Bill Bedford – Aviation Historical Society of Australia

DerekB30/09/202319/11/2023

Aviation Heritage Vol. 54 No. 3 (September 2023) Contents Listing

The latest quarterly AHSA journal – Aviation Heritage – has recently been posted to members. The contents of all articles are listed below: Aviation...

1924 WGCDR Stanley Goble and FLTLT Ivor McIntyre completed their around-Australia flight in Fairey IIID A10-3 on Monday 19 May 1924 (journey day 44, flying day 21). Goble and McIntyre left Beachport, South Australia, on the last stage of the flight back to Melbourne. A fresh NE wind was blowing on the ground, but although the sky was clouded over they were able to climb to 5,000 feet where a NW wind helped the aircraft along. They had excellent visibility and the smoothest trip of the whole flight. Good time was being made so they spent a few minutes circling Portland, Warrnambool, Port Fairy and Lorne. Approaching the entrance to Port Phillip Bay, a steamer coming out gave them a reception by blowing its whistle; they answered by running up their ensign and dipping the seaplane's wings. At Point Cook another Fairey IIID in charge of Sqn. Ldr. Murray Jones, CO of Point Cook, and 15 other aircraft formated with them and escorted the seaplane to St. Kilda Esplanade, where approximately 10,000 people had lined the foreshore. Goble and McIntyre were surprised by the crowds; they had not realised the interest being taken in the flight. After making a few wide sweeps McIntyre landed the Fairey IIID and taxied up to the beach, where a barrier was hastily erected around the seaplane. The crew went by launch to the end of the pier where the official welcome ceremony took place. The Minister for Defence, Mr. Bowden, made the first speech, congratulating the flyers on their achievement. Other dignitaries present were Senator Pearce, Minister for Home Territories; Sir Harry Chauvel, representing the Army; Rear Admiral Hall Thompson of the Navy; Colonel Brinsmead of the Civil Aviation Department; Colonel Thomas, Defence Department; and Major Coleman and Sqn. Ldr. McBain of the Air Board. After introductions were completed, the flyers were chaired along the pier by fellow officers and friends to ths shore end, where the Mayor and Councillors of St. Kilda met the procession. So ended the first flight around Australia. Most of the flight was made in heavy rain and bad visibility. Each day after landing there was about seven hours' work bailing water from the floats, adjusting magnetos and valve springs, straining petrol through chamois, checking the oil and radiator... all this in addition to the irksome watches which had to be kept to ensure that the machine did not get damaged. Both Goble and McIntyre were tired by the time they got into the air, but despite these obstacles, made a great contribution to Australian aviation history. 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