Early Civil Aviation Personalities c.1930

This photo shows a number of early distinguished civil aviation personalities conferring at Melbourne's Essendon Aerodrome c.1930. From left to right are the CAB's Controller of Civil Aviation Lt Col Horace Brinsmead, ANA pilot G.U. 'Scotty' Allan, Captain G.C. 'Skipper' Matthews and the CAB's Superintendent of Flying Operations Major A. Murray Jones.

Skipper Matthews competed in the 1919 England-Australia Air Race in Sopwith Wallaby G-EAKS. Unfortunately, the aircraft crashed on Bali, Dutch East Indies, and was destroyed. Returning to Australia by ship, Matthews was one of the first twelve to receive a civil pilot's licence under the Air Navigation Act of 11 November 1920. He went on to join the fledgling Q.A.N.T.A.S in July 1923 where he gained a great deal of experience in the rigours of pioneer bush flying. Matthews left Q.A.N.T.A.S. in mid-1924 to join the Larkin organisation Australian Aerial Mail Services Ltd. which had a contract from the CAB to operate a Sydney-Adelaide air mail service, commencing in June 1924. In 1930, Matthews formed the Matthews Aviation Company to operate services across Bass Strait, initially using a Saunders Roe Cutty Sark amphibian. He served in the RAAF as a Wing Commander during the Second World War, and died on 27 January 1958 aged 74.

Scotty Allan was an experienced pilot in the RAF who emigrated to Australia to take up a position with Kingsford Smith and Ulm's Australian National Airways where he was highly regarded for his skills flying their Avro X aircraft. This photo shows Scotty Allan in his ANA pilot's uniform. Following the collapse of ANA, Allan acted as co-pilot to both Kingsford Smith and Ulm on various long distance flights before joining Qantas in October 1934 on the DH86 service between Brisbane and Singapore. Scotty Allan went on to a long and distinguished career with Qantas, retiring in 1961.

A. Murray Jones trained on the second pilot's course at Point Cook in 1915. After wartime service in the Middle East and France, Murray Jones joined the CAB in 1929 as Superintendent of Flying Operations, replacing E.J. Jones. Murray Jones left the CAB in 1931 to take up a position as General Manager, and later Chairman, of De Havilland Australia.

(Photo: CAHS/E C Johnston collection)

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Early Civil Aviation Personalities - c.1930

This photo shows a number of early distinguished civil aviation personalities conferring at Melbourne's Essendon Aerodrome c.1930. From left to right are the CAB's Controller of Civil Aviation Lt Col Horace Brinsmead, ANA pilot G.U. 'Scotty' Allan, Captain G.C. 'Skipper' Matthews and the CAB's Superintendent of Flying Operations Major A. Murray Jones. Skipper Matthews competed in the 1919 England-Australia Air Race in Sopwith Wallaby G-EAKS. Unfortunately, the aircraft crashed on Bali, Dutch East Indies, and was destroyed. Returning to Australia by ship, Matthews was one of the first twelve to receive a civil pilot's licence under the Air Navigation Act of 11 November 1920. He went on to join the fledgling Q.A.N.T.A.S in July 1923 where he gained a great deal of experience in the rigours of pioneer bush flying. Matthews left Q.A.N.T.A.S. in mid-1924 to join the Larkin organisation Australian Aerial Mail Services Ltd. which had a contract from the CAB to operate a Sydney-Adelaide air mail service, commencing in June 1924. In 1930, Matthews formed the Matthews Aviation Company to operate services across Bass Strait, initially using a Saunders Roe Cutty Sark amphibian. He served in the RAAF as a Wing Commander during the Second World War, and died on 27 January 1958 aged 74. Scotty Allan was an experienced pilot in the RAF who emigrated to Australia to take up a position with Kingsford Smith and Ulm's Australian National Airways where he was highly regarded for his skills flying their Avro X aircraft. This photo shows Scotty Allan in his ANA pilot's uniform. Following the collapse of ANA, Allan acted as co-pilot to both Kingsford Smith and Ulm on various long distance flights before joining Qantas in October 1934 on the DH86 service between Brisbane and Singapore. Scotty Allan went on to a long and distinguished career with Qantas, retiring in 1961. A. Murray Jones trained on the second pilot's course at Point Cook in 1915. After wartime service in the Middle East and France, Murray Jones joined the CAB in 1929 as Superintendent of Flying Operations, replacing E.J. Jones. Murray Jones left the CAB in 1931 to take up a position as General Manager, and later Chairman, of De Havilland Australia. (Photo: CAHS/E C Johnston collection) Back to the main Items of General Interest index Back to the main General Organisational History index Back to the main Departmental People index If this page appears without menu bars at top and left, click here