Hudson Fysh

Infobox Aviator
name=Sir Hudson Fysh
lived=January 7, 1895—April 6 1974


image size=250px
caption=A portrait of Wilmot Hudson Fysh ca. 1935
full name=Sir Wilmot Hudson Fysh
place of birth=Launceston, Tasmania
place of death=Paddington, New South Wales
Nationality=Australian
spouse=Elizabeth Elinor Dove
relatives=Henry Reed
Sir Philip Fysh
known for=QANTAS
first flight aircraft=
first flight date=
f-flights=First flight in Australia with paying passenger.
license date=February, 1919
license place=Heliopolis, Egypt
air force=Australian Flying Corps
Royal Air Force
battles=World War I
*Gallipoli Campaign
*Middle East
World War II
rank=Squadron Leader
awards=Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Distinguished Flying Cross

Sir Wilmot Hudson Fysh KBE, DFC (January 7, 1895—April 6 1974) was an Australian aviator and businessman. A founder of the Australian airline company QANTAS, Fysh was born in Launceston, Tasmania. Serving in the Battle of Gallipoli and Palestine Campaign as a lieutenant of the Australian Light Horse Brigade, Fysh later became an observer and gunner to Paul McGinness in the AFC. He was awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross during the aftermath of the war for his services to aerial warfare.

Fysh, alongside Paul McGinness and Fergus McMaster started Qantas in 1920. Despite government control, Fysh became managing director and chairman of Qantas. A committee member of the International Air Transport Association, he later became president of the organisation. He was also one of the founders of the Australian National Travel Association, now known as the Australian Tourist Commission, a member of the Royal Aeronautical and British Interplanetary society, the Institute of Transport and the Australasian Pioneers Club.

Acknowledged for his work as an aviation historian, Fysh wrote books on the history and development of Qantas, exemplifying the airline's role in both military and civil aviation. Authoring a trilogy of memoirs dealing with the impact of Qantas in history, the series drew comparisons towards Winston Churchill's "The Second World War", and were acclaimed as "well-written memoirs". As a result of his contributions to international aviation, he was knighted in 1953. After receiving an honorary EngD in 1971, Fysh died in Paddington at the age of 79, on April 6 1974.

After Fysh's death in January 22 2001, to mark the centenary year of Australia Day, he was named in the list of "100 most influential Australians of the century" by the Sydney Morning Herald. In theatrical productions, Fysh was portrayed in the Australian television mini-series, "Air Australia", a documentary depicting the history of early Australian aviation. [cite book|title=Air Australia—Teachers Notes|url=http://www.filmaust.com.au/programs/teachers_notes/8847_AA_notes.pdf|publisher=Film Australia|accessdate=2007-11-29|format=PDF] In 2002, Fysh was inducted into the Pacific Air Travel Association's Gallery of Legends for "personal excellence, integrity and a lifetime contribution to travel and tourism", the tenth person ever to be inducted. [cite press release |title=Qantas Founder Inducted into Gallery of Legends |publisher=PATA Communications |date=April 15, 2002 |url=http://www.pata.org/patasite/index.php?id=90&backPID=90&begin_at=90&tt_news=128 |accessdate=2007-11-29 ]

Early and personal life

Wilmot Hudson Fysh was born in the city of Launceston in Tasmania, Australia, on January 7, 1895.cite web|accessdate=2007-10-09|url=http://www.awm.gov.au/fiftyaustralians/19.asp|title=Fifty Australians—Sir Hudson Fysh] His father, Frederick Wilmot Fysh, was a merchant, while his mother, Mary Fysh, was the daughter of a famous landowner, Henry Reed.cite book|last=Percival|first=J|editor=ed. Bede Nairn and Geoffrey Serle |year=1981|title=Australian Dictionary of Biography|publisher=Melbourne University Press|edition=Volume 8|url=http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/|chapter=Fysh, Sir Wilmot Hudson (1895—1974)| chapterurl=http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A080620b.htm|accessdate=2007-10-16] Fysh was the oldest of his five siblings; Henry, Margaret, Mary and Graham. [cite web|accessdate=2007-10-09|url=http://www.ballfamilyrecords.co.uk/fysh_australia/I0707.html|title=The Fysh Family in Australia] He was also the great-nephew of Sir Philip Fysh. He had a happy childhood, but it was "marred by the failure of his parents ["sic"] marriage and his fathers ["sic"] business". Originally staying with his father, he "ran away so often that eventually he was able to stay with his mother".cite web|accessdate=2007-10-09|url=http://www.qfom.com.au/collections/pioneers/hudson.html|title=QANTAS Founders Outback Museum—Meet the Originals: Hudson Fysh] Living in St. Leonards—a province in Launceston—until 1914, he enlisted in the Light Horse upon the start of World War I.cite book|title=Australian Imperial Forces—Nominal Roll|chapterurl=http://www.awm.gov.au/cms_images/awm8/10_8_1/pdf/0384.pdf|page=p. 14|chapter=3rd Light Horse Regiment—"C" Squadron|accessdate=2007-11-22]

Educated in the Launceston and Geelong grammar schools, Fysh worked as a jackaroo and woolclasser afterwards. He was also a cadet in the 70 Infantry Militia as a teenager, before volunteering for the Tasmanian 26th Light Horse upon the outbreak of war. cite web|accessdate=2007-10-09|url=http://cas.awm.gov.au/PROD/gl.accept_login?screen_name=cas_search_pkg.pr_search_by_link&screen_parms=acid~ps_query_type=accnum~ps_query=REL/01350~ps_referrer=oai:awm:112284/1845442&screen_type=BOTTOM| title=War Information on Hudson Fysh] After the foundation of Qantas, Fysh, being a poor student at school, tried to make up for his lack of training by studying economics and taking a course in pelmanism. After his retirement from Qantas, Fysh received a honorary degree of Doctor of Engineering (EngD), in a commemoration ceremony from the University of Tasmania, in 1971. [Fysh (1971). "Commemoration ceremony 1971".] [cite web|url=http://nla.gov.au/anbd.bib-an1632377|title=Commemoration ceremony 1971|accessdate=2007-11-04]

Fysh had a talent in politics and business, described as a man of "great political acumen" and having "a hard head for business". As a result of this, Fysh had a reputation as a stern, uncompromising taskmaster, as contrast to being a "shy, quiet man" in his private life. He depicted himself as "painfully shy...as a child feeling looked down o­n, sensitive, and socially lost." All through his public life, Fysh felt these feelings never left him, also being "ill at ease with fame or publicity". Described as single-minded in many instances, particular upon his insistence to use a D.H.86 (De Havilland Express 86) which lead to a bitter clash and eventual fall-out between Fysh and Sir Gordan Taylor. Fysh also made some rivals in the form of other airline entrepreneurs, such as Norman Brearley, a founder of Western Australian Airways, the first airline to operate a regular service in Australia. [cite news |first=Steve |last=Meacham |title=Battle for the air |work= The Guide|publisher=The Sydney Morning Herald |page=4 |date= May 28, 2007]

On December 5 1923, Fysh married Elizabeth Eleanor (Nell) Dove, a woman from Hunter River, in St James Church of England, Sydney. They had a son and daughter, John Hudson Fysh and Wendy Elizabeth Fysh, both born in Longreach. Fysh described his family as the one reason he persisted with the company and "his bulwark against the relentless pressures of the company." Settling in Longreach with his family (his children were both born in Longreach), he described his home as a quote|...little residence, quite usual in Longreach, [it] had a galvanised-iron roof, unpapered wood walls, and at the back a galvanised-iron lean-to kitchen with a wood stove. It got the full blast of the afternoon sun, and we recoiled from the rush of heat coming from its doorway.

World War I

On August 25 1914, Fysh enlisted in the 3rd Regiment of the 1st Australian Light Horse Brigade, at a training camp in Pontville, Tasmania, following the declaration of the Great War. Initially commissioned as a private, Fysh was transported from Hobart on the HMAT Geelong to Egypt, on October 20 1914. He received his training in Egypt, and arrived at Gallipoli in May 1915; only two weeks after the initial Anzacs had arrived.Gunn (1985). "The Defeat of Distance", p. 7] Fysh was evacuated on December 1915, after serving for 7 months in the Australian Imperial Force.

He served in Palestine and Sinai, fighting in the Palestine Campaign for the 'C' Squadron of the Light Horse Regiment. He was transferred from Palestine in July 17, 1916, to the 1st Light Horse Brigade, Machine Gun Squadron. First promoted to a corporal, he was commissioned as a lieutenant in January 1917. Fighting under lieutenant Ross Smith in the Light Horse, he soon replaced Smith as the section officer when Smith was transfer to the Flying Corps. [Gunn (1985). "The Defeat of Distance", p. 7] Reviewing his time in the war, Fysh commented that: quote|We lived like rats in their holes, and hung o­n to our hillside with the enemy o­n o­ne side and the beach a few hundred yards away o­n the other.On July 1917, Fysh requested a transfer from the Light Horse Brigade to the Royal Flying Corps. After months of training, he qualified as an observer and gunner, in October 1917. Originally fighting for the Royal Flying Corps No. 67 squadron, he later fought for the No.1 Squadron of the Australian Flying Corps, under the command of Major Richard Williams.

In the Flying Corps, Fysh was gunner to Major Sydney W. Addison [cite web|accessdate=2007-10-09|url=http://www.australianflyingcorps.org/2004_2002/people/rollofhonour/stookeernest.html|title=Australian Flying Corps Roll of Honour—Lieutenant Ernest C. Stooke] and later to Lieutenant Paul McGinness. Engaging in battle as gunner in a Bristol Fighter, [cite web|url=http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/australi/fysh.php|title=Wilmot Hudson Fysh—The Aerodrome|accessdate=2007-10-13] against German and Turkish aircraft in the Middle Eastern campaigns,Stackhouse (1995). "...from the dawn of aviation", p. 16] Fysh was an observer ace, shooting down 5 enemy aircraft.cite web|accessdate=2007-10-09|url=http://www.australianflyingcorps.org/2002_1999/afc_aces.htm|title=The Aces of the Australian Flying Corps] cite book|last=Huet|first=Chris|date=January—February, 2004|title=Flight Safety Australia|publisher=Civil Aviation Safety Authority|edition=Volume 8, Number 1|url=http://www.casa.gov.au/fsa/2004/feb/jan-feb04.pdf|chapter=Conquering the Southern Skies| chapterurl=http://www.casa.gov.au/fsa/2004/feb/26-33.pdf|accessdate=2007-10-16|format=PDF] On January 8 1919, Fysh was recommended for the Distinguished Flying Cross.cite web|url=http://www.qantas.com.au/info/about/history/details3|title=Qantas history—The Men Who Established Qantas|accessdate=2007-10-14] The award was gazetted in the London Gazette and the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on February 8 1919 and May 23 1919 respectively. [cite web|title=Honours and awards (gazetted)—Hudson Fysh|url=http://www.awm.gov.au/honours/honours/person.asp?p=DFC017|accessdate=2007-11-22] His citation read: quote|For gallantry in air combat and in attacking ground objectives. On 31 August 1918 this officer, acting as Observer to Lieutenant McGuiness, DCM, attacked and destroyed two hostile two-seater aeroplanes ... On previous occasions (23rd June and 3rd August 1918) this Officer has engaged in combats, resulting in the destruction of enemy aircraft as well as forcing enemy machines to land ... ...He has always shown great skill and gallantry on these and other occasions. [ [http://www.awm.gov.au/cms_images/awm28/2/116/0016.pdf Honours and awards (Recommendations: First World War) – Recommendation for Hudson Fysh] . Retrieved on November 22, 2007.]

Career

urvey of the Great Air Race

On February 28 1919, at Heliopolis, Fysh received his flying license, graduating as a scout pilot. [cite web|accessdate=2007-10-09|url=http://cas.awm.gov.au/PROD/cst.acct_master?surl=998615590ZZZCMLGCTSDUK71543&stype=4&simplesearch=&v_umo=&v_product_id=&screen_name=&screen_parms=&screen_type=RIGHT&bvers=5&bplatform=Netscape&bos=Win32 |title=Image of Fysh' pilot license at the Australian War Memorial] cite web|accessdate=2007-10-09|url=http://www.qantas.com.au/info/about/history/details3|title=The Men Who Established Qantas] In March 1919, an announcement was made by the Prime Minister of Australia, William Morris Hughes, of a Great Air Race for the "first successful flight to Australia from Great Britain in a machine manned by Australians".Stackhouse (1995). "...from the dawn of aviation", p. 17] The prize money was £A10,000 (or £8,000 sterlings), under the condition that the flight is completed within 720 hours, and before midnight of December 31, 1919. Deciding to join the race, Fysh regrouped with Paul McGinness, as his co-pilot.cite web|accessdate=2007-10-09|url=http://www.qfom.com.au/collections/story/trip.html|title=QANTAS Founders Outback Museum—The big trip] cite web|accessdate=2007-10-09|url=http://www.qantas.com.au/info/about/history/details1|title=Qantas history—The Inspiration]

To fund the race, McGinness approached Sir Samuel McCaughey, the man who donated the plane that McGinness flew in for World War I. McCaughey agreed to fund the race, and they were joined by Arthur Baird, their flight-sergeant engineer during the war, who had abandoned his garage business so he could join them.Brown (1997). "Aviation History", p. 17.] Prior to the race, on July 25, 1919, McCaughey died and his executors refused to honour his agreement with McGinness. As a result, plans for the race were abandoned. Instead, Fysh and McGinness were commissioned to survey Northern Australia for the preparation of the Air Race, by Major-General James Gordon Legge (later Lieutenant-General) from the Defense Department.cite book |title=Linking a Nation: Australia's Transport and Communications 1788 - 1970 |url=http://www.ahc.gov.au/publications/linking-nation/index.html |year=2003 |publisher=Australian Heritage Commission |location= |isbn=0-642-23561-9|chapter= Chapter 8 The Rise of Civil Aviation to 1970|chapterurl=http://www.ahc.gov.au/publications/linking-nation/chapter-8.html|accessdate=2007-10-16] They were instructed to survey the route from the town of Longreach, past Katherine, and ending at the state capital of Darwin, in the Northern Territory.Stackhouse (1995). "...from the dawn of aviation", p. 18] cite news |title=Flight paths of endurance |work=Features |publisher=The Sydney Daily Telegraph |page= 61|date=July 31, 2006] [cite news |first= Bruce|last=Harris |title=Magnificent machines, home-grown legends |url=http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/12/16/1071336964936.html?from=storyrhs |publisher=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=December 17, 2003 |accessdate=2007-12-08 ]

Arriving in Longreach in August, 1919, they acquired a Model T Ford, as a transport for the survey, and were accompanied by a mechanic, George Gorham.cite web|accessdate=2007-10-09|url=http://www.qantas.com.au/infodetail/about/FactFiles.pdf|title=Fact File—Qantas at a Glance|format=PDF] Leaving Longreach on August 18, 1919, the group traveled through Winton, Kynuna and McKinlay, reaching the town of Cloncurry in August 20, 1919. Fysh, McGinness and Gorham were the first people to travel across the Gulf of Carpentaria, using an automobile. The team traveled through Burketown, the stations of Westmoreland and Wollorgorang, before reaching Hobble Chain Creek. From there, they traveled through Big Running Creek, Calvert River, Warbys Lagoon, Snake Lagoon, Fulch River, Werrin River, Fletcher River, Feathertop Creek. The journey was tough, with the group having to wade across the rivers, as none of the rivers have bridges. Following a route taken by Ludwig Leichhardt in 1845, they reached Borroloola. Fysh began a diary of maps and photography, to record their journey across Northern Australia.

Leaving Borroloola in September 25, 1919, they followed the Roper River, and arriving at Katherine in October 8, 1919. From Katherine, they took a train, "Leaping Lena", to Darwin. In total, the pair had traveled through 2180 kilometre in their Model T Ford, taking up 51 days for their trip from Longreach to Katherine.cite news |title=Fledgling company that has kept on changing |page=7|work=News and Features |publisher=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=December 15, 2006 |accessdate=2007-10-27 ] As a result of their journey across the outback, the group found Legge's route lacking the necessary open space for aircraft landing. Fysh and McGinness became convinced, after talking to some motorcyclists from Sydney, that an alternate route through the Barkly Tableland will be more convenient for the winners of the air race.

Upon reaching Darwin, McGinness and Gorham traveled back to Cloncurry to survey and build landing routes on the way there, while Fysh was to stay in Darwin and create suitable landing strips there and at Katherine. In a letter addressed to General Legge dated to October 30 1919, Fysh rejected the use of the racecourse in Darwin, which was originally picked by Reginald Lloyd (the head of the first ground survey to find a suitable route for the aircraft), as the landing ground for the winning aircraft. He then suggested an alternate strip, locating one from Fanny Bay, a bay to the north of Darwin. [Gunn (1985). "The Defeat of Distance", p. 12] Shortly before the landing of the Smith brothers, the landing strip at Fanny Bay was completed at the cost of £A700. [Gunn (1985). "The Defeat of Distance", p. 13]

On December 10, 1919, the team of Ross Smith, Keith Smith, Jim Bennett and Wally Shiers, winners of the Great Race, arrived in Darwin and were greeted by Fysh (as the official representative of the Defense Department). [cite web|accessdate=2007-10-09|url=http://www.australianflyingcorps.org/2004_2002/people/aces/smithross.html|title=Captain Ross M. Smith. KBE, DFC and two bars, MC and bar, AFC] Deciding to return to Longreach in May 1920, Fysh met Alexander Kennedy, when he was given hospitality in Kennedy's homestead, "Bushby Park".Stackhouse (1995). "...from the dawn of aviation", p. 22] cite book|last=Fysh|first=Hudson|year=1974|title=Australian Dictionary of Biography|publisher=Melbourne University Press|edition=Volume 5|url=http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/|chapter=Kennedy, Alexander (1837—1936)| chapterurl=http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A050018b.htm|pages=14-15|accessdate=2007-10-16] As McGinness had stumbled upon the homestead earlier, on his way to Cloncurry, Kennedy told Fysh about McGinness' idea of an airline service for the region. [cite news|first=Leon|last=Gettler |page=12|title=How to succeed in business without really naming |url= |work=Business |publisher= The Age (Melbourne)|date=January 8, 2007 |accessdate=2007-10-27 ]

Foundation of Qantas

After reuniting at the Cloncurry Post Office, McGinness and Fysh started to make plans to build their airline service, confident in the future of commercial aviation.cite web|accessdate=2007-10-09|url=http://www.qfom.com.au/collections/story/establishing.html|title=QANTAS Founders Outback Museum—Establishing Q.A.N.T.A.S.] cite news|title=Jetting to global high|work=News|page=21|publisher= Herald Sun (Melbourne) |date=December 15, 2006 |accessdate=2007-10-27 ] Writing about his experiences in the outback in his autobiography, Fysh commented that: quote|We could not help being struck by the natural advantages which favoured the establishment of an air service in the district... We were convinced of the important part aircraft would eventually play in transporting mail, passengers and freight over the sparsely populated and practically roadless areas of western and northern Queensland and North Australia.

Earlier on, McGinness had met a grazier, Fergus McMaster, when McMaster's car axle had broken down on a bed in Cloncurry River. McGinness fixed the car, gaining the respect of McMaster as a result.cite book|last=McDonald|first=Lorna L.|year=1986|title=Australian Dictionary of Biography|publisher=Melbourne University Press|edition=Volume 10|url=http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/|chapter=McMaster, Sir Fergus (1879—1950)| chapterurl=http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A100330b.htm|accessdate=2007-10-16] McGinness and Fysh headed off to Brisbane, further developing their plan along the way. Coincidentally, McMaster also went to Brisbane, and, upon realizing, Fysh and McGinness called on him to explain their airline plans. The initial plans for the airline service consisted of joyriding, air taxi trips and charter services spanning the Northern Territory— Western Queensland region of Australia.Simpson (2004). "On The Move", p. 139.] cite web|accessdate=2007-10-09|url=http://www.qantas.com.au/info/about/history/details2|title=Qantas history—Small Beginnings] [cite web|url=http://www.janesoceania.com/australia_history_concise/index.htm|title=A Concise History of Australia|accessdate=2007-10-14] cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title= Sir Hudson Fysh, Founded Airline|work= METRO Local News Obituaries Classified |publisher=The Washington Post |date= April 9, 197|accessdate=2007-10-27| page = C5] As a result, on June 20 1920 in Brisbane's Gresham Hotel, McGinness, Fysh, McMaster and Alan Campbell, an adviser for the Queensland Primary Producers, began to register the new airline company. The registration of the company was not finalized that day. It took several months before a name and the necessary funds were found for the business.

Funds for the company were lacking. Demonstrating his faith in the airline, Fysh invested his savings of £A500 (£400 sterlings), while McGinness invested £1000. After being contacted by the group, Arthur Baird joined them in the idea, once again closing his garage business.Gunn (1985). "The Defeat of Distance", p. 23] cite web|accessdate=2007-10-09|title=QANTAS Founders Outback Museum—Meet the Originals: Arthur Baird|url=http://www.qfom.com.au/collections/pioneers/arthur.html] A main investor for Qantas was Ainslie Templeton, a friend of Fergus McMaster and a woolgrower in the Longreach district, who promised to match McMaster's investments in the "air service project", upon being told of the idea. [Gunn (1985). "The Defeat of Distance", p. 20] Fysh and McGinness then traveled through the towns in the Northern Territory and Queensland, asking for investments for the airline. They were met with positive responses. After observing a shareholder writing "Donation" across the cheque butt, Fysh wrote:quote|...like others, he subscribed out of postwar patriotic sentiment for two young returned men, and out of the hope that in the roadless and bridgeless western plains, where all road transport ceased following heavy rain, perhaps the aeroplane might serve a useful purpose.

After trying many different names for the company, "Queensland And Northern Territory Aerial Services Limited" or Q.A.N.T.A.S was chosen, a name that McMaster later stated was created "with Anzac as its inspiring factor".Stackhouse (1995). "...from the dawn of aviation", p. 24] Q.A.N.T.A.S was finally formed on November 16 1920, with Hudson Fysh, Paul McGinness, Ainslie Templeton, Alan Campbell and Fergus McMaster in the Gresham Hotel, [cite news|title=Flying high on the smell of castor oil|publisher=The Sydney Daily Telegraph|date=November 16, 2005|work=Features|page=40] with an initial paid-up capital of £A6,700 (£5,360 sterlings).cite news |title=Sir Hudson Fysh - The founding of Qantas Airways |work=Obituary |publisher=The Times (London) |page= 16|date= April 9, 1974|accessdate=2007-10-09] The job of executive chairman of the airline was given to McMaster, with Winton becoming the head office and "the official birthplace of Qantas".cite web|url=http://www.qantas.com.au/info/about/history/details4|title=Qantas history—The Plane, the Place and the Passenger|accessdate=2007-10-14] cite news |first=Geoff |last=Easdown |title=Qantas through the years |url=http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,20801657-662,00.html |publisher=Herald Sun |date= November 22, 2006|accessdate=2007-10-27 ] [cite news |first=Kevin |last=Meade |title=The town where a sacred name took flight |url=http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,20930483-2702,00.html |publisher=The Australian |date= December 15, 2006|accessdate=2007-10-14 ]

Partially due to McMaster's intervention, the original plans for air-taxi work and joyriding gave way for airmail services, [cite news |first= Leora|last=Moldofsky |title=Business Builders |work= Time 100|publisher=Time South Pacific (Australia/New Zealand edition)|page=119 |date=October 25, 1999 |accessdate=2007-10-27 ] which would link communication in the settlements between Darwin and Longreach.Stackhouse (1995). "...from the dawn of aviation", p. 30] McMaster summarized it as "an aerial mail service from Longreach to Port Darwin, connecting at Winton, Cloncurry, Avon Downs, Anthony Lagoon, Newcastle Waters and The Katherine", therefore making it the longest direct air service in the world at that time. [Gunn (1985). "The Defeat of Distance", p. 25] Another plan for QANTAS came forth with Dr Frederick Archibald Michod, a doctor and aviator in Longreach who became foundation director of Qantas after its formation. Visiting cattle stations and private properties in to give medical treatment, Michod was aware of the difficulties faced in the outback. Establishing a hospital in Longreach, he often used his aircraft as an aerial ambulance. He proposed an idea for a "flying doctor",cite speech| title = They still call Longreach Home| author = Richard Wesley| authorlink = | date = September 15—September 16, 2001| location = MAQ State Conference, Cairns| url = http://www.magsq.com.au/_dbase_upl/Longreach.pdf| accessdate = 2006-10-12|format=PDF] which would later take form in the late 1920s with the Presbyterian minister, John Flynn. [Lock (2001). "The Oxford Illustrated Companion to Medicine".]

The airline was provided with a wool store as their first hangar by a Winton local, Alba Woolscour. [cite web|url=http://www.matildacentre.com.au/EducationCentre_Timeline.asp|title=Education Centre: Winton Timeline|accessdate=2007-10-14] On February 7 1921, the first and only Qantas board meeting in Winton was held in the Winton Club, three days after the pilots landed, on February 10. A quick decision was made to move Qantas headquarters to Longreach, which would be more central to operations, with easier access to passengers and spare parts.

Qantas first fleet and flight

In August 1920, Fysh and McGinness ordered their first aircraft for the company from Mascot Aerodrome, the first airport in Australia;Eames (2000). "Sydney Airport".] two Avro 504K with Sunbeam Dyak engines, bought at £A1,425 each. [cite news |first=James |last=Cockington |title= Catch the flying kangaroo |work=Money |publisher=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=October 17, 2007|page=13|accessdate=2007-10-27 ] [cite web|accessdate=2007-10-09|url=http://www.blueaustral.com/travel/qantas/|title=Qantas profile at Blueaustral] The purchase for the 504K was dated August 19 1920, and under the name of "The Western Queensland Auto Aero Service Limited", a name later changed to Qantas. The Avro was one of the original, of six, military aircraft built in Australia by AA & E Co. Ltd. upon the orders of the Commonwealth Government for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). AA & E later went into liquidation after falling to their cheaper British competitors.

However a delay in the engines caused anxiety in the pilots, with their financial circumstance lingering. A decision was soon put up to order a third aircraft, with the company considering both the Avro Triplane and the "Westland Limousine Machine". After initial misgiving by McMaster, Fysh and McGinness finally settled for the Avro Triplane. The Triplane was bought for £A2,798, and was considered a revolution in airplane technology, able to hold 4 passengers in an enclosed cabin. The Avro had also won a £A10,000 competition sponsored by the "Daily Mail" for the "best commercial aircraft". Due to their financial circumstances however, the order for one of the Avro 504K was cancelled. [Gunn (1985). "The Defeat of Distance", p. 24]

After being informed that the Dyak engine was ready by the owner of the Aerodrome, Nigel Love, in November 23 1920; they were promptly told that the Avro 504K would be ready by December. However, the aircraft was delayed until January 25 1923, on which McGinness send a wire message to McMaster stating that all tests have been complete with satisfactory results. Fysh, who was also in Mascot, was left with anxiety at his redundancy due to the cancellation of the second Avro 504K.Gunn (1985). "The Defeat of Distance", p. 26] However, Charles Knight, a Longreach stock and station agent, requested him to fly a RAF B.E.2e, bought from the Perdriau Rubber Company, back to Longreach. Despite only having thirty minutes of practice on the BE2e during his training to gain his pilot's license, Fysh agreed to fly it, with Baird as his passenger. Fysh later stated that "when I took the aeroplane over, the problem of my own temporary redundancy was solved".Gunn (1985). "The Defeat of Distance", p. 27]

On January 31 1921, 6 days after McGinness sent the message to McMaster, McGinness, Fysh and Baird took off from Mascot aiming to reach Moree before dark. Due to the strong winds and turbulence, the BE2e began to spin, disorientating Fysh in the process. Landing his aircraft on an upside slope of a hill, they came to rest near a miner's cottage. After being served tea to recover from their ordeal by a miner's wife, Fysh and Baird soon found out that they were near a mine named Red Head (formally named "Lambton B Pit" and located near Lake Macquarie), close to Singleton.cite news |first=Mike |last=Scanlon |work=H2|title=Fright path|publisher= The Newcastle Herald|date=June 16, 2007 |page=14 |accessdate=2007-10-27 ] Gunn (1985). "The Defeat of Distance", p. 28]

Joining McGinness, who had safely arrived, in Singleton, they flew northwards; stopping at Moree, St. George, Charleville, Blackall, and then at Barcaldine, the last stop before reaching Longreach. Rendezvousing at Barcaldine with McMaster, who had caught the train from Rockhampton to the town, McMaster decided to fly with them to Longreach, hoping their arrival in the town would be "impressive and historical". Reaching Longreach in the scheduled time, the flight beat the mail train from Barcaldine by 20 minutes despite the train leaving Barcaldine 2 hour earlier. Mapping the airline's short-term future in the Shakespeare Hotel in Longreach, they soon planned the last leg of the journey to Winton. [Gunn (1985). "The Defeat of Distance", p. 29]

With Ainslie Templeton accompanying McMaster and McGinness in the Avro, Fysh flew with the owner of the aircraft, Charles Knight, to Winton on February 7 1921. The trip of one and a half hours took considerably longer than that, with McGinness steering in the wrong direction, causing them to lose their path. They finally reached Winton after 3 hours of flight, with 15 minutes worth of fuel left. [Gunn (1985). "The Defeat of Distance", p. 30] After "landing gracefully" to the cheering of a crowd in Winton, they were "entertained at a smoke concert at the North Gregory Hotel." ["Winton Herald", August 1920. Retrieved on October 9, 2007.] In the hotel, McMaster outlined the links between aviation and defense, in reference to the future of Qantas.Gunn (1985). "The Defeat of Distance", p. 31]

The next day, the 2 aircraft took off from Winton in order to return to Longreach. With Knight as his passenger in the BE2e, Fysh lost his way, missing Longreach by convert|20|mi|km; he navigated his way back to the town by following the Thompson River. The journey, coupled with the earlier delayed trip when flying from Longreach to Winton, proved to be too much for Knight, who sold the BE2e to the company upon landing, swearing that "nothing would induce him to fly again." [Gunn (1985). "The Defeat of Distance", p. 32] The cost of the aircraft was £A450 which was partially bought, as insisted by McMaster, in the form of shares to the airline company. [Gunn (1985). "The Defeat of Distance", p. 33]

Published works

A writer of aviation history, Fysh authored many books during and after his career. [cite encyclopedia |encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of Australia |title=Fysh, Sir (Wilmot) Hudson|accessdate=2007-10-27 |publisher=Webster Publishing ] In the biography "Taming the North: The Story of Alexander Kennedy and Other Queensland Pathfinders" which was first published in 1933, Fysh details the life of Alexander Kennedy, the first paying passenger for Qantas and a well-known pastoralist,cite web|url=http://www.fastbooks.com.au/Qantas.html|title=The Qantas Foundation Memorial Book Set|accessdate=2007-10-13] later recording Kennedy's life in the Australian Dictionary of Biography. Fysh also wrote "The Log of the Astraea", a book on the Imperial Airways monoplane airliner "Astraea" and the events surrounding the airmail flights to England, which eventually led towards Qantas' partnership with the Imperial Airways.Gunn (1985). "The Defeat of Distance", p. 147]

However his most successful publication was an autobiographical trilogy dealing with Qantas' history and its role in World War II and transportation in Australia. The first book in the trilogy, "Qantas Rising: The Autobiography of the Flying Fysh", is an autobiography of Fysh's life, from World War I and the development of Qantas to the expansion of Qantas into the Qantas Empire Airways in the mid-1930s.Higham (1966). "Technology and Culture". p. 560-561.] The book was "one of the very few autobiographies of airline pioneers", and was noted as "muchto be welcomed" by critical review.

The second book in the series, "Qantas at War", was written about the changes of Qantas and the Imperial Airways in times of nationalization and war. The book follows the dispute between QantasHigham (1969). "Technology and Culture", 119-120.] Following the positive response from the prior book in the trilogy, Qantas at War was compared to Winston Churchill's six-volume history series "The Second World War". Higham (an aviation historian and professor of history) wrote that they ("The Second World War" and "Qantas at War") "are well-written memoirs of the higher direction" and "both leave room for other works which will more mundanely examine the whole of the problems and set the story in its general milieu". When addressing future historians, she states that they "will ever remain most grateful to Sir Hudson for these memoirs".

The trilogy was completed with "Wings to the World" which was published in 1970. The book oversaw the expansion of Qantas, from the introduction of the Super Constellations to the beginnings of the jet era. Also authoring a biography on Henry Reed, titled "Henry Reed: Van Diemen's Land pioneer" in Hobart, 1973, Fysh wrote a profile on the merchant in the Australian Dictionary of Biography in 1967. [Fysh (1973). "Henry Reed".] [cite book|last=Fysh|first=Hudson|year=1967|title=Australian Dictionary of Biography|publisher=Melbourne University Press|edition=Volume 2|url=http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/|chapter= Reed, Henry (1806—1880)| chapterurl=http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A020326b.htm|accessdate=2007-10-16] As a result of a reminiscence in fishing, Fysh wrote a treatise on trout fishing, "Round the bend in the stream", in 1968. [cite web|last=Keam|first=Rick|url=http://www.alpineangler.com.au/index.cfm?PageID=21|title=The Alpine Angler: Hooked on Books|accessdate=2007-10-14]

ee also

* Fergus McMaster
* Qantas

References

Footnotes

Further reading

*cite book |last= Brown|first= John|title= Aviation History|edition= Volume 7, Issue 6|year= 1997|month= July|publisher= Weider History Group |chapter=Qantas: Birth of an airplane down under
*cite book |last=Eames |first=Jim |editor=ed. Andrea Smith |title=Sydney Airport—80 Years as the Gateway to Australia |year=2000|publisher=Focus Publishing |location=Australia |isbn=1-875-35964-8 |oclc= |doi= |id= |pages= |chapter=The History—Changing fortunes |chapterurl= |quote=
*cite book| last = Fysh| first = Wilmot Hudson| year = 1965| title = Qantas Rising| publisher = Qantas Foundation| location = Australia
*cite book| last = Fysh| first = Wilmot Hudson| year = 1968| title = Qantas at War| publisher = Qantas Foundation| location = Australia
*cite book| last = Fysh| first = Wilmot Hudson| year = 1970| title = Wings to the World| publisher = Qantas Foundation| location = Australia
*cite book|last=Fysh|first=Wilmot Hudson|year=1971|publisher=University of Tasmania|title=Commemoration ceremony 1971, address by Sir Hudson Fysh on receiving the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Engineering|ISBN=0-859-01010-4|location=Hobart
*cite book| last = Fysh| first = Wilmot Hudson| year = 1973| title = Henry Reed: Van Diemen's Land Pioneer| publisher = Cat & Fiddle Press| location = Australia
*cite book |last=Gunn |first=John |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=The Defeat of Distance: QANTAS 1919-1939 |year=1985 |publisher=University of Queensland Press |location=St Lucia |isbn=0-702-21707-7
*cite book |last=Gunn |first=John |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Challenging horizons: Qantas 1939-1954 |year=1987 |publisher=University of Queensland Press |location=St Lucia |isbn= 0-702-22017-5
*cite book |last=Gunn |first=John |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=High Corridors: QANTAS, 1954-1970 |year=1988 |publisher=University of Queensland Press |location=St Lucia |isbn= 0-702-22128-7
*cite book |last=Gunn |first=John |title= Contested Skies: Trans-Australian Airlines, 1946-1992 |year=1999|publisher=University of Queensland Press|location=St Lucia|isbn=0-702-23073-1
*cite book |last=Hall |first=Timothy |title=Flying high: The story of Hudson Fysh, Qantas, and the trail-blazing days of aviation |year=1979|publisher=Methuen of Australia |isbn=0-454-00036-7
*cite book |last= Higham|first= Robin |title= Technology and Culture|edition= Volume 7, Number 4|year=1966 |publisher= The Johns Hopkins University Press|pages=560-561 |chapter=Book Reviews
*cite book |last= Higham|first= Robin |title= Technology and Culture|edition= Volume 10, Number 1|month=January | year=1969 |publisher= The Johns Hopkins University Press|pages=119-120 |chapter=Book Reviews
*cite book |last=Lock |first=Stephen |coauthors=Dunea, George; Last, John M. |title=The Oxford Illustrated Companion to Medicine |year=2001 |publisher= Oxford University Press |isbn= 0-192-62950-6
*cite book |last=Simpson|first=Margaret|editor=ed. Anne Savage |title= On The Move: a history of transport in Australia|year= 2004|publisher=Powerhouse Publishing |location= Sydney|isbn=1-86317-0101-0 |chapter= Aviation
*cite book |last=Stackhouse |first=John |title=...from the dawn of aviation. The QANTAS Story 1920 ~ 1995 |year=1995 |publisher=Focus Publishing |isbn=1-875-35923-0

Persondata
NAME = Fysh, Wilmot Hudson, Sir
ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
SHORT DESCRIPTION = Aviator, Businessman
DATE OF BIRTH = January 7, 1895
PLACE OF BIRTH = Launceston, Tasmania
DATE OF DEATH = April 6, 1974
PLACE OF DEATH = Paddington, Sydney