Aviation Pioneers of the Outback of WA : PART 2 – By John Pritchard
MacRoberston Miller Aviation Co in WA
The origins of this airline were formed by Mr Horrie Miller in Victoria in 1920 whilst conducting general aviation services using a variety of aircraft types. In 1928, he commenced his first airline service between Adelaide and Broken Hill using an eight passenger DH61 Giant Moth aircraft. The service was later expanded to include most large country towns in that state.
His DH61 Giant Moth Photo – Ian Howell
He later started operations under the name of MacRobertson-Miller Aviation Co which was with the financial backing of the chocolate manufacturer Sir Macpherson Robertson. In mid 1934, he transferred his main base to Perth (Maylands aerodrome) with his DH60 Moth aircraft after being awarded the Perth to Daly Waters mail contract by the Commonwealth Government, (previously operated by West Australian Airways Ltd). The Adelaide based operation was then controlled by Mr Cyril Kleinig who later in 1939 transferred to the company Perth office and ultimately became General Manager of the organisation as a subsidiary of Ansett Transport Industries Ltd. Mr Kleinig retired in 1977.
- James (Jimmy) Woods
- Cyril Kleinig
- Horrie Miller in his flying jacket.
- Sir Macpherson Robertson. (Photos Wikipedia)
Mr Miller then placed orders for the first three Dehavilland DH84 aircraft to conduct the north west coastal service and they duly arrived by ship in mid August 1934. He had about 6 weeks to supervise their assembly and do pilot training prior to the proposed first flight. However, he found the site allocated at Maylands aerodrome for the new company hangar to be subject to winter flooding from the nearby Swan River. Overcoming this issue at the time, he set about establishing all the facets of an airline including a survey of the proposed airline route on his own without the assistance of his Senior Pilot James (Jimmy) Woods who was away overseas at the time. The first service duly however left on schedule on 3 Oct 1934.
Photo – Geoff Goodall DH84 Dragons
The company up to the end of WW2 used a variety of other aircraft including de Havilland DH.83, DH86 and Lockheed Model 10 Electras.
Photo – Geoff Goodall
Lockheed 10A Electra VH-MMD of MacRobertson Miller Aviation Co prepares to depart Halls Creek, in the Kimberley Region of Western Australia during the 1950’s.
Photo – Geoff Goodall
VH-UVL DH83 being assembled by MMA at Maylands in September 1935. Photo: Geoff Goodall collection.
DH86 aircraft Photo – Geoff Goodall
World War 2 Years at MacRobertson Miller Aviation Co
A difficult time was had by the company during WW2 due to aircraft availability issues as some of the company aircraft were requisitioned for the war effort. Events caused by the bombing of airfields and aircraft in the North West of WA placed added pressure on the company which wasn’t lessened by the need to evacuate people from various towns following those raids.
On 3 Mar 1942, the towns of Wyndham and Broome were attacked by fighters from Timor and at the time on that morning, Capt James (Jimmy) Woods was just departing Wyndham for Broome in Electra aircraft VH-ABW. He had become airborne just minutes before the raid on Wyndham commenced, but luckily his aircraft was not seen by the enemy pilots. Later, miles out from Broome inbound, he could see the smoke from burning aircraft on the aerodrome and the 16 flying boats destroyed on the harbour. After landing, whilst taxiing in thick smoke, one of the propeller blades on his aircraft struck aircraft wreckage, thus damaging the propeller blade tip on his aircraft.
Photo – Geoff Goodall
Photo – Geoff Goodall
On 16 Jan 1942, company aircraft VH-ABV departed Darwin for Perth on a scheduled service, carrying airmail and five passengers who were British/Dutch civilians and children who had left Singapore ahead of the advancing Japanese forces. Later that day on the Wyndham to Derby sector, the pilots were unable to maintain altitude due to engine problems. They made a forced wheels up landing on some swampy ground on remote Napier Downs Station. Whilst unhurt, they were situated in thick black mud in oppressive heat and humidity but they were able to advise DCA Aeradio of the situation.
The following afternoon James (Jimmy) Woods diverted from another company flight to search for them but he was not successful in finding the aircraft on that search. After later locating the aircraft, Woods dropped relief supplies and then flew to Napier Downs to drop a message to the manager who then set off with Aboriginal stockmen to search for the aircraft. It took two days to locate the aircraft and its unfortunate occupants. The aircraft duly returned to Perth, some 5 weeks later after leaving Darwin.
Photo – Geoff Goodall
Lockheed Electra VH-ABV being pulled by donkey team to the Napier Downs Station airstrip, during February 1942. Wood logs were piled up at creek crossings for the aircraft’s wheels.
Photo by Reg Bagwell
Early Post WW2 years
The airline continued with these operations and over time, introduced a fleet of Avro Ansons and DC3 aircraft to establish a large network of air routes covering both transport to/from the outback of northern Western Australia as shown in the diagram below. This also included flying operations for the Australian Aerial Medical Service (AAMS) from various bases up until 1958 as far north as Wyndham when AAMS became the Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia.
Photo – Geoff Goodall
The above network of routes and locations serviced by MMA was extensively extended by the later amalgamation of MacRobertson Miller Aviation Co Ltd and Airlines (WA) Pty Ltd in 1955 to form MacRoberston Miller Airlines Pty Ltd. The aircraft of Airlines (WA) Pty Ltd were later then made out in the MacRobertson Miller Airlines Pty Ltd livery as shown below.
Photo – Geoff Goodall
Photo – Geoff Goodall
The company also initiated the Air Beef operations out of Glenroy Station where chilled beef was flown direct to the port for export.
Photo – Geoff Goodall
Photo – Geoff Goodall
Later aircraft in the fleet included the Fokker F27 Friendship turboprop, a Vickers Viscount turboprop, a leased Ansett Douglas DC-9 twin jet, Piaggio P166, de Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter, Fokker F28 Fellowship (both 1000 & 4000 series twinjets) and British Aerospace BAe 146 jet aircraft.
Photo – Geoff Goodall Fokker F27 Friendship
Photo – Geoff Goodall F28-100 Fellowship
Photo – Geoff Goodall DHC-6 Twin Otter
Photo – Geoff Goodall – Piaggio P166
In 1963, MacRobertson Miller Airlines Ltd was renamed MacRobertson Miller Airline Services Pty Ltd. The airline continued on and its services were eventually taken over by the operations of Ansett Transport Industries Pty Ltd, although it did operate as Airlines of Western Australia for a while and later as Ansett W.A. plus as Ansett N.T. in the Northern Territory.
Photo – Geoff Goodall – Airlines of W.A. FK28
Photo – Geoff Goodall – Ansett W.A. Bae 146
Photo – Geoff Goodall – Ansett N.T. FK28
MacRobertson Miller Airline Services Pty Ltd made its final revenue flight in the 1990’s and Ansett Transport Industries Pty Ltd ceased operations in 2001.
One of the effects of MacRobertson Miller Airlines Pty Ltd moving into the jet operations in 1969 was for it to cease operations to many of the smaller regional and station locations owing to operational considerations with the jet aircraft. The improved economic state of Western Australia following the commencement of large scale mining and offshore petroleum/gas operations in the 1960’s supported the use of jets on the longer haul routes. The provision of improved highways -roads to some locations by that time also fostered this move and provided an opportunity for smaller airlines to commence on new services.
Mr Horrie Miller
Mr Horrie Miller was awarded the Oswald Watt Gold Medal in 1977 and sadly, he passed away on 27 Sep 1980.
Mr Charles Snook and Airlines (WA) Ltd
Another airline which commenced between the two world wars was Airlines (WA) which was controlled by Mr Charles Snook. He had an early interest in flying prior to WW1 and was a WW1 pilot in UK.
On return to Australia, he formed the Australian Aircraft Company using two aircraft, which like others, he had brought back from UK but the initiative was not successful. Working for a while in Melbourne, he then moved to Brookton, WA to do farming. He found that the aviation industry in WA had changed in the intervening years and returned to flying with the Australian Aero Club at Maylands aerodrome (now Royal Aero Club of WA at Jandakot Airport).
The year 1930 saw him successfully working for Western Air Services Ltd which launched a new company known as Wings Ltd to provide pilot training and aerial surveys. In 1931 the then company founder passed away and Mr Snook took over the management of the company.
Photo – Wikipedia Charles Snook
Commencement of scheduled air services
In March 1931, Wings Ltd commenced the first scheduled air service between Maylands Aerodrome and Rottnest Island on what at that time became known as the shortest airline route in the world. The Great Depression’s effects were then felt in falling business levels and the company ended September 1931.
Despite this unfortunate result, he continued his association with aviation conducting chief pilot and/or chief flying instructor roles in aerial survey and training operations using two DH84 aircraft (see aircraft VH-URF below), finishing in late 1934.
Photo – Wikipedia – VH-URF
The Birth of Airlines (W.A.)
His earlier time in the WA Goldfields region showed Mr Snook that there was a potential market for an air service in the region but he wasn’t the only one as Western Australian Airways Ltd (Airways) was developing similar plans. However, other pressures on him meant that this opportunity was not left to Mr Snook. In September 1935, Airlines (WA) Ltd was later given approval to commence a new scheduled service from Maylands to Wiluna via Kalgoorlie. The service started in December 1935 using twin engine Monospar ST25 and single engine Spartan aircraft. From 1936, the company was funded to carry airmail and also had a government subsidy which improved prospects of success.
Monospar (Photo – Wikipedia)
But in December 1936, the Monospar was severely damaged beyond repair in a forced landing. The airline continued on using the single engine Spartan aircraft which was not up to the task on its own. A replacement Stinson Reliant was acquired and it commenced operations in February 1937. The airline network was also extended to Rottnest Island, resuming the service offered by Snook’s earlier company, Wings Ltd.
Photo -Wikipedia Stinson Reliant
WW2 Years
The airline’s fleet was then further expanded by the purchase of a DH84 Dragon from MMA but then the company lost the Spartan in a crash near Mundaring Weir. However, the Dragon was then later requisitioned into the service of the RAAF during WW2 in July 1940. This severely limited the services of the airline, although a smaller DH90 Dragonfly was provided as a replacement . The Stinson was then destroyed in the second bombing of Broome in March 1942. The company’s aircraft shortage eased in 1942 by the arrival of a Monospar ST-11 and in 1944, two DH89 Rapides.
DH89 Rapide Photo – Wikipedia
Post WW2 years
At the end of WW2, the fleet of Airlines (WA) Ltd then consisted of four aircraft and its network had extended from Maylands to as far away north as Port Hedland and Esperance in the east.
The post WW2 times were not good for Airlines (WA) Ltd owing to the crash of the Monospar at Maylands and increasing competition from other airlines such as ANA, MMA and TAA. By agreement with these airlines, Airlines (WA) then effectively became a feeder service for the major airlines in WA. It did however, expand into the area of delivery of newspapers to country towns by air and some aerial work activity eradicating pests.
In 1946 it obtained two ex RAAF Avro Ansons which were converted to a civilian configuration and in 1947, the company began the task of adding a further 12 such aircraft types to its fleet. This led the airline to provide services such as a coach service to the airport, air hostesses and some limited in-flight catering services. It also provided back up for the Dragonfly aircraft used on the aerial photography and newspaper delivery services. The Ansons had a limited life span and Mr Snook decided to replace them over time with the De Havilland Dove type aircraft.
Avro Anson Photo – Geoff Goodall
Photo – Geoff Goodall
The company operations were moved from Maylands Aerodrome to the newly constructed Perth Airport in 1947 at which time it had a fleet of two Doves, two Dradon Rapides, Six Ansons and one Tiger Moth. However, it was found that the fleet of aircraft types was not suited to the aerial work activities it was also carrying out.
Photo – Geoff Goodall
Charles Snook
Charles Snook’s health deteriorated during 1947 and he sadly passed away during September, 1948. His funeral was a major company event for both the staff and people of Perth with a lone Dove containing Airlines (WA) Ltd staff making a flypast as a final salute to him. He is memorialised at Karrakatta Cemetery.
The Airline Continued;
Airlines (WA) Ltd continued on under the leadership of Mr Jim Cameron and three Doves were by then the basis of the airline’s operations. However, a crash of one of the company’s Doves near Kalgoorlie in 1951 caused the death of everyone on board. This accident led to all Doves in Australia then being grounded owing to a structural failure in the main wing spar. Despite this, the temporary loan of a DC3 and Ansons enabled the airline to continue until 1952 when the other Doves with their re-designed wing spars resumed service. Further Doves were added to the fleet during 1953 and 1955.
Photo – Geoff Goodall
By 1955, Airlines (WA) was operating on a combination of government subsidies for rural and remote areas plus the earnings of some well patronised routes. Then, the Big Bell gold mine closed, which was one of their most lucrative ports, thus causing a revenue decline. The WA State Government then decided that it couldn’t continue to subsidise two competing airlines (MMA and Airlines (WA) Ltd) and suggested that the two airlines should merge operations. At the time of the proposal, the service of Airlines (WA) was as shown in the map below.
Photo – Geoff Goodall
Amalgamation with MMA
Airlines (WA) then merged with MacRobertson Miller Aviation Co Ltd to become part of MacRobertson Miller Airlines Ptd Ltd. The aircraft and staff of the new airline consisted of those from the previous two airlines.
Goldfields Airways
Mr George Wyndham Campbell Lewis enlisted in the Australian Army in WW1 at the rank of Private and during his time overseas, rose to the rank of Second Lieutenant and also learned to fly. Returning to his native South Australia after WW1, he turned his mind again to aviation and bought a Moth II aircraft which he later took to Kalgoorlie when he shifted there.
This business was initiated in Kalgoorlie by Mr Lewis and in the early 1930’s he provided various aircraft flights at that time as required in the Goldfields and surrounding Regions using his aircraft. Many of these flights involved the transport of injured people from very remote locations in the Goldfields and beyond to medical help at the best hospital options available at the time. He spent a lot of time liaising with mining companies and local authorities to create suitable local landing fields as it was these organisations which were initiating inquiries with him re the use of his aircraft and very little in the form of suitable landing fields existed where they were asking him to fly to.
G W Lewis – Photo TROVE
Air Ambulance Medical Service
He was also instrumental in the formation of a local committee under the Mayor of Kalgoorlie Mr W.E Brimage which was focused on the provision of the the early Goldfields Flying Doctor Service which happened in 1937. This committee then went on to establish itself as a branch of the Air Ambulance Medical Service (AAMS and later became the Eastern Goldfields Section of the Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia Ltd).
Mr Lewis also was heavily involved during 1935/1936 in promoting the creation of a local flying club at Kalgoorlie which also provided flying training to prospective pilots with the assistance of Mr A Whitham who later became a check captain with MMA.
Goldfields Airways provided mainly general charter and aerial work operations plus pilot/aircraft services to the AAMS from 1934 to 1958 using a variety of aircraft types (DH83 and Vega Gull) until the RFDS had its own Cessna 180 aircraft.
Photo – Wikipedia DH83
Vega Gull – Photo – Geoff Goodall
Scheduled Services
During June 1946, Goldfields Airways was given approval to operate a return air service between Kalgoorlie and Laverton via Edjudina and between Kalgoorlie to Mt Ida and Evanston.
At the same time in that year, Mr Lewis obtained an ex RAAF Avro Anson which after its civil conversion, became registered as VH-AXC in September 1946. However, it was re-registered as VH-BXC in October 1948 and was then sold in July 1958. During this time, the aircraft was based in Kalgoorlie and used on Royal Flying Doctor Service and general charter work.
The company then continued general charter and aerial surveys work operations up to 1962. Mr Lewis’ daughter Ann also became a pilot and assisted with the services provided by Goldfields Air Services to the Royal Flying Doctor Service. In retirement Mr Lewis wrote his memoirs which was named “Lewy of the Inland Skies” which can be obtained through the WA Library Service.
Mr George Wyndham Campbell Lewis
Mr Lewis sadly passed away on 3 Sep 1990 and is memorialised at the cemetery in Esperance, WA.
G W Lewis – Find A Grave
Connellan Airways Pty Ltd
Mr Edward John Connellan became a businessman after being a teacher and then developed a passion for aviation around 1936 and his family had interests in the rural sectors Victoria and New South Wales. In 1937, he perceived opportunities for business in the Northern Territory and had prepared papers on air freight in Australia as it could assist in the development of remote regions in northern Australia.
Photo – Australian Aviation Hall of Fame – Mr Connellan
During 1938, Mr Connellan undertook two surveys in the Northern Territory, Queensland and the top end of the Kimberleys in WA, primarily with a view to finding suitable farming land. During these surveys, he met the then Federal Member for some of these areas Mr John McEwan and discussed the role of air services for the residents of these remote regions. He agreed to conduct a three year trial of a return airmail run between Alice Springs and Wyndham in WA for which it was agreed, he would receive a subsidy from the Commonwealth Government. He also agreed to provide a service for the Royal Flying Doctor Service based in Alice Springs. He was assisted in finance by his friend Mr Damien Miller and purchased 2 Percival Gull type aeroplanes.
Start of the scheduled mail and aero medical services
He then founded a company in 1939 named Survey and Inland Transport Pty Ltd and Mr Jack Kellow commenced the fortnightly mail run between Alice Springs and Wyndham in outback WA in August 1939. Mr Connellan also made a contract with the Royal Flying Doctor Service.
Photo – Geoff Goodall
Next week – Final Part 3 The Effects of WW2
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