Aviation Historical Society of Australia

Aviation Historical Society OF Australia

Registered in Australia for transmission by post as a periodical I:'- VOLUME IX NUMBER 4 JULY-AUGUST 1968. ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION $5.00 (AUST.)

isiii IBII ■ .....■v,-J

Sllilli

ill ill

I® ■imii IIP

m . - III ii i; iiiSiilfiiiiSil AoH.SoAc Journal -75- July August 1968

EAST^ÎEST AIRLINES THE FIRST 21 YEARSc Roger McDonalde Sunday^ 23rd June 1968 was the twenty-first anniversary of East-West Airlines Ltd, This airline is tht^ only one remaining out of ten or more formed in the early post war years5 to survive and grow into a large intra-state operator« The origins of East-West go back to the latter part of 1946 when the resident instructor of the Tamworth Branch of the Newcastle Aero Club^ Squadron Leader Basil Brown^ conceived the idea of forming a local airlineo After interesting local people in the idea^^ the ^Ânson Holding Company^^ was formxed to acquire surplus ex RoAoAoF. Avro Anson aircraft for the yet un-nam.ed airlineo At this time operations from the Tamwnrth Aerodromxe were not considered as the then Butler Air Transport held an option over the Sydney-Tamworth route. The trading name^ East-West Airlines^ appeared on December 23rd^ 1946^ as it was the intention to operate over the east-?/est route of ^ Moree to GraftoUc However it was soon realised that the proposed route would not provide sufficient traffic^ so when the Butler option on Tamiworth lapsed, it was decided to base operations there and fly the Tamworth-Sydney route* The Anson Holding Compam^ purchased four Arsons from the RoA«A*F, and these were converted by Marshall Airways^ of Bankstown^ for airline usee The firsts NH-ASM^ came onto the civil register on May 7th 1947, while the second^ 'VH-AYI^ was added on Jul-y- jrirttr; After the necessary civil aviation licences were granted, THÂSM: made a trial Tanworth-Sydney flight on June 7th^ returning to Tamworth on the Bth, The remaining two Ansons^ TO-EWA and \HI-BKL_, were added to the register on December 19th 1947 and April 14th, 1948 respectively, The new air service was first advertised in the local press on June 19th the fare being $7„50 and was to commence’ on June 23rdV The servioe did start on the SSrdo^ and was scheduled three times weekly (Mon., Wedo, Fri,)«y However, after three weeks service and with the addition, on MH-AYI, the service became daily except for Tuesday. Sc^ ...... -With the disbandment of the Anson Holding Company, the company,, East-West Airlines Ltd,, was incorporated as a public company on July 11th, 1947, when it was registered in Sydney with a’^paid up capital of |534,OOOo The first and present chairman was Mr. DoHo Shand of Armidale. Other directors, including Sqn, Ldr„ Basil Brown, were residents of the Hew England area. The staff of the company numbered five. The operations of East—’flest Airlines were officially declared open by the then Director of Civil Aviation, Air Marshal Williams, at a ceremony at Tamworth Aero drome on. September 6th, 1947= During the ceremony, Mrs. Shand named the Ansons, VII-ASM "Hinlcler" and m-AYI "Smithy”, During September 1947, East-Tifest pioneered aerial agriculture in Australia, by superphosphating 600 acres of linseed by air in the 'ffalcha district using the Tiger Moth 'VE-PSS.^thiB being the first commercial aerial agriculture venture in Australia, This sideline to the com.pany was carried on until October 1949 when a separate company Irgriouiture Pty, Ltd, was formed, ■Detailri -of airg-paf-t-.-taken over by the--a:ew--8-eHipa'Hy ha-Vfr-hecn loot in the—p&ee-age of timo-. A substantial increase in East-West dparations occurred during 194&, On April iOth, a survey'of the Tamworth-Glen Iroies-Brisbane route was flown and regular services^ commenced on April 19th and by June were being flown six times per week.^ y The first twelve menths operations returned a net profit of $1,792, with 7,632 passengers being’carried. The Anson fleet had increased to six aircraft, but one was written of.f on October 12th 1949, when TO-BLO suffered an engine failure on take-off at Tamworth and came down in an adjoining paddock, without injury to the passengers but the pilot, Capt, John Rentell lost a leg in the accident. Further expansion occurred' during 1948/9„ Armidale was added to the route network late in 1948 and further'extensions were temporîly tried in 1949, The first sixteen passenger Lockheed Hudson, VH-BHJ, purchased through the Shell Oil Com.pany, was introduced into service on December 22nd, 1949. On June 17th 1950, East-West operated its first night flight when Hudson VH-BHJ AoHoSoAo Journal -76- July-August 1968

departed Tamworth for Sydney at 6o30pm| a special flare path being laid at Tamworth for the occasiono Also at the end of June, air taxi work was introduced by the company using the three-seater Klemm Eagle W-UTG which had been rebuilt at Tamworth, The Klemmj as well as the Butler Bat VH—ARG-, were both purchased from an unknown source and were unairworthy at the time of purchase in mid-1949. The Klemm was lost on July 28th 1950<, IThile dropping supplies to flood-bound homes in the Moree district., the front end of the crankshaft fractured and the propeller was shed. The pilot ditched in the flood waters, shearing off parts of both wings as he went between trees. The fate of the Butler Bat while in East-West's posse^on cannot be traced, December 1950 saw the introduction of two further Hudsons, WE-BKY and VH-JCM, both purchased from the defunct Curtiss Madsen Airlines, Also in December, a second Anson VH-BKL was written off when it made a forced landing near Stanthorpe on the 5th, after it suffered engine failure, No-one was injured. On March 29th 1951, the first "Air Tour" left Tamworth for points in Victoria, South Australia and the Northern Territory, This was the first and fore-runner of regular Air Tours to be operated by East-TsTest Airlines. The next big increase in operations occurred in 1953j the first DC-3 was acquired on July 22ndo, from QANTAS, this being VB-EAlvI which was re-registered ATH-EWA, On August 1st 1953, East-fifest acquired control of South Coast Airways Pty, Ltd,, and their main route of Sydney-Cowra-?fest Wyalong was first flown by East-West's DC-3 on August 3rd, The two Lockheed Lodestars being used by South Coast Airways were not included in the take-oTer, The financial year ending June 1953, saw the first profit of $12,748 earned for four years after accumulated losses amounted to $55,722, ...... Two further DC-3*s were acquired during 1955; VH-EWD (ex VH-AEZ of TAA) on February 17th, and VH-EWF (ex VH-AEE of TAA) on May 11th, New additions to the route network were Newcastle, Inverell, Port Macquarie and Cootamundra. The latter service was discontinued in August 1956, Persistent heavy rain and floods during the end of 1955 and the first half of 1956 in northern N„S.W, caused severe strains on East-West's operations; a large number of were cancelled and by February 1956 the Tamworth aerodrome became unserviceable ® °P®^®'^Tons to the new airfield under construction at Westdale, before any facilities, engineering or otherwise, were available. This disruption to operations resulted in a large loss of $50,066 for the financial year. During 1957, the two remaining Hudson’aircraft were transferred from passenger operations to other duties. On March 1st,, VH-EWR (ex VE-BPT, VH-EiE) commenced rain making experiments over the Snowy Mountains on behalf of the C.S.IoR.O. (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation), VH-EIS (ex VH-EWB) was shortly afterwards converted for high altitude photography for the N«SoW, Dept, of Lands, Ten years successful operations were celebrated on June 23rd 1957, During the period, 341,052 passengers were carried and the airline was flying to eleven country centres between Sydney and Brisbane, A fourth^ DC-3 was acquired on October 17th 1957 (ex RAAF A65-21), this becoming VH-EM, In a move to encourage further aviation activity at Tamworth, East-West announced on November 11th 1958, that they had purchased sole manufacturing rights to the Millicer Air Tourer, It was planned to manufacture these at Tamworth in partnership with an overseas company, A separate subsidiary. Pacific and Western Aviation Co, Ltd, was formed to handle East-West's interest in the project, However, due to problems encountered, the rights to the design were re-sold to Victa Consolidated Industries Pty, Ltd, Pacific and Western is still an East-West subsidiary and handles the non- airline activities of the parent company, March 1959 was high-lighted by the announcement of.the lease-purchase of a Fokker F-27, made available by T.A.A. under a Federal Governme^nt scheme whereby ToA.A. allotted three Fokkers to smaller intra-state operators, with generous repayment terns. The Fokker, VH-EWA "City o.f Tamworth" arrived in Tamworth on August 12th after being accepted in Holland by EoW.A, The first turbo-prop service was the 7,00am Tamworth- AoHoSoAo Jouxnal July-^August 1968

Sydney flight on August 26tho Also in March^ a Beech Do50^ 'VHÊiT^ was introduced on CoSoIoBqOo rainmaking activitieso In April I96O5 the real test of East-West^ s desire to remain an independant air=- line camOo Ansett Transport Industries Ltdo/made an offer of l5o50 cash or l6o40 in a share exchange for the whole of the $220^^000 paid capitalo This offer was rejected outright by a vote of EoW<>Ao shareholders at a meeting on May 14thc After claims by East-West that Ansett was again endeavouring to get control of the company^ the then Labout State Government announced on the 28th February 1961^ that as a matter of policy^ there ware to be two airlines serving rural districts of and it was setting up a committee headed by Mro Jo Borthwick to make recommend ations on a re-allocation of air routes within EioSoWt^ so that East West-s present 30^ of available traffic would be increased to near bOfo at the expense of Airlines of loSoWI^ an Ansett subsidiaryo On October 24th 1961 the State Government decided to accept the committee's proposals and re-allocate the Airlines of NoSoWo services to Dubbo^ Soone^ Forster^ Kempsey^ Goffs Harbour and Casino to EoWoAo In return Airlines of NoScWo were to take over services to Orange/ Cowra^ Condobolin^ Lake Cargelligo^ West Wyalong and TemorSo The re-allocation was strongly resisted by Airlines of NoSoW^ând after numerous and long court ohallenges j \Arhich Airlines of NoSoTiTo finally lost on July 14th^ 1964^ the Government decided to go ahead with the re-allocation as planned in 1961o The first route^ to Dubbo^, w'as to be handed over to EoWoAc as from October IBth^^ 1964o At this date^ EoWoAo received’the ’ state licence from Airlines of MoSFvfo but the Federal Government thwarted the re-allooation by not issuing the necessary Federal licence to East-West^ the result being that because of the stale-mate^. Dubbo was left without an air service until the Liberal Party came to power in the State elections in May 1965* The new government acknowledged East-YlTest ^ s claim for more routes and set up another corfimittee^ in conjunction’with the Federal Governmento This resulted in an announcement on’August lOth^ 1965^ the Airlines of NoSoWo routes to Parkes^ Bathurst^. Scone^ Kempsey and Forster were to be handed over to EoWÂo as from November 22nd« The two remaining Hudson aircraft/'VH-EIR and TO-EWS^ were sold during 1962.5 the first to Adastra Airways on August ISth^ and the latter to John Fairfax on September lOtho The Beech DoSO^ \/H=-EWT was withdrawn from service and sold to United Air of Sydney on June 1st/ 1964o The one millionth passenger was (carried on July Srd^ 19635 just sixteen years after the first service. During October 19635 a chartered Hew Zealand National Airways Corpo Fokker F-27 ZK-BX[i/ (re-registered ¥H-EWH) was brought into service to replace temporarily YH-ElfA which was to undergo a lO^BOO hour overhaul^ this being one of the first Fc==27^s in the world to reach this number of hours= VH-EWH was retained until February 19665 when a second F-275 YH-BWG *^City of Orange^* was placed into service on February 9tho On November Srdo 19665 the DC-3.. YH-El'IB was withdrawn from passenger service and was converted for aerial survey to cover a five year contract on behalf of the NoSoWo Government* East-West^ s third F-275 YH-Ei/TJ *^City of Parkes^/. commenced services on November 26th 19665 while an order for a fourth was placed early in 1966o It was also announ ced early in 1966 that it proposed.to have the Douglas DC-3 aircraft withdrawn from pa^ssenger service by mid-1967c This ooimenGed with the sale of YH-ETO to Brain and Brown Airfreighters during October 19660 The fourth F-275 'VH-MK ^^City of Armidale^* was placed into service on April 1st 1967o Also in April5 direct Sydney - Alice Springs ^Âir Tour’^ flights were commencedj the first service being flown on the 22ndo On June 16th 1967., the CoS«IoRo0o announced that EoWoAo had successfully tendered to provide and operate a suitable aircraft on rainmaking activities for a two year period in Tasmaniao East-West ordered a DoHoC«-6 Twin Otter 100 for this contract* The aircraft. YH-BFM. arrived at Tarnworth on November 10th where it was fitted out for rainmaking activities. A.H.S.A. Journal -78- July-August 1968

^The new East-West timetable effective from October 3rd, 1967, eliminated the re maining DC-3 services to Scone and Quirindi, which were passed over to the third level operator, Thunderbird Aviation. However, E.W.A. flew DC-3 services to these centres onc behalf of Thunderbird until October 13th, which was the last "official" DC-3 passenger service operated by the company. Charter and lorthern Territory tour flights ex Alice Springs are still being flown by the two remaining passenger equipped aircraft. The fifth and last Fokker F-27, VH-EWL "City of Albury", arrived at Tamworth on November 19th, and went into service on December 7th, carrying a new colour scheme. East-West has operated and maintained aircraft for other organisations for many years. Two Cessna 310's, 'VH-REK and YH-REL, were operated on behalf of the C.S.I.R.O. , from August 1964 until May 1967. A Douglas DG-3, VH-RRA, also belonging to the same organisation has been operated from August 1965. In January 1967, it was announced that E.W.A. would provide crews and maintain the N.S.W. Aerial Ambulance Beech Queenair, VH-AlvIB, which was placed into service at the end of February 1968. of the 21st year, East-West are actively investigating pure Jet aircraft as a^replacement, which will be a far cry from the Avro Ansons of 1947, and possibly outside the dreams of the founders when establishing the company.

AIRCRAP^T OPERATED BY EAST-WEST AIRLINES. Original Serial Source and date Registration Disposal Registration or c/n of purchase changes AYRO ANSON YH-ASM RAAF, added to register Sold Marshall A/W W2068 7,5,47 6,5.51 YH-AYI DJ322 RAAF, added to register Sold Campbell ■hi.'?, 47 iS-tv-A-B- Hicks A/W , Condo- bolin 12.3.51 YH-BDO ■¥2566 H,Wo Chapman, Dulwich Hill W/off Tamworth NSW Purchased 1.7.48 12,10,49 VH_BKL DJ172 RAAF, added to register W/off Stanthorpe 14.4.48 5,12,50 YH-BBI DG727 Westera Airways Passenger Sold to Air Express Service^, Wa:^nambool Archerfield, so

YH-EWA W2598 RAAF, added to register -mZ 21.3,51 Sold Airlines (WA) 19.12.47 6,11,51 The four Anson aircraft ex RAAF were converted for airline use by Marshall Airways.

LOCKHEED HUBS ON Mk. IV. YH-BNJ 6041 Shell Oil Co, -EWA 21.3,51 Sold Adastra in 12.49 damaged condition 1,7.53 YH-BKY 6034 Curtiss Madsen 12,50 -E’WB 21,12.50 Sold John Fairfax -a¥S 21.3.58 10.9.62 YH-JCM 6039 Curtiss Madsen -E'/ffl 15.12.50 Sold Adastra 12.50 -BPT ,12.56 13.8.62 -EWR 21,3,58 DOUGLAS DC-3 YH-EWA Peel City 9286 QANTAS YH-EAli -EtW 28,5.59 Current 22,7.53 -PIN 27,11.67 YH-EWD Lachlan City 9811 TAA YH-AEZ Sold Brain and 17.2,55 Brown 10,66 'VH-BAM AoHoSoAo Journal =•79- July"August 1968

YH^EWF Oxley City 6007 TAA 7H-AER -EWE 28o8o58 Ilo5o55 Converted for aerial survey 3ollo65 and renamed Phillip Fo Adams. YLUmB Warwick City 11869 RAAF, A65-21 -FWM 27aio67 Current 17cl0o57 BEECH D,50 ‘7H-EWT DH.53 ex GF-ACL Sold United Air 1.4.59 as -UHB 1.6.64

FOICKER F-27 FRIEHDSHIF m-EMA City of Tamworth 10127 TAA, VH-TFH (EfTU) Current 12.7.59 7H=.EWH Koropio 10190 Leased from NZIAC ZE-BXH Returned to 14.9,63 NZMC 10,2.65 VH-EWG City of Orange 10266 Purchased 18.1.65 Current 1/H-EWJ City of Parkes 10287 Purchased 18.11,65 Current m~Em City of Armidale 10319 Purchased 26.2.67 Current VH—EFiTL City of Albuiy 10344 Purchased 19,11,67 Current ‘Vli-Effil was operated in part H'ZHAC and East-West colours and still retained the New Zealand name for the period of the lease. D.H.C.-e TWIN OTTER 100 71 Delivered 10.11.67 ex N16430 (Ferry marking) Current

AIRCRAI'T CRElfED AND MINTAINED FOR OTHER ORGANISATIONS. Cessna 310, 'VH-REK and VH-REL From 21.8,64 to .S.GTjOn behalf of the C.S.IoRoO, Douglas DC-S, “VH-RRA From 21.8.65 and currentson behalf of the C.S.I.R.O. Beech Queenair, VH-Alffi From .2.67 and current, on behalf of the NSW Aerial Transport Board. East-West Airlines has provided air services to the following airports s Service commenced Service suspended Tamworth to Sydney 23.6.47 Brisbane 19.4.48 Sydney to - Glen Innes 19.4.48 Armidale 29.11.48 11.50 re-introduced 10.10.56 Boggabri •? 14.1.50 Gunnedah .11.49 Cowra 3.8.53 West Wyalong 3.8.53 Newcastle .8,55' 20.11,65 Inverell .9.55 Cootamundra .9.55 .8,56 Coolangatta .9,55 Port Macquarie 26.11.55 Temora .1,57 • 7.8.66 Quirindi 30.9.57 13.10.67 Taree .2,58 Lake Cargelligo 4.4.58 7,8,66 Gondobolin 4.4.58 Warwick 26.10.58 20.11.65 Stanthorpe 26.10.58 20.11.65 Grafton 22.11.59 Orange 18.6.61 A.HgSaAo Journal -80- July-August 1968

Albury 16,12 <,63 Parkes 22,11,65 Bathurst 22,11,65 Kemps&y 22.11.65 Scone 23.11.65 13,10,67 Forster 27.11.65 Services ex Newcastle to Scone and Tamworth were scheduled in June 1949 but were abandoned soon afterwards., The service to Cootamundra was discontinued after the aerodrorae had been seriously damaged by floods in the area.

References; Northern Daily Leaders Tamworths newspaper Skyline - periodical published by East-Tii'est Airlines, Various company reports by East-West Airlines. Brief History of East-West Airlines. E,Yf.Ao 1960

THE AUSTRALIAN CIVIL REGISTER

TO-UHK Avro' 619 Five 2o30 1.31 011 31,12.30 Maryborough^ Qld* c/n 370 Owned by the Queensland Air Navigation Ltdo^ it arrived at Maryborough ex Bundaberg at 2o 15pm on the Slstc The starboard engine had been stopped due to a broken oil pipe* It was repaired by a mechanic who had been flown up from Brisbaneo' Difficulty was exper ienced in starting the port engine and the pilots BoPc Davidson^ ran it for some twenty minutes before taking off at 5o30piiio The plane headed north-east past the boundary and was at about 140 feet when the starboard engine failed or stoppedo Attempting to regain the airfield the aircraft crashed due to being stalled while turning downwind at a low altitude and insufficient speedo The Avro dived into a street 200 yards short of the field* i''ire broke out but it was quickly extinguished by a boy who was nearbyo The pilot 'was' killed^ a passenger Mr* I«Ho Higgins died later of injuries and a mechanic^ Mr* W* Headland was seriously injured.

VH-UHH D,H, 60M 5*30 1*31 OR 7*1*31 Griffith, NS'W c/n 1419 The engine stopped while the pilots Mru Walter Lyell^ was instructing Mr. Hugh Peach* The aircraft^ vThich was at ^^a moderate height” stalled and crashed before recovery could be effected* It burst into flames as the men clinbed from the aircraft^ and was burnt out.

VH-UPT/G-ABCF Avro Avian IVA NTH CR 12*4*31 Mascot, HSW c/n 467 As the aircraft was pulled up into a loop at 2^000 feet^ the upper port wing broke away from the fuselage and folded back onto the lower wing. The engine was cut and the air craft’ went into a vertical spin^ crashing twenty feet from the edge of the Cookes River Caiial/'killing the'pilots LoJo Palmer^ and the owner^ AoE* James* The lower port wing securing pin was not in position and threw an abnormal strain; on the top pin and fitting* The ^Southern Cross Junior” was completely wrecked. This aircraft was bought in the UoK* by Air Commodore Sir Charles Kingsford-Smith^ \¥ho flew it to Australia in the record time of 10|-' days* It was sold to Mr* Guy Menzies and Mr. AoE^ JameSo The former flew this aircraft to lev/ Zealand on January Yth^ 1931^ thereby making the first solo crossing of the Tasman Sea. It was damaged on landing at Herepo^ Westland^ but was repaired before being'returned to Australia by sea* Mr* Menzies then sold his interest in the aircraft to Mr* James* VH^^UJL D*H* 60G 4o29 4o31 DBR 20*2 o 31 Walgett, NSW* c/n 985 Shortly after 4o00pm the pilot, Mr* Reg Robinson^ and Mr. OcH* Jolly landed to escape AoHoSoA. Journal -81- July-August 1968

an approaching storra. Although the aircraft vras securely tied down., strong winds tore the Moth upj carrying it some fifty feet^ overturning and pinning it against a telegraph pole. Damage was estimated at £400.

VII-UKL De Havilland DH-60M 2,30 3„31 CR 28,2,31 Western Junction, Tas. c/n 1418 At the first air pageant to be held in Tasmania, the pilot of UNL, Mr, LoM, Johnson, local manager for Matthews Aviation Co, Ltd,, attempted to stunt at too low an altitude and crashed, killing the passenger. Miss Jd, Allen,

MH-UJM De Havilland DH-60G 5,29 3,42 DEA New Guinea (?) Throughout the afternoon of February 3rd 1931, Rex Walker had been flying about Sydney Harbour, Towards evening he landed at Manly where a leak was discovered in one of the floats....After pumping the water out it was decided to return to Rose Bay, Taxying out towards Dobroyd Point in a choppy sea and a strong north-east wind it had not gained flying speed when a large wave hit the aircraft. The pilot was thrown out, landing in the water several yards ahead of the Moth, The two passengers scrambled from the wreckage. The tail was broken off, the wings badly damaged, the propeller broken and the engine had dropped out and sunk. The airmen were rescued by fishermen and the aircraft towed to Manly for inspection by the civil aviation authorities.

YH-BAB Avro Type 652A Anson Mk,! 1,47 7,51 CR 14,7,51 Swansea, NSW Owned by Butler Airways the Anson left Nabiac at 10,30am, Forty minutes later while flying at 1,000 feet, the port engine failed, and two minutes later the starboard engine also began to lose power. The pilot, Capt, J.B. McCardell, ditched in the sea between a fishing launch and the beach two miles south of Swansea, The fishermen rescued the ten passengers and the pilot. The only injuries were cuts and bruises.

YH-BFI Avro Type 652A Anson Mk,! 9,47 7,52 CR 13,1,52 Padstow, NSW Owned by Overland Air Service the Anson had been at Bahkstown for a radio check. It was returning to Mascot for the next day's service. The pilot, Capt, B«Jo Moore, radioed Bahkstown tower that he was having engine trouble. The aircraft was seen over Punchbowl at 100 feet headed in the direction of upper Herne Bay which was the nearest flat land. The port wing hit the last tree before the clearing and crashed catching fire almost immediately. The air hostess, Mrs, L, Gregory, was trapped in the aircraft. Her son, Leon,aged ten, escaped just before it caught fire. The pilot died in hospital an hour later.

>''VH-AFD • Commonwealth CA-6 Wackett Trainer 11,45 11,47 c/n 379 9.48 7,49 CR 28,12,48 Lockhart,NSW The engine cut out at 150 feet just after taking off from Lockhart, 40 miles west of Wagga. The'aircraft hit the ground heavily 1^ miles from the town, and the passenger Colin Smith, dragged the unconcious pilot, Fred Burke, from the wreckage seconds before it caught fire. The Wackett was owned by the A.N.A. Flying Club. 10 3 4-*^ ■VH-BAG Lockheed 18-50 Lodestar 11,46 3,49 CR Bilinga, Qld c/n 2194 Twenty-one people'were killed when the Lodestar crashed just after taking off from Bilinga Aerodrome, near Coolangatta. It left at 11,15pm and after gaining a little height it went sharply over on one wing and apparently stalled, crashing into three feet of water in a swamp 200 yards from the southern end of the strip. The aircraft caught fire almost immediately and the fuselage was completely gutted. The Lodestar was being operated by Queensland Airlines Pty, Ltd,, and was en route for Brisbane. AoHoSoAo Journal -82- July-August 1968

In a joint statement made in Canberra on July 19ths the Minister for CiTil \ / Aviations Mr, SwartZs and the Minister for the Interior, Mr, PoJ, Nixon, announced details of a new airline route to be flown on Alternate weeks by T,AoAo and Ansett~ANA. The route is from Mount Isa to the bauxite mining centre of Govej with intermediate calls at Gamooweal, McArthur River and Groote Eyiandt, in the Gulf of Carpentaria, In the announcements it was stated that the new route would play a large part in the speedy development of the area, and that Fokker F~27 aircraft would be used. The Minister for Civil Aviation announced on July EEnd, that both QANTAS and Canadian Pacdfio Airlines would be increasing their frequencies between Sydney and Vancouver from the present once fortnightly to a weekly service as from November 1st, After indications of an increased interest by Pan American lYorld Airways and Continental Airlines in the South Pacific Islands area, the Civil Aviation Dept,, announced on Ju],y EBth, that QANTAS Airways was increasing its interests in the area by acquiring a ^substantial" and controlling interest in New Hebrides Airways Ltd, In another move, QANTAS increased its interest in Fiji Airways Ltd,, from $123,000 to $251,0000 The other partners in Fiji Airways, also increased their interests in the same proportion. The increase in capital will help finance the recently ordered second HoS, 748, due for delivery in December, Mr, Swartz stated that the QANTAS investments would enable the two airlines to develop their operations to meet the increasing demand for air services within and between Pacific island groups. Plans for a new air traffic control tower at Bahkstown Airport, NSW, were announced late in July, The tower, to cost $250,000 will be sited on the western side of the airport adjacent to the Riverwood Golf Course, The Civil Aviation Minister announced on August 21st that QANTAS will be introducing a second weekly service on their Sydney-Port Moresby-Hong Kong route as from October 27tho' The outward service will pass through Port Moresby on Sundays, returning on the Monday. The findings of the investigation into the accident of the Helicopter Utilities Bell E04B, (see March-April notes) were tabled in the Federal Parliament on August 22nd, The report disclosed that the omission of a small nylon thrust washer in the tail rotor caused the rotor to fail as the helicopter was hovering just above the ^ landing pad of the Barracouta oil/gas rig. The nylon washer had been left out of the rotor assembly during re-’assembling after maintainanoe at the operator's Sydney airport workshop. The Department of Civil Aviation will call tenders for the construction and operation of a high class hotel on a concession basis at Mascot Airport, The Department is planning to have the hotel built as close as possible to the new international terminal and hopes that it will be in operation by the early 1970's. The north-south runway at Sydney airport is to be further extended to 13,000 feet, from the recently completed extension to 9,100 feet to enable Boeing 747 aircraft to operate fully loaded on non-stop services from Sydney to Singapore and Manila, The Victorian Government has demanded that Tullamarine airport also be extended to enable similar non-stop flights to be made from Melbourne. The first aircraft to use the extended portion of the north-south runway was an Airlines of N.ScTif, Fokker F-27, VH- which was on a service to Dubbo on August Sth, The northern part of the runway was closed for operations as it was being strengthened and resurfaced, QANTAS announced on August 5th, that Lufthansa would he carrying out wing modif ications to the fourteen Boeing 707-338C aircraft operated by QANTAS, at a cost of $1,5 million or about $110,000 per aircraft, The modifications recommended by the Boeing Company are to prevent metal fatigue in the wing surfaces, Boeing indicated that the work be done at varying aircraft hours, ranging from 20,000 hours and on, however QANTAS decided to carry' out the work earlier, Beacause of the small number of aircraft involved it was decided that the work be let out to an operator equipped to carry out AoHoSoAo Journal -83- July-August 1968 the worko It is anticipated that each aircraft will be out of service for thirty days. Ansett-ANA's third ATL-98 Garvairs VH-IUMj arrired at Essendon on J'uly 26th after delivery from Southendj England. The DC-4j YE-IMl, left Essendon on February 22nds for Southend for the conversion. An era of Australian aviation history ended when the last Douglas DC-SB, VH-INS,, o/n 45076s ' departed from Essendon on July 29thj, on delivery to Far Eastern Air Transports Formosa. The aircraft was delivered to Australian Sational Airways in August 1956. A.E.A, was then merged with Ansett Airwrays to become Ansett«AM and INS continued in service with the latter until late 1967. In what must be the closest to the first "air shuttle" or "air^bus" operation in Australia^ ilirlines of New South Yifales introduced hourly departures^ between 5.00am. and 6o00pm on Saturdays^ on the Sydney to Cooma (Snowfields) service as from the first Saturday in July (6th). It is anticipated that the hourly service will operate until mid-September. The new Spring timetable issued by East-Tfest Airlines ^ effective August Ist. provides for increased or revised services to most of the centres served by the'air line. The number of flights ex Sydney are the highest in the Company's hlstoryj and is a result of a substantial increase in passenger and freight loadings following the end of the long NSW drought conditions. TcAoAo are rapidly replacing DC-3 aircraft with DHG Twin Otter aircra.fts on the Darling Downs routes, the Gulf Country, and also on services through the far western Queensland area to Broken Hill and down to Adelaide. T.A.A. now has its full planned fleet of Twin Otter aircraft, four Series 100 and four Series 200 (with the lengthened nose). However it is planned to modify the two 100 Series which are used on the Queensland coastal services, to the Series 200 type. No plans to modify the two New Guinea Series 100*s have been announced. It was announced during July that the Latrobe Valley Aero Club, situated in Victoria's Gippsland, had finalised arrangements for the local assembly of Airtourer 115 aircraft, now being manufactured by Aero Engine Service Ltd, of New Zealand. The LoVoA.Co had been a staunch supporter of the Victa Airtourer right from the beginning of manufacture, and owns the wooden prototype VH-FIM ivhich it keeps on permanent display at the club’s base at Traralgon. The club expects the first two AoE.ScL. Airtourers in dismantled condition during early October, with a furthertwo following about a month later. The club has the sole sale rights for Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania. T.A.A.'s Series 200 Twin Otter VH-TGY c/n 124, was delivered to Brisbane Airport on July 23rd. carrying the ferry registration N7255. Following T.A.A.'s customary practice in naming aircraft operated by them. Twin Otter VH~TGV was named "Ludwig Leichhardt" on August 19th. VH-TGX had been named "Campbell Miles" on the 7th. After representations from the Australian Federation of Airline Pilots Twin Otter aircraft require two pilots for operations into Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane airport. Originally Brisbane Airport did not require this, but it was decided that since traffic density had increased to such an extent at Brisbane, the requirement for the two pilot operations would be extended to Brisbane. An attempt by three R.A.A.F. officers to fly across Australia by Balloon ended in disappointment, when a leak prevented lift off from RAAF Pearce on August 16th, The planned flight, sponsored by the Sydney Morning Herald and the Sun Newspapers, was called "Expedition West Wind" and crewed by P’/O David Robson (Commander), f/L Jack Ellis (radio operator and photographer), and F/L Jack Hayden (navigator). The balloon "Nancy" was of 58,000 cubic feet capacity and made by M.A. Brighton and Company of Blackbushe Airport, England. The basket was six feet square and three feet six inches deep and had been weaved in Sydney by the Royal Blind Society. The records which had to be broken was the distance record of 1,896 miles set in Germany in 1914, and an endurance record of 87 hours set in the same country in 1913. The flight vras planned AoHoScAo Journal July-August 1968

to end near Canberra seven days after departurep It was anticipated that the typical winter low pressure system would ensure a satisfactory wind direction^ The intended departure was delayed almost two weeks due to weather and ^^mechanioal” troubleo Forrester Stephen have announced that they expect a Handley Page Jetstream air«> craft to be available for demonstration in Australia during the first half of 1969. Air Parts (HZ) has commenced production of a passenger/freight version of the Fletcher Fu-24o The aircraft will be able to carry four passengers in the cabin or up to 1^,500 lbs of freighto It has been fitted with two oval windows each side of the fuselage following the style of the Fu~24 conversion 'VH-DCM, carried out at Bahkstown during 1967 by the Aero Smith Company, The Australian designed and built Corby Starlet^ ¥H»>CBS, is at present being fitted with a canopy and wheel spats by its owner/builder John Corby, This could not be termed a modification as the original design was planned to have them fitted^ but initial flights were made without themo Another Corby is undergoing construction by the Latrobe Valley branch of UeLoAcA, of Australia, The Haney Bird Trophy^ an annual award made for outstanding achievements to aviation by a woman pilot, has been awarded to Sue Folks in recognition for her solo record breaking flight from“Sydney to Perth in a Bonanza during 1967, As from July 1st, the American charter operator. World Airways of Oakland, Calif, has been operating the rest and recreation flights from Vietnam to Sydney on behalf of the American Covermiient, The daily flights are being operated by Boeing 707^ s« This service had been previously flown by Pan American World Airways, An unusual wedding ceremony took place over Hewcastle, NSW, on July 27th, when two flying enthusiasts, Mro John Hioolls and Miss Eleanor Simpson, were married aboard Piper Cherokee 7H-PPG, 3,000 feet above HewcastlOo The aircraft was accompanied by two other Piper aircraft provided by the Australian Piper distributors for press representatives, The last surviving brother of Sir Charles Kingsford Smith, Cmdro Eric Kingsford Smith, RAH (retdo),(aged 81) was killed with three others in a light aircraft accident at Mto Hagen, Hew Guinea, on July 29tho The aircraft, a Beech Musketeer VH~ , had Just departed from Mto Hagen bound for Angoram, East Sepik, when the accident occurred. An attempt on the unofficial world altitude record for ski»kites of 1,045 feet, was stopped by D«CoAo officials on July 7tho The attempt was to be made by Mro Bill Moyes, of Bronte HSW, taking off from the Yarra River near Sto Kilda in MelbournOo Mr, Moyes holds the present record after a flight at Toukley, HSW, in 1967, On July 3rdc Mro Bill Bennett, of Sydney, crashed his ski-kite from a height of 200 feet while on a flight to publicise the Melbourne Boat ShoWo DoCoAo have put an altitude limit of 300 feet on the ski-kites. Recently arrived in Australia is a Campbell Benson B8M Gyrocopter, G-ATTEHo It was imported by Derek Taylor of Bondi, HSW, who hopes to market the gyrocopter in Australia if certification troubles with DoC,Ao are over-come. Being prom.oted for sale( during the Christmas 1968 period)by David Jones, a Sydney department store, and John Martin Ltd of Adelaide, is a hovercraft designed for childreno The machine cruises at a height of three inches, is six feet long and three feet wide, weighing 95 IbSo and is powered by a 4 hopo petrol engine, it is designed to carry children less then seven stone. The first scheduled service of Malaysia-Singapore Airlines to be operated by their nevf Boeing 707-312B, 9V-BBA, arrived and departed Sydney on August 2nd. The testing of a prototype blimp at Sydney Showground on August 24th ended abruptly when the outer casing split and the twenty foot ammonia filled bladder drifted out to seao The blimp was being given its first test flight by Mro and Mrso Go Wilson of Beacon Hill, Sydneyo 1

July-August 1968 AoHoSoAo Journal -85-

The UoSo Navy is seeking a site in Western Australia to install an Omega navigation station^ It would be one of a chain of eight to be established world wide as a replacement for the present Loran navigation system., The 'f installations would be safer and cheaper than a similar system using satellites* With Britain ceasing to contribute finance to the Weapons Research Establishment CWRE) research and development facilities at Salisbury, SA, and meeting only half the costs of maintaining the Woomera Range (also inSoA„) IRE is to be re-organised as an Australian science centre carrying out research for Australian industryo The RAAF«s Institute of Aviation Medecine and Basic Flying Training School at Point Cook have been involved in the development and evaluation of special type of lightweight'anti-glare spectacles, designed by RAAF Reserve opthalmic specialist, Dro Jo Colhn, and two Melbourne spectacle makers, Mr, D, Frith and Mr, M„ Hogan, The spectaolesmeet a requirement for "semi-wrap around" lightweight corrective and anti-^^ glare spectacles which could be worn with, a flying helmet and retained under high "G" forces. The IISAF has received several sets for testing and some are being used by astronauts in the Apollo programme while General Dynamic test pilots on the F—111 project are also testing several pairs. .... ■.Air Force Tifeek shows throughout Australia were cancelled during August, An RAAF spokesman said that because of operational commitments in Vietnam and elsewhere it would be impossible for the RAAF to undertake the heavy workload required to stage the the shows,Itvvas announced however that RAAF aircraft would still make fly-pasts during wreath laying ceremonies during Air F'orce Week,. Air Vice Marshal IoD« McLachlan, CB, CBE, DFC, who won the first Distinguished Flying Cross awarded to an RAAF’ fighter pilot in the Second Tiforld 'War, retired during August after 37 years in the RAAF', AoV.M. McLachlan began his service as a cadet under training for the RAAF qt the Royal Military College, Duntroon, ACT, During the war he commanded 3 Squadron 1940-41, RAF Station Benina 1941, RAAF Stations at Canberra and Laverton 1942, RAAF Wing -New Guinea 1943 and 81 Wing during 1945, The Convair Metropolitan (A96-) and the Douglas C-47 Dakota (A65-) aircraft offered for sale during May (see page 63 Vol IX) were all sold to American interests. A96-313 became N588E, and A96-353 became N733E. Only one Dakota has been civilianised at the time of writing, A65-85 which became N16130, This aircraft departed on a sales tour through South East Asia during early August. Questions were asked by Senator Keeffe regarding the sale of these aircraft on several dates during August, with particular regard to the calling of tenders, advertising of tenders, amounts and persons who tendered. Due to Government regulations little information was given in reply. Seventeen members of the RAAF have been decorated for service in Vietnam, the Minister for Air, Mr, Gordon Freeth, announced during July, Wing Cmdr. ApW. Powell AoJp Fookes and JJI. Cox the DoFiC., Group was awarded the D.SoO • 9 Sqn. Ldr's. Capt. V.J, Hill, DFC, AFC,'a Bar to the D.F.G,, Cplo J.Do Goughian the C.G.M, while ifing Cmdr. H.A, Hughes' DFC, Sqn, Ldr’s. J,!, Thompson, IRD, 'Wright, B, Squires, and JJvL Chesterfieldi Fit, Lt's. LoW, Morris, MpR, Lewino and J,Ao Pedrinaj Flying Off. "WcS. McAlisteri and Gpl's S.Hc Bonett, R.C, Orchard and G.M, Aleckson were all awarded a Mention in Dispatches, An air defence exercise at Darwin, NT, durinf July, code named "High Jupiter", had Mirages of 76 Squadron defending Darwin from Darwin Airport, while Mirages of 3 Squadron and Canberras of 82 Tfing operated as an enemy force from Tyndall, NT. In co-operation with the RAAF force, four Avro Vulcan bombers of the RAF joined in as "raiders" operating from Darwin. Over fifty aircraft took part in the exercise. Group Capt, J,!, (Bay) Adams, DFC, AF'C, at present Officer Commanding RAAF Base Townsville has been appointed Task Force Air Commander in Vietnam, He will replace Group Capt. J.W. Hubble. Group Capt. Adams was awarded the D.F.G, during World War ! AoHoSoAo Journal ~86». July-August 1968

Two (and gets a mention in Pierre Clostermann* s book ="The Big Show” pages 236/?)=, During the Korean War he flew with 77 Squadron and was awarded the AoFoC, Since then he has held a number of senior RAAF' appointments^ including the command of several TLkAF units ^ The Prime Minister/Mr^ Gortonj visited the ^ RAAF base Butterworths Malaysia on June 13th. During the two hour visit he inspected 75 and 77 Squadrons. While at the latter Mr. Gorton^ who flew with 77 Squadron at Darwin and in New Guinea during 1942/5, was presented with an inscribed squadron crest. Locally produced aluminium is now being introduced into the Macchi MBo326H aircraft being built by the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation at its Fisherman's Bend^ViCs plant. The aluminium'is being supplied by Alcoa of Australia who have been given orders for more than lOOsOOO lb, of aluminium sheet from its works at Point Henryj 'Fie, Senator Anderson announced in the Senates on August 14ths that with the run-down of production of the Mirage aircraft at the Government Aircraft Factorys certain redundant personnel were being re-employed by the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation. The last eight of sixteen Bell IIH-IH Iroquois helicopters for 9 Squadron at Vung Tau South Fietnamj were delivered to the Squadron acceptance crews at Tan Son Nult Airport Saigon^ during August, They were tested there before being flown 35 miles south-east of Saigon to their base at Yung Tau, The earlier model Iroquois are being gradually phased out of Vietnam, Following an incident inATOlving the Russian fish factory ships '*Yan GoghT's and Australian prawning boats in the Gulf of Carpentariaj Lockheed P2H Neptunes of 10 Squad ron were called upon to carry out patrols in conjunction with R.A,N„ patrol vessels, to ensure that no further incidents took place. The phasing out of service of the Bristol Bloodhound Mk,l surface to air missiles of 30 Squadron was revealed during August, The service life of the type was originally intended to last until the 1970's but with the development of the Mirage and its missile armament system as the primary defence weapon, the Bloodhound would be phased out during 1968/9, Fig, Off, Mo Goodsell was wounded in action during July, when the DHC-4A Caribou A4-. , of 35 Squadron which he was flying over the Mekong Delta area of South Vietnam was caught in a crossfire from Viet-Cong anti-aircraft machine gun installations three miles north of Ca-Mau airfield. The aircraft was slightly damaged, but was landed safely at Ca Mau by the co-pilot Fig, Off, I, Cooper, Thursday August 8th, 1968, marked the fourth anniversary of the RAAF's commitment to the Vietnam conflict. Four years ago, a flight of three Caribou, aircraft was deployed to South Vietnam to assist South Vietnamese and United States Transport Squadrons maintain urgently needed supplies to isolated outfits. Since then the flight has grown into a squadron, carrying out many more tasks and carrying many more loads. Over 48,000,000 lbs of freight has been uplifted, together with 4,000,000 lbs o.f mail and 250,000 passengers. Two Caribou aircraft (A4- and ) have been lost in flying accidents. It was announced during July that 79 Squadron would be withdrawn by mutual agreement with the Thailand Government, from Ubon, Thailand, the the RAAF Base at Butterworth. The squadron, equipped with Sabre aircraft, has carried out a tour of duty since January 1st, 1962, assisting in the defence of Thailand. The withdrawal will not affect the EAAF's capability of rapid reinforcement in the Thailand area if required under Australia's SEATO obligations. The move brings the RAAF strength at Butterworth to one Mirage Squadron (No, 75) and two Sabre Squadrons (No,s 77 and 79), On July 1st the Royal Australian Army Aviation Regiment was reformed into an Aviation Corps, The formation of the Corps will enable Australian Army officers at present engaged in flying duties, to pursue a full-time career in Army aviation. The Corps will rank second only to the infantry in the Army career structure. During the AoHeS.A. Journal -87- July-August 1968

past Army pilots were drawn from other Army corps for specific tours of duty with the Aviation Regiment. The Corps is at present a lodger unit at RAAF Base Amberley, Qld. Delay of the three year defence programme review by a year will disrupt the Navy's planned replacement of several ships including the fast troop transport, HMAS Sydney. Due to budget limitations it may be another three years before a replacement ship is ordered. Westland Tfessex Mk. 31A helicopters of the Royal Australian Navy Fleet Air Arm are at present undergoing a "re-manufactured" process at Hawker De Havilland (Aust) Pty. Ltd., Bahkstown, NST.L. ' Now known as Mk. 3lB, and although superficially similar'to the earlier marks, improved sonar systems, increased payload, more engine power, improved navigational systems and station keeping radar, and improved communications equipment have been incorporated. The new version may be identified by an additional fairing aft of the main transmission platform, the "Hudat" radar antenna positioned above the cockpit and a sonar funnel, housing a submersible body, below the fuselage.

BOOK RETIEW C.Ao Lynch Aircraft Profiles Vol. 1 1 to 24 1965 $10.75 Vol. 5 133 to 168 1967 $13.80 2 25 to 60 19 65 $13.80 6 169 to 192 1967 $12.50 3 61 to 96 1966 $13,80 7 193 to 204 1968 $7,50 4 97 to 132 1966 $13.80 The Aircraft Profile series is a very worthwhile attempt by an English publishing company to supply, at reasonable cost, a series of small monographs, complete with brief operational history, construction and performance details, photographs and coLour drawings of a single aircraft type, Of the two hundred and four Profiles available at the present time, either singly or complete in seven bound volumes, seventy odd concern aircraft which have some connection with Australian aviation, either in civil and/or service use.'Two of the Profiles describe aircraft built and/or designed in Australia, No. 154 -the Wirraway,and No, 178 ~ the Boomerang. Although the Profiles give a great deal of information on the aircraft covered, Australian usage is generally dismissed in either a passing short reference of two or three lines with perhaps an illustration, or omitted altogether, while the two Profiles on the Wirraway and Boomerang could both stand with revision and correction. Much incomplete or inaccurate information is given in several Profiles in regard to Australian use. For example in No, 8 , the P-51D Mustang, on page 5 mention is made of P-51D's supplied direct to Australia from America - quote"enough machines to equip one squadron No, 8,"unquote. Two hundred and ninety-eight aircraft (A68-500/583, and A68-600/813) were actually supplied to the RAAF from American production, equipping NooS 76, 77, 82, 84 and 86 Squadrons, together with usage by No. 2 (F) OTU, the Aircraft Performance Unit, and the School of Land/Air ffarfare. Unfortunately for the keen researcher and/or modeller, who may wish to use the colour drawings, their'accuracy’must be questioned. 'For example in the five view draw ing of the Vickers Viscount 756,"VS-TVK (Profile 72), the aircraft's cabin white top is depicted as a creamy yellow colour, and the aircraft is described as a 720. Similarly the white tail marking of the Vifirraway and Boomerang is shovm in their respective drawings as being brovm/white and green/white.. Although perhaps a technical colour printing limitation and mistaken proof reading they raise suspicion on the accuracy of the colour printing . throughout the entire series, li^ith this in mind the whole set of Profiles must be classed as an excellent idea, but to be used with extreme caution, with further research on the aircraft being studied to substantiate the information given in the Profile, They may be considered of some use, but not of "required" standard, to any library of aviation. The actual obtaining and subsequent use being dependant on the wisdom of the individual. AoHoSoAo Journal J uly-August 19 68

GUINEA NOTES. At the end of July.^ the Minister for Civil Aviation^ Mfo RoWo Swartz,^ and the Director General of the DepartmentSir Donald Anderson^ started a ten day visit to Papua-New Guineao At each centre visited views expressed indicated that the people living there did not feel that the Department was keeping abreast of the need for services - so much so that it had all the signs of a miniature Tullamiarine v Mascot with four participants a The main points of criticism included the need for early desoisions on the ne?\r runway and terminal at Port Moresby^ new airports at Lae and Pabaul to permit jet operations and improved facilities at Madango The Minister stated that building works for Madango costing over IbOO^OOO^ would be investigated by the Parliamentary Public Works Committee^ and that a new 10^000 foot runvTay would be started within two years. Plans for the other centres were very vagueo At the end of the visit it was announced that Territory Airlines of Goroka had been granted a Third Level licence for services in the Madang District and that further consideration was being given to the other routes applied foro Aerial Tours of Port Moresby also received a Third Level licence for services in the Yanimo area. The strike by fuel tanker drivers^ initially' in the eastern states during July^ seriously disrupted services to Port Moresby and, when settled, required special night-^ time Boeing 727 and Eleotra services to clear the backlog of passengerso Plans were also made to have international flights to Australia stage through Port Moresby in both inbound and out bound flights to take on fuel. The discovery of the wreckage of the Chance Vought F4IJ Corsair, BuAer 17804, flown by Lto Charles Pilsbury, USN, that crashed on November 21st, 1943, while attacking Japanese emplacements at Kangu Beach, near Buin, Bougainville, received wide publicity on July 9tho The remains were found by Mr^ Mo Clayton while he was surveying the area, and later, while in Australia, Father 0“Sullivan advised RAAl”' Officers who arranged for the remains to be racoveredo The news report indicated that parts of the Corsair would be taken back to Americao Smaller airstrips in the news this month included After the wartime strip at Misim_a Island has been resurfaced with coral, the construction party will move to Woodlark Island, where they will reopen the wartime airstrip thereo Marawaka airstrip in the Eastern Highlands District, was opened at the end of July and will replace the Wonenara airstrip which the Depto of Civil Aviation will close at the end of 1968 due to extremely bad approacheso Tatua airstrip in the Finisterre Mountains was opened at the beginning of Auguste This landing ground was constructed by hand and required the removal of a mountain side to obtain its present length of 1,400 feato The air strip is unique as it has a deep slope in the centre giving it the appearance of an ocean waveo The Habaul Lions are establishing a tourist area at the Malmaluan Lookout, and early in August transported the very battered remains of a Zero from Tobera Plant ation to the siteo The hope to restore the aircraft but already the vandalism problem, has shown up with pieces of the skin being cut offo The Lookout gives excellent views of the Rabaul Harbour and the seas beyond. Aircraft movements noted at Port Moresby included the following Ces^sria 336, YH-SHM passed through on July 11th, en route to Kavieng where it will be used by the Roman Catholic Missiono The colour scheme was red/white/black and a list of donors was painted on the nose cowlingo It was damaged in a landing aceddent at Boang Island on August 5th. The Twin Otter' YH-TGY, flown by TAA Capt. Ray Baker arrived on August 16th and will join the other two, YH-TGR and YH-TGS on services in the Territoryc The Short Skyvan demonstrator, G-AYJX arrived for a sales tour and D,C«Aa trials on August 18th. On July 11th Canberras A84-211 and 217, with the now current dark camouflage scheme, were noted with small fuselage roundels of about twelve inches in diametero Douglas DC-3 YH-RRA of the CSIRO and Aero Commander PK-ilPM of the Missionary Aviation Fellowship made brief visits on July 18thc AoHoSoAo Journal -89- July-August 1968

MISCELLAIEOUS

The De Havilland Beaver, 'VH-AAS, has been repainted in hr own and cream, and is appar- antly intended for sale overseas following the example of YH-AAV and YH-SMD. The Cessna 3101,,N8111M c/n 310-0111 passed through Mascot on July 19tho It was to enter the Australian Civil Register but crashed at Cootamundra on and was badly damaged. 'It is still being repaired...... Cessna 172H, YH-EFS c/n 56521 was seen'at Bankstown on August 8th, recrated for shipment to New Zealand where it became ZK-CXD. It was never officially entered on the Civil Register. •The Piaggio Pol66 ex the Snowy Mountains Authority YH-SMF, which had been sold to Aerial Agriculture has been repainted in blue and white and carries the name "Execut ive Air Charter", Cessna 337 'VH-SHM was noted at Bankstown on July 4th with names and amounts of donations received to finance the aircraft. It has a c/n of 337=0096 and was registered to the Sacred Heart Mission during June 1968, The Camden Museum of Aviation took delivery of a monoplane,designed and partially completed in the late 1920*s by Mr^ WcHo Gray of Parramatta, NSW.,during August, The aircraft is approximately 28 feet in span and 20 feet in length, and was designed to take a DoH, Cirrus 1 engine of 75 hp. It has several unique features s- the wing, which is mounted parasol fashion, has a variable incidence worked from the cockpit by a wheel and chain arrangement. The rudder has been built in two pieces,and when the rudder bar is pushed forward, it opens out to act as an air-brake. The Auster JS, 'VH-ADS, which had been operating from Lake Macquarie, near New castle, NSl/f, in a floatplane configuration, has now been fitted with wheels and is based at Camden, NSW. The first VC-10 to be seen at Mascot was XV103, of the RoAoF, Support Command, which arrived there on July 25th, On the 27th a Douglas 0-1246, 5 arrived at Mascot carrying a Bell AH-IG Huey=Cobra, 67=15662, which was to be demonstrated to Australian military personnel. Also on board was a Jet Ranger 206A, N4725R c/n 241, which was apparently used to observe the Huey-Cobra'in flight. It gave demonstrations at the Army base at Holsworthy, near Liverpool,NSW, The second Fletcher Fu-24 to be modified for aerial survey, VH-FLB, c/n 95, vras noted at Bankstown on August 17th, It was registered in August to R and L Holdings. ERRATA and GREIALIN'S DELIGHT. January-February, ’Page 19, Paragraph 9, line 4, supplant should read supplement, " 16, " 7, " 5, 0300 should read $300, March-April, 33, 2, " 5, 500 lbs. should read 50 lbs, 36, 3, " 4, read salt instead of slat. 45, 10, " 2, should read = and will be shipped. 46, 1. " 8, for 0170 read $170 May-June, 62 " 13, " 1, Kieth should be Keith 69, Projects - No. SA20 should be SA 26. 70 Photo credits for GA-15 should read C.A.C, via R.E. Hourigan, ...... PROJECTS. The Editor has been advised of NSW 27 History of RAAF Base, Williamtown. I. Primmer,"Carinya" KMB 247, Black Hill, NSW 28 RAAF Base Williamtown Aerobatic Teams. Thornton, NSW, 2322. NSW Editors NoM, Parnell, 2 Elizabeth Street, Liverpool, NSYlf, 2170, Australia Federal Secretarys J.A, Pryor, 17 Howard Avenue, Mt. Waverley, Vic, 3149, Australia. NSIT Seetretarys CoA, Lynch, 205 Norton Street, Ashfield, NSW, 2131, Australia. AoHoSoAc Journal J uly-> August 19 68

R,A,A.F, Aircraft Status Cards. By kind agreement of the Historical Section^ Depto of Air^ copies of all the Status Cards of RAAF aircraft no longer in servioe are being supplied to the Societyo It is the Society'^ s aim. that these will form a valuable research media^ and they will be made available^ on a loan arrangement^ to members carrying out projects on specific aircraft types. The Depto of Air is supplying these copies as staff and time permit,^ so it may be some time before a complete set is'held by the Sooietyc In the meantime^ for information on RAAF aircraft types^ contact the the HSW Secretary FIRST^ and if the Status Cards are available they ’will be forwarded strictly on a loan basis o Remember^, the more r8que^sts forwarded to the Society means the less workload on on the Historical Section^, Depto of Air^ and the quicker a complete set of aircraft Status Cards will be available from Society records.

Notes for this issue have been contributed by Eo Allen^ Po Ricketts^ Eo Favelle^ Ao Thomas^ Mo hiadden^ Ko Kerle^ Go Banfield^ Essendon Newsletter« 'Wf Murphy^ No Parnell^ To Boughton® Do Prosser. The Civil section was compiled by Ro McDonaidu PoJo Ricketts and NcMoParneil^ and the Military section by CoAo Lynch and BoAo Fniteo

ARTICLES FOR PUBLICATION. Articles for publication in Volume X of the Journal are requiredc Members intending to submit articles are requested to do sc as earl5/ as possible so that a schedule can be drawn up for publicationc 'ENCLOSURES The enclosures in the centre of the Journal have been supplied by courtesy of QANTAS Airways Ltd^ As we only received 100 copies of each leaflet^ these will naturally be enclosed in the first 100 Journals mailed...... PHOTOGRAPHS USED...II”"' THIs'.....ISSUE”...... ’

Front Cover s Douglas DC-3, \Hi»=‘EWA, photographed during 1955 over the Tam?/orth District, NSWo Solomons Studios,Tamwortho Inside Cover s Avro Anson, VH-^ASM, showing the name ^^Hinlcler^^ on the nose, s^een over

Tamwortho (No date but probably 1947) Northern 'Dally Leader Nego 47«=>01 O'ctin East - Tifest Airlines fleet shown at the old R«AoA.Fo Aerodrom.,e, Tamworth during 1956o Solomons Studios, Tamwortho Douglas DC-3, VH-EWB, departing from 'West 'Wyalong, a typical N'S’Vlf country aerodrome, during May, 1963o NoMo Parnello Rear Cover, Left Sides Avro Anson, VH-BBI, over Tamworth circa 1947/48c Via CoHo O'Neil Lockheed Hudson^ Vli-'ElfR, fitted for rain-makingo Note iodide container fitted under the wing tip^ EcEo Allen. Fokker F-27^ VH-EIA, showing the early type colour scheme and the stylised Kookaburra on the fin. Mascot 1964 NoMoParneli. Twin Otter W-IG'^f, one of the new Series 200 at Bankstown prior to commencing services with ToAoAo PoJc Ricketts. Rear Cover, Right Sides Twin Bonanza, VH-E'AT, which was also used for rainmaking with the iodide containers on the wing tip. PoJc Ricketts. Lockheed Hudson, W-BNJ, at Mascot during 1951. PoJo Ricketts« Fokker F-27, VH-MfG, showing the latest colour scheme of an arrow in a blue disc, and the name East-llesto NcMoParnello Bell AH-IG Huey Cobra, 67-15662, making a test flight from Mascot after the fitting of the rotor heado PcJo Rickettso ipii« ■■l!>

4^A*

III ■■IIIii

lilliili^^ ill ^11 Wlillllilillii*^liiii ill iiiiiiii.■■■■■■I■ii ilB 1111 ill ill ii ■ illl iHi ■I■■ iiiIIIII ii ii ill III * 1 -..,... Jjy ■■ iii i—L. ?iiiiii I'lillBIlif: III ■■iliipli liiii ■I