CAC Plant Reports 1938, numbers 3 – 11

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1924 WGCDR Stanley Goble and FLTLT Ivor McIntyre continued their around-Australia flight in Fairey IIID A10-3 on Monday 12 May 1924 (journey day 37, flying day 15). After an overnight stop in Perth they left at 10.35 for Albany; they had a fairly good run and landed in Princess Royal Harbour, a "beautifully sheltered spot for seaplanes." Here they were met by hordes of uncontrollable children, who swarmed all over the machine as soon as it was beached, yelling and screaming at the tops of their voices. Aftrer the experience at Geraldton, police protection was hurriedly sought. Source: The First Round-Australia Flight, 1924 by Neville Parnell, AHSA Journal, vol 6, no 12, December 1965 and NAA: A9376, 92, Round Australia seaplane flight 1924 - Wing Commander Goble and Flight Lieutenant McIntyre

1940 South Australian air ace, FLGOFF Les Clisby, recorded six aerial victories in the one day on 12 May 1940. After graduating from RAAF flying training in June 1937, Clisby was one of 25 RAAF pilots who immediately went to England to get experience and prepare for war, receiving RAF short service commissions. Clisby was posted to No 1 Squadron (RAF) based at Tangmere in southern England which deployed to France at the outbreak of World War 2. With the German offensive in the spring of 1940, Clisby was embroiled in fierce air to air combat. On 12 May, he shot down three Bf 109 fighters and three Henschel Hs-126 tactical reconnaissance aircraft while supporting a Fairy Battle interdiction strike near Maastrict, Netherlands. For this and the previous day’s action, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. Source: Air Force Association - SA Division

1989 The talented aircraft designer and pilot Scott Winton died in the crash of his Facet Opal flying wing 1 km north of Doyalson, NSW on 12 May 1989. The Facet Opal ultralight aircraft was of a tailless, flying wing design. This unique aircraft was designed, constructed and operated under the provisions of Civil Aviation Orders, Part 95, Section 95.10. The aircraft arrived in the Lake Munmorah area after completion of the 300 nm flight at an average ground speed of about 100 knots. Upon arrival, the aircraft was observed to circle near Norahville and Lake Munmorah to alert relatives of the pilot's arrival. The aircraft took up a SW heading near Doyalson at the completion of the orbit. Witnesses reported sighting the aircraft at about 300 ft agl, and travelling at about 100 kts. As the aircraft approached the Pacific Highway from the NE, it was observed to enter a level turn to the left. The angle of bank was estimated to be 20`-30` Almost immediately after the turn was commenced, the aircraft broke into three major sections as a result of structural failure. The wing, which broke into two parts at the centre section, tumbled to earth on a property on the E side of the highway. The cockpit and engine trajectories carried them over the highway, some 200 m beyond the wing ground impact points. The pilot received fatal injuries. One witness reported the aircraft's wing had flapped 'like the wings of a bird' immediately before the in-flight break-up. Weather conditions at the time were reported as overcast at 1500 ft, wind light and variable and visibility in excess of 10 km in fine drizzle. The conditions were suitable for flight under visual flight rules and not conducive to the formation of significant turbulence. It is therefore highly improbable that weather conditions were a factor in this accident. An examination of the wreckage revealed the main carry-through spar had failed in overload from an upward bending force. No evidence was found of any fault in manufacture or of pre-existing deterioration to the spar structure. Source: ATSB