Greetings, Red Dusters. This is the 13th episode of Season Two, so I’m taking a break. But fear not, I have a dilly-bag full of tasty tales that I’ll be working up for Season Three.
Now … I have a fascinating episode for you. I’ve mentioned before, that Australian aviation rose above the dust and mud, into the cold cold cold blue, to cover mighty distances.
Many of you will remember Episodes Four, five and six, where I interviewed former World War 1 fighter pilot Sir Norman Brearley, who started Australia’s very first airline, West Australian Airways.
And Episode 9, ‘You had to overcome their fear’, When Sir Hudson Fysh, another World War 1 veteran, shared anecdotes about his years co-founding Qantas.
Both airlines were not started in the big cities, but in the regions, and the Outback.
So this time, I’ve got a real beauty for you, from someone who was not just a skillful and daring aviator, but a cracker of a yarn-spinner…
Lester Brain was one of the very first Qantas’ pilots – number three in fact, after the airline's two founders. Lester really became the backbone of the company’s flying, and later administrative team.
He was often in the middle of the action, achieving many firsts, and gaining distinguished flying awards along the way.
In this episode:
- How Lester overcame the nausea of flying with burnt castor oil flicking into his face
- Crash landing into a tree
- Searching for missing airmen in Northern Territory jungle
- The humorous tale of of an isolated cattle station desperate for news of the Melbourne Cup winner
- Piloting Australia's first overseas flight
- The glamour of the flying boats
- Being in charge of the tiny settlement of Broome in the North West, during the attacks by the Japanese
- While suffering from fever, rowing out to rescue survivors
- Evading the enemy on the longest flights in the world, across the indian Sea, in what became known as the Double Sunrise route
