A question for the historians amongst you!
I seem to recall once, years ago hearing about an ex WWII heavy bomber pilot who bought a war surplus Halifax or Lancaster and used it to emigrate to Australia. I believe he took his family and some friends with him.
Can anyone confirm the story, and if possible come up with a reference or two?
Cheers,
BSD
The full story was published in Aeroplane Monthly, back, I think in the 1970s or 80s.
The Hali was civil registered (British, G- I think) and IIRC the article was called 'The Last Flight of Waltzing Matilda', the aircraft being christened Waltzing Matilda.
OK - a bit of searching comes up with:
A picture of the aircraft, after arrival in 1947 - badly catalogued though.
From: http://libapp.sl.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/spydus/ENQ/PM/FULL1?393829,I
Halifax Bomber "Waltzing Matilda" at aerodrome - Mascot, NSW
Frame order no. : At Work and Play - 05790
I won't hotlink the picture - but see http://nla.gov.au/nla.cs-pa-http%253A%252F%252Flibapp.sl.nsw.gov.au%252Fcgi-bin%252Fspydus%252FENQ%252FPM%252FFULL1%253F393829,I
And:
From: http://www.handleypage.com/Aircraft_hp70.html
...The first civilian conversion was of the Halifax BIII, NR169 Waltzing Matilda, ex 466 (RAAF) Squadron. This aircraft was bought by G. N. Wickner, a wartime ferry pilot with the Air Transport Auxiliary, and converted by Handley Page to carry 15 passengers. Carrying the civil registration G-AGXA, the Halifax was flown to Australia in June 1946, piloted by Wickner and carrying 15 other Australians who were returning home. For a short period this machine flew in Australia as VH-BDT...
IIRC Wickner was the designer of the Wickner Wicko (Yup!) and a quick check here: http://www.wicko.com/
Gives us:
Geoffrey Wikner's book, "The Flight of the Halifax," contains a chapter about the manufacture, testing and selling the Wicko. In it we learn that it was Wikner's wife, Trudy, who sold JB to the Midland Aero Club during a lunch meeting, though we are not told of the menu or the wine list! The aircraft was presented to the club by N B Graham of the 'Wolverhampton Express and Star' newspaper. It would seem to have been a most generous gesture.
Well that was fun. Hope that helps.
JDK,
Thank you very much for that. I'll follow that up. Sounds like a fascinatin story.
BSD.