A black and white iof six men, five in the AIF uniform.flight, aeroplane, aif, raaf, vickers vimy, england to australia flight, j.m. bennett, h.w. shiers, ross smith, hudson fysh, keith smith

flight, aeroplane, pilot, butler

50th Anniversary souvenir pamphlets of First England-Australia flight, 1919. A. Folded pamphlet issued by The Australian Post Office to commemorate the first flight to Australia by Ross and Keith Smith. Includes a brief description of the flight and 6 photos; b. small B&W Greetings card showing illustration of the Vickers-Vimy aircraft used.person, individual, basil watson

Part of the Collection for Flight Lieutenant Ian A. 'Joe' LYONS. See Catalogue No. 5374P for details of his service record.RAAF Officer's Mess Dress consisting of; 1. Navy coloured Jacket with Badges and Rank Insignia. 2. Black Bow Tie. 3. Pair of Navy coloured trousers. 4. Navy coloured Cumberbund. 5. White shirt with starched front similar to a "Dickey". 6. White starched waist coat/dickey. 5. On Manufacturer's label, "Made in England by AKCO for Nigel R. DAVEY, Sydney, Australia".raaf, mess dress, uniform, ian a. 'joe' lyons

Reginald Charles ALLARDICE enlisted first in the CMF on 10.8.1940 age 21 years Regt No V40236. During this time he applied to join the RAAF so was discharged from the Army on 21.5.1942 as a Pte in the 24/39th Bn. Two days later he is in the RAAF as a Trainee Aircrew WEF No 418577. On 31.12.1942 he is listed as a LAC (Leading Aircraftsman. Ongoing training sees him at Benalla, Mallala in SA, Mt Gambier, Pt Cook, Camp Miles Standish USA. Finally he is stationed in England at Pembroke with 461 Sqd RAAF with the rank of Sgt on 10.10.1943. This was a Sunderland Sqd which was a large long range patrol Flying Boat. The unit was mainly Australians from many nations. He rises through the ranks to T/F/Sgt, Officer, Pilot Officer, Flying Officer and last Flight Lieutenant on 10.3.1945. He is discharged from the RAAF on 7.12.1945 at RAF Station Beecles Suffolk England. 461 Sqd was a Coastal Command unit mostly involved in submarine detection and hunting in the Atlantic and Bay of Biscay. They were involved in the D Day landings. The Sqd lost 20 aircraft to enemy action and accidents. A total of 86 Sqd members were lost of which 64 were Australian.Medals, individual with ribbons re R.C.Allardice. (1) 1939 - 45 Star, original not engraved. (2) Atlantic Star, original not engraved. (3) Defence Medal. (4) British War Medal 1939 - 45. (5) Australian Service Medal 1939 - 45. (.3, .4, .5) “418577 R.C.ALLARDICE”medals, campaign, service, world war2

Sir Charles Edward Kingsford Smith is a famous Australian, well known in civil aviation history for his courageous endeavours in flight. He broken many flight records for long distance and time travelled and he was also a war hero in World War 1. He has been referred to as being “known to millions of Australians as “Smithy” … he was one of Australia’s true twentieth-century legends”. In honour of his place amongst the world’s famous pioneers his image is featured on Australia’s $20 note, Sydney airport is named after him, there is a memorial to Kingsford Smith, Taylor and Ulm at the Anderson Park, also in Sydney and his plane “Southern Cross” is on view at Brisbane Airport. Kingsford Smith wrote ‘The Old Bus’ (1932) and he and Ulm were co-authors of ‘Story of 'Southern Cross' Trans-Pacific Flight’ (1928). His also wrote a book about his own life ‘My Flying Life’ which was published after his death in 1937. and the story of his life was filmed in Australia in 1946. A BRIEF HISTORY OF SIR CHARLES EDWARD KINGSFORD SMITH (1897 – 1935) … Kingsford Smith was born 9th February 1897 in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. His parents were William Charles Smith and Catherine Mary, nee Kingsford. His mother’s maiden name of “Kingsford” was added to the family name when they spent time in Canada from around 1903 to 1907, after which they returned to Sydney, Australia. In 1915 Kingsford Smith enlisted in Australian Imperial Force. He served in 4th Signal Troop, 2nd Division Signal Company at Gallipoli Peninsular as a ‘sapper’ or combat engineer and later in Egypt and in France as a dispatch rider. In 1916 Kingsford Smith was transferred to the Australian Flying Corps as a sergeant. He was discharged after training in England and commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Royal Flying Corps. He was appointed fling officer and soon joined the 23rd Squadron in France. He brought down four machines in his first month there and also did invaluable work attacking enemy targets. He was wounded and shot down and later awarded the Military Cross ‘for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty’. He was promoted to lieutenant in 1918 and served as a Flying Instructor with the R.F.C. Kingsford Smith was not allowed to participate in the 1919 England to Australia air race because of assumed lack of navigational experience. He and his pilot friend Cyril Maddocks formed a business and flew joy-flights in both England and America. In America he did some stunt flying with a Flying Circus. Kingsford Smith returned to Australia in 1921 and found employment as a pilot. He soon realised the value of air transport in such a vast country. He formed a partnership with pilot Keith Anderson in 1924 and they purchased two Bristol Tourer biplanes. Their business broadened to include Charles Ulm and became the Interstate Flying services in Sydney. Together they performed important ‘demonstration’ flights including a flight around Australia in 10 days and 5 hours using very limited navigational equipment. Kingsford Smith immediately started to search for support to do a trans-Pacific flight. This support came from the New South Wales government, Sidney Myer and G. Allan Hancock, an American oil magnate. On 31st May 1928 Kingsford Smith, Charles Ulm and two American crewmen, Harry Lyan and Jim Warner, took off from Oakland, California and flew to Brisbane via Hawaii and Suva. This historic flight took 83 hours and 38 minutes. Their Fokker plane had three engines and was named the “Southern Cross”. This amazing achievement resulted in huge financial subscriptions. Kingsford Smith was awarded the Air Force Cross and appointed as honorary squadron leader, Royal Australian Air Force. Kingsford Smith flew his Southern Cross plane from Point Cook in Victoria to Perth nonstop. Then in September – October 1928, with Charles Ulm and an Australian crew, he piloted the Southern Cross from Sidney to Christchurch New Zealand. This flight showed that was possible for regular passenger and mail services across the Tasman Sea. Kingsford Smith flew his plane to England to an order for four aircraft, planning to use them for an inter-capital air service in Australia. Sadly on 1st April 1929 he was forced to land, having lost radio contact with the ground and having run into bad weather over north – west Australia. Keith Anderson and Robert Hitchcock both perished before the search party reached them. Once official enquiries were completed the flight to England continued in June and was completed in record time of 12 days and 18 hours. In January 1930 Kingsford Smith piloted the “Southern Cloud”, one of the new Avro Ten planes, on the first flight of his airline, the Australian National Airways, from Sydney to Melbourne. The “Southern Cross” was overhauled in Holland by the Fokker Aircraft Co. and in June 1930 Kingsford Smith achieved an east-west crossing of the Atlantic from Ireland to Newfoundland in 31.5 hours. Kingsford Smith returned to England and took delivery of an Avro Avian biplane that he named the “Southern Cross Junior” and flew solo from England to Darwin, Australia. This record breaking flight took less than 10 days. He beat four other planes that had left England before him and he was 5.5 days faster than Hinkler. Sadly Kingsford Smith’s “Southern Cloud” was lost during a flight from Sydney to Melbourne in 1931 with no surviving crew or passengers; in 1958 the wreckage was discovered in the Snowy Mountains. Later that year Kingsford Smith flew his “Southern Cloud” from Australia to Timor, collecting mail from a damaged Imperial Airways plane in Timor. Other flights followed. Kingsford Smith was knighted in 1932 for his services in Aviation. He returned to selling joy flights then established the Kingsford Smith Air Service, a flying training school in Sydney. In 1933 Kingsford Smith flew the amazing record flight in “Miss Southern Cross” – a Percival Gull - from London to Wyndham in Western Australia in just over ten days. The Australian Commonwealth then gave Kingsford Smith a large grant and he was also appointed as aviation consultant to Vacuum Oil Co. Another flying record was made when Kingsford Smith and Sir P.G. Taylor flow “Lady Southern Cross” from Brisbane to San Francisco in order to sell her there; the west-east-trans-Pacific flight made aviation history. They returned to Australia to make an attempt at the trans-Tasman flight but their attempt failed due to engine failure; they managed to get back to Sydney safely, minus most of their cargo. Kingsford Smith had his unsold “Lady Southern Cross” shipped back to England, from where he and J. T. Pethybridge in the “Lady Southern Cross” attempted another record breaking flight from England The Old Bus Author: Charles Kingsford Smith Publisher: Distibuted by Herald Feature Service Date; 1932Label on spine cover with typed text RA 629.1309 KIN flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, the old bus, charles kingsford smith

Sir Charles Edward Kingsford Smith (1897-1935) is one of Australia's most known Australia’s fliers. Born in 1897 at Hamilton, Qld. He spent his early life in Sydney enlisting in the AIF in 1915. He served at Gallipoli before transferring to the Royal Flying Corps in 1916. He was shot down and wounded in the foot in 1917. In 1929, Kingsford-Smith flew from Australia to England in the record-breaking time of 12 days, 18 hours. The following year he completed an east–west crossing of the Atlantic Ocean in 31 hours, followed by a record-breaking solo flight from England to Darwin in 10 days. He was knighted for services to aviation in 1932. He made the first west–east trans-Pacific flight in 1934. In 1932 was selling joy-flights at ten shillings a trip. Most of his flights, including the joy flights, were made in the three-engine Fokker plane known as the 'Southern Cross', now preserved in a special display area at Brisbane Airport. In late 1935 Kingsford Smith took off on the second leg of a flight from England to Australia with John ‘JT’ Pethybridge. The plane and pilots were never seen again, believed to have crashed into the sea at night somewhere off the coast of Burma. White ticket stub with black ink. It includes a photographic portrait of Charles Kingsford-Smith, and a drawing of the Southern Cross aeroplane. Gift of the Chatham-Holmes family.Printed on ticket 'Souvenir Flight in 'Southern Cross' piloted by C.E. Kingsford-Smith. No refund will be made on this ticket unless BOTH these"chatham, chatham family collection, kingsford-smith, charles kingsford-smith, smithy, southern cross, aeroplane, flight, joy ride, entertainment, airport, charles kingsford smith

Signed and and dated 31.10.1934 copy of Book - Solo Flight by Jean Batten / Book- Hard covered blue cover with black printing / paper dust cover showing Jean Batten and pictures of Australia and England .Solo flight contains newspaper cuttings of her flights and facsimile of her log written while in the air, published in Australia by Jackson & O'Sullivan Ltd, first published October 1934.Jean Battenbooks, biography, jean batten, lydia chancellor collection, collection, jean batten / solo flight by jean batten, flight, aeroplane, aviation, female, pilot, jean batten

Book. ALEC H CHISHOLM COLLECTION. 155 page hardcover book by A. Grenfell Price telling the story of Ross and Keith Smith's flight from Cairo to Calcutta and then England to Australia, 1918 - 1919. Based on the original and unpublished papers of Ross and Keith Smith. Illustrated with 39 B& W photos and 4 maps. Published in 1969 by Angus & Robertson, and printed in Great Britain by Morrison and Gibb Ltd. Catalogue sticker ''2194 PRI'' on spine. Handwritten in biro on flyleaf ''To my good friend Alec Chisholm Tom Lewis Dec '71''. SBN 207 95167 5. Copyright (c) A. Grenfell Price, 1969.A. Grenfell Pricebooks, collections, aviation, alec h chisholm collection, keith smith, ross smith, a.grenfell price, travel, aviation

Pedal Organ. Possibly belonged to Oscar Flight (Snr). Oscar Flight was a well known and Highly respected Musician in Bendigo. Lived at 44 Carpenter St, Quarry Hill. The father of The Engineer/Surveyor Lt Oscar Thomas Flight. Pedal Organ. This is a “Two Pedal” organ with a 50 Ivory Key, keyboard. The woodwork is relatively good condition. Across the front of the organ and just above the Keyboard are the words “Aucher Freres - Paris'' Lt Oscar Thomas Flight, No 2 Squadron AFC Lt Flight was a 20 year old university student from Bendigo, Victoria when he enlisted in the AIF and embarked for overseas as a Sapper (service number 3018) with the 5th Field Company Engineers (FCE) from Melbourne on 24 November 1915 aboard HMAT Ceramic. After serving in France with the 5th FCE, he transferred to the AFC on 28 August 1917 and graduated as a pilot on 22 January 1918. After being posted to France on 27 February 1918, he was captured on 28 March 1918 and held as a POW in Germany until repatriated to England on 13 December 1918. Lt Flight arrived back in Australia on 7 April 1919. Oscar Flight served as a lieutenant in the Second AIF.person, individual, oscar flight

The Skylark 4, the final in the Slingsby Skylark series, dates from 1961. The design heralded a trend towards the use of plastics in the construction of gliders. Slingsby incorporated GRP (glass reinforced plastic) panels to achieve a streamlined fuselage nose and cockpit area while retaining the more traditional wood techniques for the rest of the aircraft. Another notable feature was the smooth wing surface that was obtained using a Gaboon ply skin across the ribs. Best glide performance of 1:33 was found to be comparable with the early full GRP glider designs. The Museum’s example (VH-GTB – C/N 1382) was built in 1963 and originally owned by Chuck Bentson of the UK. It was brought to Australia in 1967 by Jeremy Picket-Heaps and flown at various places including Benalla, Cooma and Gundaroo. In 1970 the glider was transferred to the New England Soaring Club. Many flights were made from Armidale and Bellata in Northern New South Wales. On one occasion, the glider was kept aloft for 8 hours 45 minutes and on another the pilot took it around a 500 kilometre triangle in nearly 8 hours. In 1980 it was sold to Ralph (“Feathers”) Crompton and was flown extensively in South Australia until 1988. The final owner before the glider was given to the Museum in 2004 was Ross Dutton of Melbourne. The last recorded flight occurred in 1992. The glider at that point had logged over 2000 hours flying time from about 2000 launches. The airframe is currently being restored to flying condition. Technically this aircraft represents the state of the art at the stage that sailplane design was changing from traditional wood construction to composites (GRP) The Slingsby Skylark 4 is high wing single seat sailplane of mainly wooden construction with plywood and fabric covering. However, the cockpit and forward part of the fuselage consists of glass reinforced plastic which was innovative at the time that the type was designed. The cockpit provides for a semi reclining position for the pilot protected with a full Perspex canopy. The wings are made up of a centre section with constant chord and tapered wing tips. The aircraft has a conventional arrangement for the tail stabiliser / control surfaces. The sailplane bears construction number 1382 and is registered in Australia as VH-GTBaustralian gliding, glider, sailplane, skylark, slingsby, bentson, picket-heaps, crompton, new england soaring club, dutton

Booklet: 'The Ross Smith Flight from England to Australia' - 4 page Travelogue booklet promotion for the Lowell Thomas Travelogues series, Re flight from England to Australia. On cover ' Under the patronage of HRH The Prince of Wales, The Ross Smith Flight from England to Australia' Includes short story of the flight by Capt. Sir Ross Smith, KB, MC, DFC, AFC. , map of flight and photos of Ross and Keith Smith. List of pictures shown in the travelogue. Original signatures of Ross and Keith Smith on the front cover.person, individual, ross smith

Newspaper Cuttings (re Aviation) 1917 and 1919 in black-covered exercise book : 1917 - relating to WW1 aviation and war in the air (including bombing of UK/London) and 1919 - relating to Australian aviation e.g. Harry Hawker flight (re Trans-Atlantic flights) and flight (planned) between England and Australia 1919.cottage, miners

Plaque on the James Mallet Bennett memorial in O'Donnell Gardens, Built in 1926-7 by H B Corbett & Sons and designed by William H Lacey. Accompanied as engineer Sir Ross and Sir Keith Smith on the first flight from England to Australia 1919. Killed in aeroplane crash at Hendon England, 13th April 1922.colour photograph, unmountedIn Honoured Memory of Liet J.M. Bennett MSM AFM, of the Australian Flying Corps who accompanied as engineer Sir Ross and Sir Keith Smith on the first flight from England to Australia 1919. Killed in aeroplane crach at Hendon, England, 3 April 1922.aviators

James Mallett Bennett AFM and Bar MSM was born in St Kilda in 1894 and died in Weybridge, near London England, on 13 April 1922, in an aeroplane accident. Killed in the same accident was renowned aviator Sir Ross Macpherson Smith, KBE, MC & Bar, DFC & Two Bars. They were test-flying a Vikers Viking Amphibian aircraft which spun into the ground from 1000 feet (305 m), killing them both. Bennett was a long-serving crew member for Ross, as a mechanic, and had accompanied him on the first aeroplane flight from Egypt to India in December 1918, and from England to Australia in November-December 1919. He and Ross were mourned as national heroes and their bodies were brought back to Australia. Bennett was buried in St Kilda cemetery on 19 June 1922 after a lying-in-state at Queen's Hall, Parliament House. An obelisk in his honour was unveiled at St Kilda on 26 April 1927. The photograph was taken during a St Kilda Historical Society tour of St Kilda cemetery on 26 November 1978. Colour Polaroid photographBus trip 26/11/78 Bennetts Grave SKHS 00760. The inscription on the headstones reads: Erected by his parents in loving memory of Lieut James Mallett Bennett AFM and Bar MSM late Australian Flying Corp AIF. Born St Kilda 1894, passed to a higher life, 13th April 1922, at Weybridge England, result of an aeroplane accident, accompanied Late Capt Sir Ross Smith KBE on first aeroplane flight Egypt to India Dec 1918. Also first aeroplane flight England to Australia Nov-Dec 1919.st kilda, st kilda cemetery, lt james mallett bennett, aviators, graves

Black and white photographic image of Amy Johnson, pioneer woman pilot, after her flight to Australia from England. aeroplane, aviation, flight, amy johnson, pioneer pilot, women

Melrose died in July 1936, at the age of 22, when his new high-wing monoplane "Billing", a Heston Phoenix registration VH-AJM, broke up in turbulence over South Melton, Victoria on a charter flight from Melbourne to Darwin. Two days later, over one hundred thousand people lined the streets of Melbourne to pay their last respects. Black and white photographic image of Charles James Melrose, the only Australian contestant and the only solo flier in the England-Ausralia air race, 1934. He is being chaired by R.A.A.F. men. Two years later Melrose crashed.aeroplane, aviation, flight, pioneer pilot, charles kingsford smith, p. taylor

Edna Barrie at the cairn, photo received from Graeme Minns in 1988. The cairn marks the site of Jimmy Melrose's plane crash in Melton South. The accident which happened on July 5th 1936. In 1934 Melrose made headlines with a series of spectacular flights. In July of that year, he set around Australia record and in that year established a new solo Australia England record when he flew to England to compete in the MacRoberston race with a De Havilland Puss Moth VH- YQO. The only Australian and the only solo pilot to complete the course within the time limit. He was seventh in finishing order and third in the handicap section making news again during the race with a dramatic landing in Darwin with empty fuel tanks. Late in 1935 Melrose imported the Phoenix for his “Adelaide to Anywhere” Charter Service. The previous year the Heston Aircraft Company had taken over the interests of the well known Comper Aircraft Company, and the first production of the new firm was the Phoenix, a single-engined all wooden five seater machine of sesquiplane configuration. The forward half of the fuselage was a streamlined rectangular section and the rear portion was a monocogue shell; the whole was of plywood fabric covered. The wing was built up of spruce box spars and lattice ribs, ply covered from the leading edge to the front spar and the fabric covered over the remainder. The tail surfaces were of similar construction. The most notable feature of the design was the lower stub wing which ran right across the fuselage embodying two box spars, plywood covered it housed the main undercarriage wheels when retracted and provided a substantial anchorage for the Nu form wing struts. The Dowty undercarriage retracted inwards, operated manually by hydraulic packs, Dual control fitted, with side by side seating for the pilots and three passenger seats behind. Power was a 200 h.p. De Havilland Gipsy VI 6 cylinder inverted in-line air-cooled engine. Six Phoenix were built; five of them registered in Great Britain and one of those was later sold abroad the remaining four were impressed into the R.A.F. in 1940. Specifications were: 40 feet 4 inches length 30 ft 2 ins height, 9ft 7ins, wing area 270 sq ft, Tare weight 2,600lbs loaded weight 3,300lbs; cruising speed 360 m.p.h. landing 50mph ceiling 14,000 ft range 700 miles. Melrose’s machine the first production aircraft was built early in 1936 and test flown of the 24th March. Painted green it carries the words “South Australian Centenary 1936” in silver of the fuselage and the name “Billing on the engine cowling in honor of Melrose’s uncle Noel Pemberton Billing, pioneer designer and founder of the Supermarine Aviation Company. The delivery flight was planned as a goodwill mission to publicise the forthcoming South Australian Centenary celebrations. Melrose left Dympne on the 9th April 1936, and flying via Marseilles, Naples, Athens, Baghdad, Basra, Karachi, Jodphur, Calcutta, Akyab, Penang, Singapore, Lombok, Darwin, Newcastle Waters and Alice Springs reached Adelaide on the 25th of April. Continuing the goodwill flight to other States, he visited Melbourne, Sydney, Newcastle, Grafton, Brisbane, Coff’s Harbour, Sydney again, Launceston, Hobart and Mount Gambier before returning to Adelaide on the 13th May. During June Jimmy made some charter flights and early in July was engaged by Mr. A.J. Campbell a director of several mining companies from Melbourne to Darwin to commence at Essendon on the4th July. However on that day low cloud and steady rain caused the postponement. There was little improvement and Melrose was advised to delay the departure again. However he wished to reach Oodnadatta that night, and when he observed the break in the clouds decided to leave. He planned to climb above the cloud and fly to Adelaide at 3,000 feet. The aircraft was airborne about 8.10 a.m. and was last seen from Essendon climbing above the clouds. At 8.45 people at Melton (30 miles West of Melbourne) heard an approaching aircraft. The engine noise increased abnormally and eye witnesses saw the machine fall out of control from the cloud base about 800 feet and then disintegrate, fragments were scattered for 1½ miles and both occupants were killed. Hand written carbon copy by Edna Barrie.Typed by Wendy Barrie March 2014 Last Flight of Jimmy Melrose by John Burke Parade Magazine July 1972 Page 2 –4 This article gives the take off time of 7.50 am from Essendon Airport Eyewitness account at the time Maisie Arthur’s description. Newspaper article. Edna Barrie at the site of the 'Cairn'local identities, local significant events

This medallion was produced to commemorate the Antique Aeroplane Association of Australia's fourth annual air show which was held at Wodonga on June 14 and 15, 1980. It took place at Joe Drage's Air World Museum in Wodonga, Victoria. The event included a fly-in by members of the Antique Aeroplane Association which attracted 105 vintage planes from all parts of Australia. The show incorporated the Amy Johnson memorial rally to recognise the 50th anniversary of Amy Johnson's flight from England to Australia in 1930. Radio 2AY, the sponsor of the annual air show began broadcasting in 1930. This medallion and 2 other linked medallions were owned by Mr. Clive Cossor. He spent a lot of time at Drage's Historical Aircraft Museum and also helped transport gliders. He was also at the Albury racecourse as a teenager to assist in moving the Uiver when it was forced to land in a storm during the MacRobertson Trophy Air Race from London to Melbourne in October 1934.This medallion is significant as it records an important event recognising aviation in Australia and recognises Amy Johnson, the first woman to fly solo from England to Australia.A medallion produced to commemorate the Antique Aeroplane Association of Australia's fourth annual air show held at Wodonga on June 14 and 15, 1980 On the front around the medallion: "ON THE AIR FOR 50 YEARS/ANTIQUE AIRCRAFT ASSOCIATION 1980" . In the centre "SPONSORS/ 3AY/ALBURY-WODONGA/50th/ANNIVERSARY AMY JOHNSON/FLIGHT TO AUSTRALIA/41/WODONGA 1980" On reverse: a depiction of Amy Johnson with wings inscribed "JOHNNIE 1930"aviation history, antique aeroplane association of australia, joe drage airworld, airshow wodonga, amy johnson

Date is approximate. William and May Palstra were married in 1920; 60 Guildford Road was their first and only home. William was with the university when he joined the Australian Flying Corps in WW1. He went back to university on his return from the war but in 1926 when the RAAF was formed he joined it as he had enjoyed flying. He took his family to England while he did 2 years training at the Imperial College in London under Air Vice-Marshall Jones. He was chosen as the Australian representative on a special flight of an experimental airship designed to fly over long distances. The test flight was destined for India, then on to Australia. Its passengers were high level British officials including the UK Secretary of State. It struck bad weather after crossing the Channel, clipped a hill and crashed in France. Some of the crew survived but William Palstra was killed. Mrs Palstra did not receive any compensation; only a small allowance, then cut during the Depression. She was given some support from the Returned Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen's association. Donor, Margaret Thornton was a daughter of William and May Palstra; one of her daughters, Julia Thornton still lives in the house in 2009. Donation form signed by Julia Thornton. Margaret and Jocelyn had a brother, also William. The house remains in 2009 with extensions to the rear and side.Black and white photo of William and May Palstra and 2 of their children in the garden of their home. William is in the uniform of the RAAF. He is holding Margaret's hand; Jocelyn is in her mother's arms.guildford road, raaf, australian flying corps, uniforms, william palstra, may palstra, margaret palstra, margaret thornton, jocelyn palstra, julia thornton

This booklet relates the life of Basil Watson. It tells in detail his early life, background, his home built aeroplane, his display flights and his tragic death and the story since. This year marks 100 years since one of Australia’s pioneering aviators, Basil Watson arrived in Warrnambool and delivered the first airmail to the town. Basil Watson was born in Bendigo in 1894. His interest in aviation which began at a young age, took him to England at the commencement of WW1 where he worked at Brookland in aviation workshops and as a test pilot. Despite crashing and suffering injuries he was not deterred. He returned to Australia and by 1916 Basil had built his own plane. He soon took to the air performing tricks and barnstorming to the delight of onlookers. His connection to Warrnambool lies with his delivery of the first airmail to the town, an event which was filled with much excitement. Basil Watson, pioneer aviator landed his 50hp home built aeroplane on the racecourse on Saturday January 27th 1917, after a flight from Point Cook. The trip of 166 miles took just under two hours, and set a record non-stop cross country flight for Australia. Watson was heartily welcomed by the Mayor, to whom he delivered three letters, the first aerial post to Warrnambool. One of the letters, from the Mayor of Melbourne Sir David Hennessy to the Mayor of Warrnambool is now in the W&DHS collection: I have much pleasure in sending you greetings by aeroplane piloted by my friend, Mr Basil Watson. I hope when the cruel war is over and victory crowns our efforts, we, over the Commonwealth, will be able to fly from one State to the other. With best wishes for the New Year. Yours truly, DV Hennessy. Basil Watson was unfortunately killed two months after his historic visit to Warrnambool. While participating in an air show at Point Cook, the plane he way flying that day crashed into the sea. This booklet tells the story of an interesting part of Warrnambool and Australia's aviation history. It has special significance as it enlightens two significant items in our local collection, namely the letter which he delivered and the seat from his aircraft.A small 29 page booklet with blue and white photograph of Basil Watson in his aeroplane. It contains a number of black and white and some colour photographs. Introduction from the author, "This small booklet recognises the short career of Basil Watson. He came to my attention when researching the French aviator Maurice Guillaux who carried the first official air mail in Australia, Melbourne to Sydney in two and a half days 16/18 July 1914..... Tom Lockley 1 June 2017. Handwritten inside front cover,"These items may be of interest to add to your material about Basil Watson. Its a pity that the 100 year anniversary of his flight was not more widely recognised but thank you for mounting some of his records. Tom Hockley."warrnambool, basil watson, first airmail flight, aviation career of basil watson

32 page booklet ''The first aeroplane voyage from England to Australia'' by Sir Ross Smith KBE, MC, DFC, AFC with 27 aeroviews by Capt. Frank Hurley. Four page description of the flight by Ross Smith (no flight photos). NSW Edition with aerial photos of Sydney, suburbs and country towns. Inscribed on front cover (handwritten) ''Left England November 12th 1919; Arrived Australia December 9th 1919''. Also, stamp of ''R Keith Munro'' and inside cover: address of ''Inveresk'', 126 Forest Street, Bendigo, Victoria, Australia 16-4-20''Sir Ross Smith, K.B.E, A.F.C,D.F.C, M.C.event, official

WWII Historical significance with some information of the Dandenong area.Black and white framed photo of 408537 Sgt R.R.E. Swords 23 Sep 1912 - 21 Jan 1943. This photograph is a tribute to the late Robert Richard Falkiner Swords. 'Bob' as he was known to his friends and most townsfolk of Dandenong and it's people. His older brother James, served in the First World War and later was a founding member of the Dandenong RSL Sub-Branch, formed in 1919, was its second President and also served a term as Honorary Secretary and Treasurer. James was the Editor of Dandenong's first newspaper, the Dandenong Advertiser. 'Bob' Swords was also a member of the Dandenong Advertiser newspaper and was a driving force in Dandenong getting it's own Hospital. For many years his photo hung over the entrance to the old building, which was demolished some years back. Regrettably this photo was lost. Bob enlisted into the Royal Australian Air Force to train as a pilot on 26 April 1941 and after initial training embarked to Southern Rhodesia. After completion of initial flight training he then moved to England for advanced training, prior to postings onto an OTU. He was tragically killed during this phase of training on 21 January 1943. The gentleman with in this photo is believed to be his South African Flying Instructor 'Panda' Watkins. His grave in England has a lovely headstone and the inscription: 'Service Above Self'. (As advised by Robert Richard Kudyba OAM).Brass plaque stating 4085537 Sgt R.R.F. Swords 23 Sept 1912 - 21 Jan 1943.

Denis Gibbons (1937 – 2011) Trained with the Australian Army, before travelling to Vietnam in January 1966, Denis stayed with the 1st Australian Task Force in Nui Dat working as a photographer. For almost five years Gibbons toured with nine Australian infantry battalions, posting compelling war images from within many combat zones before being flown out in late November 1970 after sustaining injuries. The images held within the National Vietnam Veterans Museum make up the Gibbons Collection. A black and white photograph of Mrs Pearl Copeman the mother of seriously wounded Digger Pte Russell Copemen under the wing of an RAAF C130 Hercules Medivac aircraft at the Vung Tau RAAF airfield base waiting for her seriosly ill son to be transferred from the 1st Australian Field Hospital to be loaded for the flight back to Australia, is comforted by an RAAF Church of England Padre Sqn Ldr Norman Lawless and Australina Red Cross girls Winsone Ayliffe and Janice Webbphotograph, pte russell copeman, raaf, c130 medivac flight, vung tau airfield, 1st australian field hospital, padre sqn ldr lawless, winsome ayliffe (red cross), janice webb (red cross), gibbons collection catalogue, red cross, mrs pearl copeland, digger, wounded serviceman, raaf church of england padre sqn ldr norman lawless, australian red cross, denis gibbons