ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 27165
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| Date: | Monday 1 December 1947 |
| Time: | day |
| Type: | de Havilland DH.90 Dragonfly |
| Owner/operator: | Airlines (WA) Ltd |
| Registration: | VH-ADG |
| MSN: | 7516 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 3 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Location: | Guildford Airport, Guildford, WA -
 Australia
|
| Phase: | Take off |
| Nature: | Cargo |
| Departure airport: | Guildford, Western Australia |
| Bunbury, Western Australia | |
| Confidence Rating: |  Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources |
29.07.36: Registered G-AEDG: James Valentine Fairbairn, London W,1. Named 'Spirit of Flinders'. James Fairbairn came from a wealthy pastoralist family which was prominent in Australian business, flying and politics. In WWI James sailed to UK to join RFC and was shot down in February 1917 and taken prisoner by Germans. After winning a seat in Victorian State Parliament in 1932, he moved to Federal Parliament, flying his DH.85 Leopard Moth VH-URK between his farm and Canberra. In 1939 he was appointed to joint portfolios Minister for Civil Aviation and Minister for Air (military) as well as Vice President of the Executive Council.
08.08.36: First flight at Hatfield, Hertfordshire
13.08.36: British C of A 5606 issued
14.09.36: Departed England on delivery flight to Australia by James Fairbairn with O.F.Y. (Frank) Thomas as copilot and navigator. Thomas had flown DH.80 Puss Moth VH-UQK from Sydney to England Oct-Nov 1935. He joined Qantas Empire Airways in April 1937 and went on to a long flying career with Qantas
07.10.36: G-AEDG arrived at Canberra, ACT Based at Fairbairn's pastoral property Mount Elephant at Derrinallum Victoria
01.09.37: Fairbairn wrote to Civil Aviation Board requesting an Australian registration be allocated to his G-AEDG. Civil Aviation Board responded, thoughtfully offering VH-ADG, which was ahead of the current allocation sequence, but would minimise repainting of his aircraft.
08.10.37: VH-ADG painted on aircraft at Essendon Airport, Melbourne, Victoria
12.10.37: Added to Australian Register as VH-ADG: James V. Fairbairn, Derrinallum Victoria. VH-ADG was maintained by Matthews Aviation at Essendon, with some work carried out by a local engineer at Derrinallum. Harry Moss, ground engineer at Essendon in 1938/40, later wrote: "Jim Fairbairn was Minister for Air and a founder of the Empire Air Training Scheme that built up so smoothly in Australia and Canada. He was a good and experienced pilot and owned a twin-engined Dragonfly that he flew to and from Canberra when Parliament was sitting. He was the most punctual man I ever met. If he told us that he wanted to leave at 8.15 we would have his aeroplane fuelled and warmed up and ready to go. He would arrive right on the dot.”
05.05.38: Port engine failure soon after departing Canberra, James Fairbairn returned to land without damage. Inspection found that a spark plug had been blown out of the engine block
27.06.38: C of A renewal at Essendon: airframe total time as at this date 490 hrs 15 mins
11.10.39: Airlines (WA) Ltd was issued with Government Impressment Requisition for its DH.84 Dragon VH-URY "RMA Murchison" for RAAF training duties due to the war situation. Captain Charles Snook, company founder and manager, protested vigorously. He only had the Dragon and a Stinson Reliant and loss of the Dragon would force most of his WA airline services to cease. Charles Snook departed Maylands 31.10.39 flying the Airlines (WA) Ltd Stinson Reliant VH-UTW "RMA Meekatharra" to Melbourne to lobby DCA and politicians to spare his Dragon from impressment. He was unsuccessful, however gained agreement that a replacement aircraft would be supplied and obtained additional time before the Dragon handover. The replacement was DH.90 Dragonfly VH-ADG delivered to Perth in July 1940. However it could only carry 4 passengers compared to the Dragon’s 8 passengers.
19.10.39: Impressment Requisition issued to James V.Fairbairn, who by now was the Minister for Civil Aviation in Federal Parliament, Canberra for his Dragonfly VH-ADG which was to be issued to Airlines (WA) Ltd when their Dragon VH-URY is impressed for RAAF use.
07.07.40: Commonwealth of Australia officially took possession of VH-ADG at midday on this date
08.07.40: Captain Charles W. Snook signed purchase forms for Airlines (WA) Ltd to purchase VH-ADG from the Commonwealth
09.07.40: Charles W. Snook departed Melbourne in VH-ADG on delivery flight to Perth. Overnighted at Parafield
18.07.40: Captain Snook ferried Dragon VH-URY from Perth to Parafield for handover to RAAF VH-ADG underwent inspection at Maylands Aerodrome, Perth by Airlines (WA) Ltd and prepared for airline passenger and feight use.
31.07.40: VH-ADG flown by Captain John Moore flew inaugural Airlines service Perth-Norseman. Commonwealth of Australia Treasury letters to Airlines (WA) Ltd assess the value of VH-ADG as £2,300 and Dragon VH-URY as £1,875. Thus the airline was to pay £425 as purchase price for the Dragonfly.
04.09.40: Director of Civil Avaiation inspection report on VH-ADG at Maylands after overhaul
05.09.40: Official C of R change of ownership date: Airlines (WA) Ltd, Perth, WA
06.09.40: Entered Airlines (WA) Ltd service, based at Maylands, named 'Murchison'
07.12.40: Ground-loop on takeoff Mount Magnet WA, Captain Charles W.Snook and 4 passengers unhurt.
Minor damage temporarily repaired, then ferried empty to Maylands where full repairs completed on 10.12.40
30.03.41: Forced landing without damage 3 miles east of Kondinin, WA ,due to a dust storm and severe turbulence. Captain Charles W. Snook and 2 passengers unhurt.
10.03.43: Damaged at Norseman WA when undercarriage main wheel sank in soft surface and propeller hit the ground. Captain John Moore and 4 passengers unhurt.
16.07.43: VH-ADG flown by Captain John Moore flew inaugural Airlines service Perth-Esperance
20.03.44: VH-ADG flown by Captain John Moore flew inaugural Airlines service Perth to Marble Bar, via stops at Yalgoo, Yinniatharra Station and Mulga Downs Station (near Wittenoom). First return service Marble Bar to Perth departed next day.
30.08.44: Director of Civil Aviation Perth office memo: "Airlines (WA) Ltd are using Monospar VH-UAZ as a reserve aircraft only. Dragonfly VH-ADG is their main aircraft. The Dragonfly is not ideally suited for airline work over the long distances of their routes because of its limited payload and only 4 passenger seats, however it has been the main stay of the company's operation throughout the war years".
08.07.45: Ground-loop on takeoff Maylands Aerodrome, Perth, WA, causing major damage to undercarriage and lower front wing-spar. Captain J.H.Williams had 350 hours on DH.90s.
02.10.45: C of A renewed after repairs completed at Maylands Aerodrome, Perth
07.01.46: Ground-loop, minor damage, quickly repaired
09.04.46: Ground-loop, minor damage, quickly repaired
21.05.46: Flew a survey flight Perth-Albany return while waiting on a Director of Civil Aviation decision to allow the company to operate this route. Captain Moore carried Charles Snook, the Commisioner of Railways and the Director of Civil Aviation senior airports inspector. Landed at Busselton outbound and at Narrogin on the return leg from Albany to Perth.
27.07.46: Ground-loop, minor damage, quickly repaired
22.09.46: Forced landing at Widgiemooltha, near Kalgoorlie WA. Repaired on site
17.12.46: Ground-loop on takeoff Kalgoorlie WA, undercarriage damaged. Captain C.M.Hood had 14 hrs on type VH-ADG had a hole cut in the cabin floor to allow installation of a vertical survey camera. Renamed 'Port Hedland'
January 1947: Carried out a photographic survey in the Lake Grace WA district
29.05.47: Flew the inaugural Daily News afternoon Perth newspaper delivery service to towns south of Perth. Director of Civil Aviation had approved the aerial dropping of bundles of newspapers from the aircraft to an agent on the ground. The weekday afternoon service dropped newspapers at 15 towns including Pinjarra, Collie, Bunbury, Busselton, Nannup and Donnybrook in a circuit of over 400 miles. Returned to Perth late afternoon after refuelling at Busselton.
June 1947: Director of Civil Aviation Perth office memo: "Airlines (WA) Ltd using Ansons and Rapides on their routes and VH-ADG for charter work and photographic survey. It also is used on the newspaper delivery charter contract to Southwest towns".
14.07.47: VH-ADG replaced by Anson VH-BIU on the afternoon newspaper delivery charter. The Dragonfly is required for a major survey contract
October 1947: Operating on aerial photographic survey in North of WA and into NT, flown by Captain Glynn-Smith
13.11.47: Director of Civil Aviation inspection report at Maylands Aerodrome, Perth, WA: cabin fitted out for aerial photographic survey.
1.12.47: Ground-loop on takeoff Guildford Airport, Perth and overturned. Pilot Colin Cook was departing on Runway 11 on the regular afternoon newspaper delivery to Southwest towns when a violent swing took the aircraft off the sealed runway into soft sand where the right main wheel dug in, causing the aircraft to turn over on to its back. The newspaper dropping-boy seated in the cabin was buried under bundles of newspapers and received bruises. The newspapers were quickly transferred to a company Avro Anson and departed an hour late.
12.01.48: Written off (damaged beyond repair): Total airframe time 11,263 hrs 25 mins. Registration VH-ADG cancelled 12.1.48
Sources:
1. http://www.airhistory.org.uk/dh/p075.html
2. photo of wreck post crash: http://www.edcoatescollection.com/ac1/austa/VH-ADG.html
3. http://www.airhistory.org.uk/gy/reg_VH-A.html
4. http://afleetingpeace.org/index.php/15-aeroplanes/79-register-gb-g-ae
5. https://cwsprduksumbraco.blob.core.windows.net/g-info/HistoricalLedger/G-AEDG.pdf
6. https://www.baaa-acro.com/crash/crash-de-havilland-dh90-dragonfly-guildford
7. https://air-britain.com/pdfs/production-lists/DH90.pdf
8. https://www.goodall.com.au/australian-aviation/dh90/dh90dragonfly.html
9. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guildford,_Western_Australia
10. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perth_Airport#Early_days
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 27-Sep-2008 01:00 | ASN archive | Added |
| 21-Mar-2010 14:00 | TB | Updated [Aircraft type, Cn, Operator, Total occupants, Phase, Nature, Destination airport, Source, Damage, Narrative] |
| 23-Mar-2014 01:47 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Location, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative] |
| 22-Jan-2018 21:12 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Time, Location, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source] |
| 07-Jun-2022 19:55 | Ron Averes | Updated [Location] |
| 13-Nov-2022 18:33 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Location, Source, Narrative, Category] |
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