161 (Independent) Reconnaissance Flight was an Australian Army aviation unit of both fixed-wing and rotary aircraft. This item was collected because it commemorates the war in Vietnam.Shield-shaped wooden plaque with metal badge/insignia of crown, eagle, crossed swords and laurel wreath in two shades of blue. The emblem of 161 (Independent) Reconnaissance Flight Vietnam.VIGILANCE/ 161 (INDEP) RECCE FL.T./ VIETNAM161 reconnaissance flight, vietnam, army pilots, 161 recce

Historical Details: The AARG aircraft as NC13782, the 32nd DC-2 to be constructed, was one of the first ten DC-2's purchased by famed American WW1 ace Eddie Rickenbacker in October 1934 to create his famous "Great Silver Fleet" at Eastern Airlines in the USA. Replaced by D. Description: The Douglas DC-2 holds an important place in world and Australian aviation history with its success in the 1934 England to Australia Air Race. Operating as a scheduled KLM airline service, with passengers and airmail, a DC2 PH-AJU "Uiver" placed outright. Level of Importance: Nationaldc2 uiver

Letter advised F.G. Davey of an appointment with the Department of Civil Aviation. Davey initially wanted to be a commercial pilot after returning from WW2. He qualified to do so but eventually chose to return to his pre-war job as a clerk at Hume and Iser, Bendigo. Part of F.G. Davey collection. See catalogue no. 3536P for his service record.Single page letter in black type on cream paper under the commonwealth of Australia - Department of Civil Aviation letterhead. Handwritten appointment details appear in black ink.Handwritten in black ink: '18.4.47'. Handwritten indecipherable signature in black ink. Handwritten address in black ink: 'Davey F.G. 88 Olinda Street, Bendigo, Vic'. Handwritten appointment time: 'Thursday 24th 1030'.f.g. davey, letter, department of civil aviation

VH-UQM (Miss Currie) was the second commercial plane to operate out of Western Junction (after Miss Flinders), the first owned by the Holyman Brothers, which eventually become ANA etc. And we think it was one of the first planes destroyed in WW2, when it was lost in the hangar fire in Broken Hill just after war was declared. It was believed to have been sabotaged by Italian or German workers at Broken Hill at the time. It also was part of the early Flying Doctor service in NSW. Item currently held in Archives Australian National Aviation Museum (ANAM) September 2021

Photos of a trip to an Aircraft Museum, including Legatees George Woodward and George Standish. With about 12 Legatees and some wives it is assumed to be a day trip to the museum. On the shape of the building it looks like the National Vietnam Veterans Museum on Philip Island, or perhaps the Australian National Aviation Museum, in Moorabbin. Also present were L/ John Sullivan, L/ Joe Morton and his wife Mary Morton. The captions included: "Legatee Joe Morton, joined by his wife, Mary. Legatee Morton gave his RAAF overcoat and jacket to the Museum." "The Catalina fan club was out in force Legatees George Woodward and George Standish." They were in a folio of photos from 1988 to 1990 (see also 01042 to 01049).A record of a Legatees on an outing together which shows their comradeship and desire to socialise together.Colour photo x 13 of Legatees visiting an aircraft museum.White paper labels with black type provided captions for the photos.legatee event, comradeship

It appears that items .1 , .4 and .5 are insignia worn by members of the Royal Australian Air Force. It also appears that items .2 and .3 were gifts by members of the force for a friend or loved one. The origin of the two star shaped items is unknown. The Royal Australian Air Force was formed in 1921, being evolved from the Australian Flying Corps., the aviation section of the Australian Army in World War One. These items are examples of military insignia pertaining to the Royal Australian Air Force and are retained for display purposes..1 Propeller khaki cloth badge with red and black embroidered symbol of a propeller .2 An oval badge featuring a gold and red eagle with wings outstretched and a gold and red crown above embedded in a black transparent material. A safety clip is attached by two chains to the badge .3 A metal oval with a bronze stylised propeller attached through two holes in the metal base to a silver coloured safety pin at the back. .4 and .5 Bronze five pointed star shaped three dimensional badge. The centre of the star has a rosette. One has a single brass clip on the reverse. The other has two clips. Otherwise they are identical. Nilmilitary insignia

Victorian Railways Magazine, November 1928, (46 pages, centre stapled) without covers. Has a number of railway articles including Safety, Aviation in Australia, roller bearings in passenger carriages, Metal of the future - Aluminium. On page 8, is a photo titled "A City's Gateway", photo taken looking out from under the clocks from within the railway station , across to St Pauls Cathedral with K 92, a W2 and W1 in the photograph, along with some ladies. Shows the stained glass windows. Photo by A. L. Reid.trams, tramways, victorian railways, flinders st station, tram 92

The Royal Federation of Aero Clubs of Australia is the national body of Aero Clubs and other aviation associations. The prime objectives of the Federation are to foster aviation in Australia, to ensure adequate flying training is available to all pilots and to encourage national and local competitions, air races and other aviation events.(ref R.F.A.C. web site) Orbost Aero Club began in 1969 with Basil Dowie as Chair, David Nixon as Secretary/Treasurer. The group went into recess from 1977-1991 closing in 1997. The mid 1960s were boom years in flying training in Australia and the number of Aero Clubs grew rapidly. The Club played a significant role in the establishment of the small airport at Marlo and in the ongoing operation and development of the airport over the years particularly for patient transfer by aerial ambulance. The Orbost Aero Club Club played a significant role in the establishment of the small airport at Marlo and in the ongoing operation and development of the airport over the years.A cream coloured folder ( NORMAN BROS) containing documents pertaining to membership of the Royal Federation of Aero Clubs of Australia. It contains membership cards, receipts, correspondence, minutes, application forms for gold, silver and bronze seals.On front - Orbost Aero Club R F A Corbost-aero-club royal-federation-aero-clubs

3 pages of plans, drawn in black pen, for replica of John Robinson Duigan's Aircraft, 1919. Plans appear to be copies. A3 Manilla envelope addressed to Dr. L.K. Morgan, 57 McIvor Road, Bendigo contains plans. On rear of envelope: RL Lewis Brightwells Hill, Heathcote, 3523. Front view, side view and plan view written respectively on each plan. On bottom RH of 'Front view' plan is stamp from Civil Aviation Authority Australia , dated 9.12.91. On top RH corner is written ' these drawings are not be be reproduced by anyone other than the builder, Ronald Lloyd Lewis' Items in this collection were donated by Dr. Jan Sherringham, whose husband is a pilot. It can only be assumed that this document belonged to them as it postdates Violet's death.person, bendigo, john robinson duigan, duigan, john robinson, lewis, ronald lloyd, aeroplane, plan

Basil Watson departed Melbourne on 24th January 1917, on the initial leg of Australia's first 'barnstorming' aviation tour, promoted by the entrepreneurs Albert Sculthorpe and R. Sissons. During the trip, which lasted over a month, Watson visited Warrnambool, Hamilton and Mount Gambier, before returning via stopovers at Casterton, Hamilton, Warrnambool and Camperdown. At each town he presented a public flying demonstration for crowds of spectators, featuring his usual aerobatic displays with feats such 'looping the loop', upside down flying, somersaulting and 'perpendicular nose dives', generating much amazement and admiration. The promoters had received approval from the Postmaster General's Department to carry an experimental airmail consignment on the return journey from Mount Gambier, and Watson landed in Albert Park on his arrival back in Melbourne on 27th February, carrying over 1,000 pieces of airmail collected from each of the towns on route. Much of the mail was in the form of official souvenir postcards commemorating the event, which were reposted on arrival to local addresses in Melbourne. Churchward, M. (2017) Basil George Watson, Pioneering Aviator (1894-1917) in Museums Victoria Collections https://collections.museumvictoria.com.au/articles/15473 Accessed 18 December 2018.Book. ' Basil G. Watson, Pioneer Airman, the Mount Gambier to Melbourne 1917 experimental air mail'. Grey cover, 39 pages with photographs and illustrations.H.N. Eustisbiography, aviation, basil g. watson, aviation, airmail, bendigo, basil g. watson.eric j. ames pty ltd printers, 14 chesser street adelaide

MOBA2 is a 15 metre sailplane designed by Gary Sunderland, who was an aeronautical engineer working for the Department of Civil Aviation (Australia) and a member of the Victorian Motorless Flight Group (VMFG). The design gave effect to ideas that he developed circa 1970 for an aircraft that he could build himself. He entered a 13 metre wingspan version of his MOBA design (MOBA2B) in an Australian Gliding sailplane design competition that was announced in 1970. The competition called for sailplane designs with a maximum wingspan of 13 metres that could be built by amateurs in a small workshop with limited tools and facilities. In 1973, Gary’s MOBA was judged by the competition panel as equal best with the other outstanding submission, which were chosen from a field of 19 entrants. However, after gathering further information and deliberation by the competition panel neither of the two outstanding designs were chosen as the winner. Notwithstanding the outcome, in 1974 Gary proceeded built his glider to the original 15 metre design. The wing was equipped with camber changing flaps that were permitted under special standard class rules for the 1974 world championships. Changes were made along the way in the light of construction experience and the completed glider was given the designation MOBA2C. The glider first flew on 12 December 1979. It was never flown in standard class competition as by the time the glider was built the special 1974 rules were revoked and wing flaps were no longer permitted in that class. However, Gary flew MOBA2C in the Australian national gliding competitions held at Benalla in the summer of 1979 / 1980 competing in the open class. After adjustment to the aileron gearing during initial trials MOBA2C was found to fly well and in competition produced performances believed to be better than contemporary standard class sailplanes but not as good as the open class machines. The glider was later modified in a number of respects including amongst other things the installation of spoilers located just forward of the wing flaps and by increasing the chord marginally at the wing root. With these changes the glider type was given the designation MOBA2D. The last recorded flights occurred in February 1996 at which time MOBA2 had flown an aggregate of 401 hours and 59 minutes during its 297 launches. Its operational life was brought to an end due to expansion of the foam in the wings causing distortion of the wing surface.The MOBA2 is a notable home built 1970s sailplane design that featured a number of innovative elements including composite construction without the need for expensive jigs, nose cone canopy and asymmetrical placement of control column.Composite single seat glider / sailplane finished in bright yellowRegistration "GVI" on fuselage; Kangaroo, Australian Flag and VMFG decals on vertical stabiliseraustralian gliding, glider, sailplane, moba2b, moba2c, sunderland, moba2d, victorian motorless flight group, vmfg

Taken in 1944 in Bonegilla, Victoria by Captain E.C. Johnston, this photograph depicts soldiers of the 1st Australian Corps Signals training battalion releasing carrier pigeons from a portable loft for their daily exercise.The 1st Australian Corps Signals was a branch of the Australian Imperial Airforce that was active during World War Two. One of the tasked carried out by 1st Australian Corps Signals was to send messages through the use of carrier pigeons. Carrier pigeons were most commonly used by the Allied Forces to send messages from the front line trenches or advancing units. Edgar Charles Johnston (1896-1988) was an aviator and public servant. In WW1 he served with the Australian Imperial Force, and later joined the Royal Flying Corps. For his service in the Royal Flying Corps he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, which assisted him in becoming the assistant director-general in 1939 of the Commonwealth Department of Aviation. During World War II he was heavily engaged in the department’s activities in support of the war effort.Black and white square reproduced photograph on rectangular archival paperObverse: Bonegilla Victoria 1944-05-03/ Carrier Pigeons being released for their daily exercise/ from a portable loft of the 1st Signals training Battalion/ Photograph made 3 May 1944, by E.C. Johnston/ copied from CD Image supplied from/ Australian War Memorial collection/ Copyright/ Use of this image for the/ Robert O'Hara Burke Memorial Museum, Beechworth/ enhanced to remove moir effect/ Reverse: 7993.2/military album, beechworth, burke museum, military, world war 2, ww2, australian army, bonegilla, pigeons, edgar charles johnston

About the author: Born in Melbourne, David Crotty has worked in museums since 1984. He has a long-standing interest in aviation history and has worked as a curator with the Australian War Memorial and the RAAF Museum. He is currently (2010) a curator in the History and Technology Department of Museum Victoria. Story of John Robertson Duigan and his flying creer, from his early years as a Melbourne school boy to his heroic activities as a pilot on the Western Front in World War One. He was the first Australian to fly a powered Australian-made aeroplane in Australia.Front cover: Top - Duigan's aeroplane in flight, Spring Plains Station, Mia Mia, Victoria, in 1911. Below - John Duigan at the controls of his aircraft at Spring Plains Station, Mia Mia, Victoria, in 1911.

This trophy was awarded in 1933 as a championship cup by the South Western District Rifle Clubs Union. Rifle Clubs have been operating in Warrnambool since 1860 and in 1904 the South Western District Rifle Clubs Union was formed. The donor of the trophy, James Fairbairn (1897-1940) was a pastoralist, aviator and politician. He served with the Royal Flying Corps in World War One and was injured and captured by the Germans. When he returned to Australia he acquired Mount Elephant Station near Derrinallum, Victoria and continued his interest in flying, becoming an expert on aviation. In politics he was firstly the member for Warrnambool in the Victorian Legislative Assembly and then held the Federal House of Representatives seat of Flinders. He was the Minister for Civil Aviation and in 1939 became the Minister for Air. He was killed in an aircraft accident in Canberra in 1940.This trophy is of considerable interest because it is a 20th century memento of the rifle clubs in the Warrnambool district and because of its association with James Fairbairn, a notable Western District personality in the first half of the 20th century. This is a silver-coloured metal bowl soldered on to a supporting stem on a circular base. There are two handles on each side of the bowl. The top of the bowl is covered with wire mesh with the original idea that the bowl could hold flowers (hence the name ‘rose bowl’). The bowl is inscribed on one side. The item is very tarnished.‘Paramount Plate Regd. EPNS Quality Plate Warranted Hand Soldered’ ‘Championship Cup No 12. South Western District Rifle Clubs Union’ ‘Presented by J. V. Fairbairn, Esq. M.L.A. 1933’ warrnambool rifle club, south western district rifle clubs union

The Hollywood film stars pasted on to one side of this paper are of no historical interest to our Society. The four paper items attached to the other side relate to the pioneer aviator, Basil Watson. He flew the first aeroplane to come to Warrnambool in January 1917. Watson flew from Point Cook to Warrnambool in one hour 55 minutes, an Australian cross-country flying record at the time. He had built his own aeroplane which was 18 feet long with a wing span of 26 feet and it had a 7 cylinder 50 H.P. rotary Gnome engine. In Warrnambool he amazed the crowds with his dare-devil aerial acrobatics, looping the loop 14 times over the Warrnambool Racecourse. Watson also brought several letters with him, making him the bearer of the first aerial mail to Warrnambool. Sadly Basil Watson died when his plane crashed at Point Cook in March 1917, just two months after his record-breaking flight to Warrnambool. The Warrnambool and District Historical Society has in its collection the small galvanized bucket seat which came from Watson’s plane and the original first air letter written by the Mayor of Melbourne to the Mayor of Warrnambool. These four items are of considerable historical interest as they are souvenirs issued at the time of Basil Watson’s aviation exploits in the early 1900s and Watson is of great importance in the aviation history of Warrnambool.This is a piece of paper (possibly from a scrapbook) with one torn edge. Pasted on to the paper on one side are newspaper photographs of early Hollywood female film stars. On the other side are four items relating to the pioneer aviator, Basil Watson – an airmail post card, a newspaper black and white photograph, a souvenir black and white photograph and a card with an illustration of an early aeroplane (pictured upside down). ‘The Aerial Postman Basil Watson’ ‘Official Souvenir Australian Aerial Mail’ basil watson, pioneer aviator, aviation in warrnambool’s history, history of warrnambool

This book has been a local library copy. It contains information on Australian airmail cards and letters and their value in 1990 and was first produced in 1937. This is a 1990 edition and is number 764 of a limited edition of 1000 copies and is signed by the author. It has some local Warrnambool interest as there is information on the first aeroplane flight to Warrnambool by Basil Watson in 1917 and the 1922 Qantas flights between Charleville and Cloncurry with the pilots Paul McGinness and Hudson Fysh. Paul McGinness, regarded as the founder of Qantas, was born and reared in Framlingham, a small settlement near Warrnambool. This book is of minor interest as it has information on early airmail in Australia and includes information on two people connected to Warrnambool’s history - Basil Watson, the first person to fly a plane to Warrnambool and Paul McGinness, from Framlingham near Warrnambool, the founder of Qantas Airways.This is a hard cover book of 307 pages. It has a blue cover with five images of early airmail cards and black printing. It contains printed information on airmail letters and cards and images of many of these letters and cards. It contains valuations of these cards and letters as in 1990. The book has a plastic covering.Corangamite Regional Library Stickers and Stamps. Signature of Nelson Eustis (author) aviation in australia, early aviation in warrnambool, history of warrnambool