Roy Goon
 

The first question is, is Roy Goon in the photo below - front row second from right? I took the photo from a display at a Whyalla museum last month. I ask because my Father learnt to fly at the Whyalla Aero Club and he says that Roy was an instructor there at some stage, I would like to know what period of time Roy may have served at the club. One eminent student he may have taught was a local boy, Ian McRitchie, who went on to be shot down in a Mosquito during the famous Operation Jerico raid on the Amiens prison, maybe he's posing in the photo as well.

I see it written on the internet that Roy was based in Whyalla while flying for the Royal Flying Doctor Service in 1958. I think this is in error, Whyalla had no Flying Doctor based there, the only aircraft based locally in 1958 was an Auster registered VH-KBH belonging to Silver City Air Taxi which was available for charter and did a daily run to Port Pirie to pick up newspapers. Silver City Air Taxi did have a variety of Cessna 180 (VH_RFE, RFD, RFF) aircraft which rotated from their main base at Broken Hill to Port Augusta which did Royal Flying Doctor work. As a lad I knew most, if not all, the pilots who rotated through Whyalla and Port Augusta, Dick Dennis (CP I think), Geoff Wallace (killed in a PNG Piaggio crash, not found for some years), Ross Tilly (formed Rossair), Peter Legge (later Ansett Electra freighter), Brian Stokel (later TAA), Bob Beattie (later cropdusting Parafield - Robbys?) and a few others.

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....c643b2f2a1.jpg


My Father Whyalla Aero Club some time during the late thirties, the club took delivery of this particular Tiger in October 1936.

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....d7e43646f4.jpg


If there is any book available on Roy's life I would be most interested.

I did meet Roy as he was an instructor, CFI actually, at Royal Vic when I did my Navy flight grading in October 1966, my personal instructor was Clem Atkins. Was in the control tower one day when some particularly nasty weather was passing through and the controllers were frantic because one aircraft was still airborne, they all sighed and visibly relaxed when they found it was Roy, nothing to worry about.

Thanks all.

Try a PM to member yarrayarra :ok:

Contact former committee man Paul Canavan at Royal Vic Aero Club,

Paul will be able to direct you to Roy's son, lives local in Melbourne.

Roy was the Aero Subaru agent for the Japanese light single engine aircraft; I think 160 HP fixed pitch and 180HP Constant speed version.

Roy was an absolute gentleman, he sent me solo at RVAC around 1968 in a PA28 after my initial training with Bruce McInnes.

Yes Roy was a really well-liked pilot with a fascinating history. I have seen his son Chris Goon online recently (Facebook?) so for sure there is info out there.

There is an email address for Chris in the last link with Roy in a CAC Boomerang, but it's a 20 year old post.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-08-14/roy-goon-victory-in-the-pacific-day/12546132


https://www.ozatwar.com/cgoon.htm

I remember Roy well. He was instructing at RVAC in 1966 and checked me out in formation flying in May of that year. In those times the instructors always put their licence number under the signiture. Roy's CPL number was 511. At a similar time from my log book, Gordon Howe at Schutts numbers was 2029 and Neil O'Connor at the club was 5497. I recall that Roy's licence was issued in 1935 (?) By the time I obtained my CPL in '67 the numbers had almost reached 7000. Good memories not to be repeated.

Yes, I did my Fuji endorsements with Roy back then (separate endorsements on my licence for the 160 and 180). He also operated from Fogarty's Field at Melton which is where I flew with him - VH-FJA, FJB & FJE - in 1970. He did marvellous aerobatic displays in FJM which was based at Moorabbin here in the pic.
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....fb64a14e2a.jpg

FJM ?

Dave, If I recall correctly, JSJ had a share in that machine and used the rego initials as his drafting nom de plume for foreigner jobs when he was still at the Bend ?

Col Goon was Roy’s son. He is/was an Air Traffic Controller working at Tullamarine (10 years ago). He might still be with Airservices….worth a check if you’re interested.

Yes indeed.
You are probably right about JSJ’s foreigners.

Incidentally, it was JSJ flying that Fuji when the control yoke failed during a loop. The BASI report noted the use of incorrect spec material. Someone had used a length of towel rail from the equivalent of Bunnings Aerospace back then. Roy Goon used to finish his displays with a half snap roll and half loop down to join final approach - wouldn’t have been a good time to have discovered he had hold of a disconnected yoke and a short length of towel rail.

I'm pretty sure Col is still Roy's son.

Incidentally, it was JSJ flying that Fuji

.. now, he never mentioned that to me ... not something one would wish to happen whilst aviating.

Looking at some images of the royal aero club there was one of Roy in front of a Comper Swift VH UVC
this aeroplane was restored recently in New Zealand and shipped back to Sydney
There was some damage on transit and the aeroplane has been repaired at Luskintyre
The log book shows Roy flew it quite often and a friend who is now dead spoke highly of him and his abilities
photes to follow when I can find them but Geoff goodalls site has some of them