airfields

Lores Bonney was an active Qld aviator of the time. She would have been an inspiration for others.

For what it's worth, the VH registration looks like VH-UHQ. Which takes me to these two links: www.edcoatescollection.com/ac1/austu/VH-UHQ.html. The aircraft was later re-registered as VH-AAQ - the story is here www.edcoatescollection.com/ac1/austa/VH-AAQ.html The ladies name is mentioned as a Miss Betty Faux. The majority of aircraft in Australia's early years were registered VH-U followed by two other letters.. trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/56441499?searchTerm=betty faux

This is Ivy May Pearce.

I would love to update our information to the State Library of Queensland One Search catalogue, with more relevant information. However I have three women mentioned for this photograph Maude Rose (Lores) Bonney, Ivy May Pearce and Miss Betty Faux. Can you please provide more information Graham and Sharyn as to why you believe this is Betty Faux or Ivy May Pearce.

Thank you for your help. The lady in this image has been identified as Pilot Ivy Pearce Hassard and our records will be updated.

I suspect these guys might be working on the motors from a Lockheed P-38 Lightning...the Curtiss P-40 Kittyhawk/Warhawk had a very different air intake, etc...I'm guessing, but I suspect they're USAAF rather than RAAF...possibly the 49th Fighter Group...someone who knows about their operational history might be able to confirm this or add info re a possible location...they were briefly at Darwin in 1942...

Pic 25 of this series shows a row of P-38's lined up...if you zoom in you can see the match-ups...

collection.sl.nsw.gov.au/record/YezElR29/gpLqLxERm44ye

www.flickr.com/photos/193158484@N02/51754273338 - couple of P-40's here...as you can see, they're a different animal...

🔥 😮 ~~

covid convict I'll update with a ? on the P-38s for the moment. Thanks for helping out.

Nice detail of a P-38 that looks like a good match - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_P-38_Lightning#/media/File...
And see main article - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_P-38_Lightning

I tend to agree with 'covid convict', the US 49th Fighter Group were equiped with the Curtiss P-40 Warhawk while stationed in Australia before moving to New Guinea in Oct 1942. In September 1944, the group was re-equipped completely with Lockheed P-38 Lightning aircraft, providing a possible date for the photo, and following the same train of thought, the location is likely to be Port Moresby. Although only a month later they were located to the Philippines - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/49th_Fighter_Group

The other observation that may support covid convict's USAF ID is the head gear, Aussie aircraftsmen would probably be wearing the standard issue slouch hat not a baseball cap.

All looks plausible - I will update the entry and thanks for the links.

Obsessed with flying since he was a little boy, Hinkler's record flight was completed in just over 15 days, smashing the previous England-Australia record of 28 days. His arrival in Darwin on 22 February caused a media sensation, with the Queenslander achieving celebrity status. The Brisbane Courier newspaper voiced the opinions of its readers when it proclaimed, "Well done, Mr Hinkler! Australia is proud of you". On 27 February, Hinkler made a triumphant return to his hometown of Bundaberg to an enthusiastic welcome by a large crowd. The Brisbane Courier reported in detail the excitement as Hinkler's plane came in view - "When seen first the machine was coming through a V-shaped break in the clouds, flying high and the crowd went mad with enthusiasm... The speck grew larger, and then the plane came through the clouds, making a great picture with the sun in the background. Then Hinkler stunted, soaring then spiral diving, while the thrilled crowd cheered themselves hoarse. He half circled the arena, then the wings dipped, and he coasted downward, with great glide, the wheels touching the earth well inside the area... The crowd immediately got out of hand and surged forward in mad enthusiasm. With difficulty, a space was made through the crowd for Mrs.. Hinkler and the members of the family to greet the aviator on the side of the machine. Bert leaned out of the cockpit and there was an affecting scene of reunion. Then the crowd took possession of the intrepid aviator, and carried him shoulder high to the high-decked lorry". (Brisbane Courier, 28 February 1928, p.13) Source: slq.qld.gov.au/blog/bert-hinklers-record-flight-1928-mont....