Bankstown Airport History
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Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Grafton
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Bankstown Airport History
G,Day and thanks for accepting me into this forum. I have long admired those who fly and wish I had learned but alas life got in the way and it never happened. I love warbirds and have attended a weekend at Temora to view these amazing machines several times.
The crux of my post today is to seek information, stories or photos of two people who had a flying school at Bankstown back in the 50's and 60's. The two people I am referring to are Alan Murray and his wife Phyllis. They were my Great Uncle and Aunt.
I am a very keen family history buff and have discovered them through my research. Alan was a pilot in the RAAF during WW2 and received a commendation in the Kings Birthday list in 1946 for his efforts in clearing Brussels in a damaged Typhoon which crashed and severely injured him. His wife Phyllis was a pilot in her own right and I have a newspaper article in which it was said she had the distinction of being the first female pilot of a floatplane in Australia.
However I cannot find any information on her. I do have a newspaper article complete with photo of Phyllis and her then 6 yr old son Gregory after all three of then landed at Royal Newcastle Aero Club Aerodrome on a business trip in 1954.
As for Alan, apparently he flew with Geoff Goodall who some members may be aware of. The article I have mentions he had clocked up some 2880 flying hours in some 51 types of aircraft from heavy bombers to fighters. He also flew the Gloucester Meteor.
Sadly I never met either Alan or his wife and have only just connected through my family history research his Grand Daughter and his son. I would like to attach the articles and a photo but cannot due to forum rules regarding numbers of posts. Any information that could be supplied would be most appreciated.
Cheers Bob
The crux of my post today is to seek information, stories or photos of two people who had a flying school at Bankstown back in the 50's and 60's. The two people I am referring to are Alan Murray and his wife Phyllis. They were my Great Uncle and Aunt.
I am a very keen family history buff and have discovered them through my research. Alan was a pilot in the RAAF during WW2 and received a commendation in the Kings Birthday list in 1946 for his efforts in clearing Brussels in a damaged Typhoon which crashed and severely injured him. His wife Phyllis was a pilot in her own right and I have a newspaper article in which it was said she had the distinction of being the first female pilot of a floatplane in Australia.
However I cannot find any information on her. I do have a newspaper article complete with photo of Phyllis and her then 6 yr old son Gregory after all three of then landed at Royal Newcastle Aero Club Aerodrome on a business trip in 1954.
As for Alan, apparently he flew with Geoff Goodall who some members may be aware of. The article I have mentions he had clocked up some 2880 flying hours in some 51 types of aircraft from heavy bombers to fighters. He also flew the Gloucester Meteor.
Sadly I never met either Alan or his wife and have only just connected through my family history research his Grand Daughter and his son. I would like to attach the articles and a photo but cannot due to forum rules regarding numbers of posts. Any information that could be supplied would be most appreciated.
Cheers Bob
