Territory Stories

Aeroplane

Details:

Title

Aeroplane,

Photo number

PH0314/0030,

Collection

Hilary Rowe Collection, PictureNT, PictureNT,

Date

1926-09,

Location

Emungalan, Katherine,

Description

Plane DH50J G-EBFO 'Sir Charles Wakefield' flown by Alan Cobham arrived Darwin on 5 August 1926 having departed Rochester UK on 30 June. Floats were replaced by wheels at Darwin and was flown to Sydney and Melbourne via Newcastle Waters and Camooweal. Returning via Adelaide and Alice Springs the aircraft arrived at Katherine at 5pm on 1 September and departed next day at 8.30am for Darwin. Photo shows refuelling operation watched by local residents. Again fitted with floats, the aircraft departed Darwin on 5 September and alighted on river Thames, UK, on 1 October. This was the first England-Australia return flight. Cobham was knighted and mechanic Ward received Air Force Cross. Flight was sponsored by Sir Charles Wakefield. Signage on plane reads 'Sir Charles Wakefield flight to Australia DH50' and '385 HP Armstrong Siddeley Jaguar Engine'.,

Notes

Date:1926-09,

Language

English,

Use

No known copyright,

Copyright owner

Library & Archives NT,

License

https://creativecommons.org/share-your-work/public-domain/pdm,

Parent handle

https://hdl.handle.net/10070/28693,

Citation address

https://hdl.handle.net/10070/310501