Darwin in the 80's
Ah....George Washington, a lovely bloke and DC3 Captain of the old school. I remember when he dropped an F/O in a heated argument in the 'Green Room'. Young Phil went down cold, very bad CRM, not allowed to punch the Co-Pilot these days. During my Ansett years I flew on secondment with Polynesian Airlines based in Apia, Western Samoa and discovered that the great Ernest K Gann flew DC3s with them for a while. George Washington was his F/O, amazing history. George would be pushing eighty now?
Good Old James. I know he decked a Rig Pig from the Tanami Mine one day. The bloke was getting a bit lippy on the Conquest so George thumped him when he disembarked – not very grandfatherly like behavior.
I heard that GW vanished two or three years ago – Hank, Gundy, JLH don’t know where he is. He would be about 85 now.
George had a very colorful history. I think it included, flying Corsairs in the battle of Midway, Spreading trials using Avengers in NZ, he flew Meteors, was a Sandringham (or was it Sunderland?) navigator and a DC3 navigator. George was a Qantas Super Connie Captain and Chief Pilot of Connair and AirNorth.
George had over 10 000 DC3 command hours.
Once I told George I’m reading this great book, Fate is the hunter…
“Ah Ernie Gann", said George, "I gave him a job once.”
Years later, I found a short story in one of Gann’s books. It tells how he (Gann) was hired by a Kiwi to ferry a Super DC3 from LA to Fiji in the late 1960s. This would be many hours over the water using DR & Celestial Nav. There was no F/O available so they convinced a local secretary with a Private Pilots License to fly in the right seat. Gann eventually married the secretary and he describes the Kiwi as a great navigator with the unlikely name of George Washington.
I heard that GW vanished two or three years ago – Hank, Gundy, JLH don’t know where he is. He would be about 85 now.
George had a very colorful history. I think it included, flying Corsairs in the battle of Midway, Spreading trials using Avengers in NZ, he flew Meteors, was a Sandringham (or was it Sunderland?) navigator and a DC3 navigator. George was a Qantas Super Connie Captain and Chief Pilot of Connair and AirNorth.
George had over 10 000 DC3 command hours.
Once I told George I’m reading this great book, Fate is the hunter…
“Ah Ernie Gann", said George, "I gave him a job once.”
Years later, I found a short story in one of Gann’s books. It tells how he (Gann) was hired by a Kiwi to ferry a Super DC3 from LA to Fiji in the late 1960s. This would be many hours over the water using DR & Celestial Nav. There was no F/O available so they convinced a local secretary with a Private Pilots License to fly in the right seat. Gann eventually married the secretary and he describes the Kiwi as a great navigator with the unlikely name of George Washington.
Is George Washington actually Jorge Washington of National Jet fame ? circa 1992-200?.
If not, awfully coincidental having 2 George/Jorge Washingtons in Oz aviation.
If not, awfully coincidental having 2 George/Jorge Washingtons in Oz aviation.
Silly Old Git
Is George Washington actually Jorge Washington of National Jet fame ? circa 1992-200?.
If not, awfully coincidental having 2 George/Jorge Washingtons in Oz aviation.
If not, awfully coincidental having 2 George/Jorge Washingtons in Oz aviation.
Thread Starter
One wonders what Eddie's two gifted children are doing in Darwin these days?
So Tinnpis if you have been a resident for 30 years, you would have seen a few changes and not all for the best!
So Tinnpis if you have been a resident for 30 years, you would have seen a few changes and not all for the best!
Silly Old Git
If after a period of thirty years you stood on the Daly st bridge and looked at the city skyline you would wonder where the hell you were..
I cant think of any changes that made the joint "better"
I cant think of any changes that made the joint "better"
I cant think of any changes that made the joint "better"
But that's about the only "better" thing I can think of.
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One wonders what Eddie's two gifted children are doing in Darwin these days?
had a few brains though.
Wonder what happened to Liz Wheeler? She was a rough chick
but down to earth and good for a beer or 10.
Silly Old Git
The "Biscuit Bomber" would have to be one of the most famous of all the aircraft up there during this time. Shame no museum preservation for some of these aircraft. Never flew for Aussie but that call-sign was always in the air, never seemed to land.
