTER: a very important role in helping to create a good aviation Members of the ASAA receive a regular Newsletter. Production of painting and not just an aircraft portrait! this newsletter is a joint effort. Contributions of all kinds are required from members to keep it varied and interesting. Editorial tasks, A special thanks to Rob Knotts for his very interesting and design, layout, printing and mail-out by Brian Evans. Opinions amusing “Cartoons and caricatures” contribution, for we expressed by contributors do not necessarily reflect those of the sometimes do take aviation art a little too seriously! Society. The ASAA Newsletter articles may be reproduced by associated societies in their newsletters and publications without permission, but we do insist on acknowledgment as the source. All Once again Derek White has contributed an extremely articles, sketches, photographs, etc, that are contributed by interesting article on the “Father” of rotary engine members are published on this condition. The Society will development – Walter Owen Bentley. What courage and endeavour at all times to seek permission to reproduce material fortitude he had to press on against all odds to achieve his from other sources and / or acknowledge the source as appropriate. ambitions and visions for rotary engines. Thanks Derek. EDITORIAL AND OFFICIAL POSTAL ADDRESS: It was also good to see Greg Thom rekindle his interest in Brian Evans, President/Editor our Society and to confirm this with some fine examples of ASAA Newsletter his work. Greg was a longstanding member until airline 90 Bowen Road workload caused him to apply his efforts to his top priority – Doncaster East Victoria 3109 Australia work!. Tel: (03) 9842 6498 Email: [email protected] It looks as though we have found in Don Fogg a talented photographer for our Society as his wonderful photographs MEMBERSHIP: of the Jamestown Air show of 2012 attest. This is of course Membership is renewed annually. The Membership period is from one of the many benefits of being a member of our society – July 1 to June 30 of the following year. we have a keen group of members who attend air shows, Membership subscription is currently: $25.00 per year - NO RAAF base open days, etc., and take lots of great CONCESSIONS. The majority of the subscription revenue goes photographs and they are all willing to share these with towards the production and mailing costs of the Newsletter. other members. And remember should you ever want specifications, technical information, camouflage, etc just MEETINGS: broadcast your need by email to all members and I’m sure Melbourne meetings and workshops are normally held on alternate that you will receive help! months commencing in August and will be gazetted in the Newsletter Events Diary. Sydney meetings are arranged and As you can imagine this newsletter has made a very large coordinated by NSW Delegate (TBA). hole in my bounty of materials for future issues of our newsletters. Cover design: Wonderful If you have a contribution to make be it photographs, photographs of our very illustrations, samples and stories of your art work, news of upcoming air shows, art shows, etc., Please, PLEASE, own WWII fighter/trainer send it to me as soon as you can! courtesy of Greg Thom. Brian Evans, Editor February, 2013 - Official Newsletter of the Australian Society of Aviation Artists Inc. Page 2 1988-2013 our 25th Anniversary inches the Demon’s lower port main plane clipped the track spraying tan bark over the wing. The crowd applauded his skill and later a local newspaper Sir Richard Kingsland – ‘A Boy’s reported the pilot’s performance as a ‘grand Own Adventure’ burlesque, and one of the great successes of the afternoon’. Dickie ruefully admitted he and his ‘student’ Pilot Officer Hocking should have died that day. Ironically his reputation in Air Force circles was enhanced by the incident. A contribution from member Greg Thom: His career continued to blossom and in 1938 he ‘Dickie’ Kingsland’s Air Force career should have undertook a 12 day 10,800 km training flight around ended the day he landed his Cirrus Moth in the Australia in an Avro Anson which was later written up assembly area at a country school, invited an in the local press as the ‘most ambitious training flight attractive school teacher for a flight, and then flew undertaken’ in Australia. In March 1939 he was back to Point Cook. Except at the time he was a promoted to Flight Lieutenant and posted to instruct at trainee pilot with only 15 hours in his log book – if his Point Cook. However, his skill as a navigator was instructors had found out almost certainly he would noted and he was sent to England in a Qantas Empire have been dismissed from the Service. Flying Boat to pick up one of nine Short Sunderland Flying Boats for the newly formed 10 Squadron. For a With an unusual disdain for authority the tyro pilot 20 year old who had never been out of Australia the continued with his own ‘self- instruction’ and was 12 day trip proved an ‘exotic’ revelation. finally ‘arrested’ for low flying. Charged with ‘wilful defiance of authority’ he was confined to his room as Following familiarisation flights on vintage there were no cells at Point Cook. However, the Supermarine Southampton aircraft the pilots were Station Commander wisely recognised his potential sent to Pembroke Dock in Wales to train with RAF and instead of dismissing Dickie from the Service squadrons on the four-engined Sunderland flying fined him five pounds. Remarkably the young Pilot boats. World War 11 broke out before the ferry flights Officer graduated with his wings in July 1936 with the and squadron members were informed, much to their lowest marks ever recorded for ‘officer qualities’. delight, that they would be the first Australians into the war. Dickie’s stock had clearly risen since graduation. Dickie, born in Moree on 19 October 1916, was among 33 young men who arrived at Point Cook in Posted to Plymouth he recalled it was a very crowded July 1935 to commence flying training. In his cadet harbour in 1940. The battle cruiser HMS 'Hood' was block was Hughie Edwards who was later awarded moored there but such was the limited space that one the Victoria Cross and became Governor of Western of our Sunderlands hit the periscope of the submarine Australia, and Collin Hannah who was later appointed 'Surcouf' much to the disgust of the volatile French – Chief of the Air Staff and Governor of Queensland. apparently, at the time, it was the largest submarine Instructors were regarded as a bigoted lot who liked built!” students to drink excessively and indulge in boisterous behaviour, including midnight motorcycle 10 Squadron’s primary task was convoy protection. races around the oval without helmets or protective The patrols lasted up to 18 hours and the long periods clothing. But it was a difficult period in his life because of boredom were punctuated by moments of his 47 year old father died not long after the excitement if the crew spotted a German submarine or commencement of his course. one of the long range Dorniers on a weather patrol. On one sortie, from sheer boredom, Kingsland However, life improved after graduation with a posting decided to make an unauthorised diversion to Brest to Laverton to fly the Bristol Bulldog biplane. Dickie where the Germans had a submarine base - he was honed his flying skills on the obsolescent fabric met with a hostile reception. But there were often covered fighter to the stage where he was selected to moments of heartache when bodies or survivors were join a three man aerobatic team. In 1938, in front of an spotted amongst the wreckage of sunken ships. estimated crowd of 170,000 at Flemington Race Although Coastal Command did not suffer the losses Course, Dickie, not only performed with the aerobatic of Bomber or Fighter Command it still had its dangers. team he also flew a Hawker Demon on an On return from one long sortie, Kingsland hit an island ‘instructional flight’ with ‘Cadet Simple’.