Post by Dave Homewood on May 1, 2024 19:10:11 GMT 12
Here is an obituary for pioneering pilot Will Scotland from The Press, 5 March 1964:
AIRMAIL JUBILEE Death Of Pioneer Pilot Nullifies Invitation
(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) MELBOURNE, March 4.
Mr J. W. H. Scotland, the pioneer New Zealand aviator and pilot on the first mail flight in the Dominion, died at his home in the Melbourne suburb of Box Hill last November.
In the days when a double-breasted suit, a long striped woollen scarf, goggles and a cloth cap worn back to front were almost regulation dress for the dare-devils in flying machines, Mr Scotland was a hero throughout New Zealand.
A thick scrapbook, lovingly cared for by his widow, is crammed with newspaper cuttings which recorded his fame in such headlines as: “New Zealand Bird Man,” “Flying Machine Magnificent Sight,” and as often as not “Machine Dashes Into Trees” and “Machine and Pilot Fall In Park.”
In the years before and during the Great War, Scotland dominated the flying scene in New Zealand.
Learned In U.K.
As a small boy he was fascinated by the feats of men experimenting with the science of flight in America and Europe. At the age of 22, young Scotland gathered his savings together and sailed for Europe to learn flying. He took a six months’ course at the Royal Aero Club School at Hendon, England, and emerged from the course with a certificate, still proudly preserved by his widow, which pronounced him a fully-fledged aviator.
His return to New Zealand was little short of sensational.
He had barely set foot in his homeland than he and his mechanic (every plane had its own mechanic in those days) set to work to assemble Scotland’s pride and joy — a 45 horsepower Anzani-Caudron steel and fabric biplane. The young pilot’s exploits whether successful or not made newspaper headlines. Large crowds turned out to watch the “bird man” and “Scotland the brave” as the newspapers headlined him.
Letter To Temuka
In his most famous flight, Scotland flew 110 miles from Timaru to Christchurch in two hours five minutes, breath-taking speed for the day, accomplishing New Zealand’s first airmail delivery. Scotland was handed a letter by his mechanic in Timaru, and when flying over Temuka he dropped the letter to watchers in a field. The date was March 6, 1914.
The historic flight will be re-enacted on Friday by Mr J. Switzer, of the Canterbury Aero Club. He will make the flight in a Fox Moth, the oldest airworthy aircraft in New Zealand.
Like most of the early aviators, Scotland was an enthusiast and a missionary for his art.
R.F.C. In Persia
For Scotland these challenging and pace-setting days were interrupted by the First World War. He hurried to join the Royal Flying Corps in England and was posted for duty in Persia.
War in the air was almost leisurely. Bombs were dropped by hand and armament was mainly hand-held pistols and rifles.
In the typically flamboyant spirit of the early flyers Scotland offered himself and his plane to the New Zealand Government should it be needed for the war effort.
Offer Declined
It was not, but the Government appreciated the offer and the Prime Minister, Mr W. F. Massey, personally cabled the thanks of the Government to Scotland.
Mrs Scotland still has the cable.
Although the aeroplane had little military significance in the great battles which decided the First World War it meant the acceptance of the “flying machine” as a practical means of transport. Pilots were trained by the hundred and within a few short years the glamour and the “devil may care” image which surrounded the early flyers had vanished.
No Future
Scotland was invalided from the Royal Flying Corps and returned to New Zealand where he continued to give exhibitions until the depression years when he ceased flying and moved to Australia.
Strangely enough Scotland did not see much future for flying in New Zealand. “I don’t think flying out here will be much of a success from a commercial point of view,” he told a newspaper reporter then. “That is, unless some much cheaper way of flying is discovered,” he added.
AIRMAIL JUBILEE Death Of Pioneer Pilot Nullifies Invitation
(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) MELBOURNE, March 4.
Mr J. W. H. Scotland, the pioneer New Zealand aviator and pilot on the first mail flight in the Dominion, died at his home in the Melbourne suburb of Box Hill last November.
In the days when a double-breasted suit, a long striped woollen scarf, goggles and a cloth cap worn back to front were almost regulation dress for the dare-devils in flying machines, Mr Scotland was a hero throughout New Zealand.
A thick scrapbook, lovingly cared for by his widow, is crammed with newspaper cuttings which recorded his fame in such headlines as: “New Zealand Bird Man,” “Flying Machine Magnificent Sight,” and as often as not “Machine Dashes Into Trees” and “Machine and Pilot Fall In Park.”
In the years before and during the Great War, Scotland dominated the flying scene in New Zealand.
Learned In U.K.
As a small boy he was fascinated by the feats of men experimenting with the science of flight in America and Europe. At the age of 22, young Scotland gathered his savings together and sailed for Europe to learn flying. He took a six months’ course at the Royal Aero Club School at Hendon, England, and emerged from the course with a certificate, still proudly preserved by his widow, which pronounced him a fully-fledged aviator.
His return to New Zealand was little short of sensational.
He had barely set foot in his homeland than he and his mechanic (every plane had its own mechanic in those days) set to work to assemble Scotland’s pride and joy — a 45 horsepower Anzani-Caudron steel and fabric biplane. The young pilot’s exploits whether successful or not made newspaper headlines. Large crowds turned out to watch the “bird man” and “Scotland the brave” as the newspapers headlined him.
Letter To Temuka
In his most famous flight, Scotland flew 110 miles from Timaru to Christchurch in two hours five minutes, breath-taking speed for the day, accomplishing New Zealand’s first airmail delivery. Scotland was handed a letter by his mechanic in Timaru, and when flying over Temuka he dropped the letter to watchers in a field. The date was March 6, 1914.
The historic flight will be re-enacted on Friday by Mr J. Switzer, of the Canterbury Aero Club. He will make the flight in a Fox Moth, the oldest airworthy aircraft in New Zealand.
Like most of the early aviators, Scotland was an enthusiast and a missionary for his art.
R.F.C. In Persia
For Scotland these challenging and pace-setting days were interrupted by the First World War. He hurried to join the Royal Flying Corps in England and was posted for duty in Persia.
War in the air was almost leisurely. Bombs were dropped by hand and armament was mainly hand-held pistols and rifles.
In the typically flamboyant spirit of the early flyers Scotland offered himself and his plane to the New Zealand Government should it be needed for the war effort.
Offer Declined
It was not, but the Government appreciated the offer and the Prime Minister, Mr W. F. Massey, personally cabled the thanks of the Government to Scotland.
Mrs Scotland still has the cable.
Although the aeroplane had little military significance in the great battles which decided the First World War it meant the acceptance of the “flying machine” as a practical means of transport. Pilots were trained by the hundred and within a few short years the glamour and the “devil may care” image which surrounded the early flyers had vanished.
No Future
Scotland was invalided from the Royal Flying Corps and returned to New Zealand where he continued to give exhibitions until the depression years when he ceased flying and moved to Australia.
Strangely enough Scotland did not see much future for flying in New Zealand. “I don’t think flying out here will be much of a success from a commercial point of view,” he told a newspaper reporter then. “That is, unless some much cheaper way of flying is discovered,” he added.
