EYEWITNESS ACCOUNT

The Snapshot in AG 159 about 100 years of our national airline reflects a history of Qantas of which I am not aware.

For example, Qantas did not “open an office” at Archerfield aerodrome in 1935. It had a hangar there and operated from there after moving from Eagle Farm. Qantas’ office was first at the Wool Exchange building, when it moved its head office there in 1930, then at 43 Creek Street, both in Brisbane. Furthermore, the first service of Qantas that connected to the UK departed from Archerfield in December 1934. I was there and saw the Duke of Gloucester who opened the service, with my father, Hudson Fysh, and Captain Lester Brain who flew the old aircraft.The DH 86s were grounded after a delivery flight crash near Longreach.

Also, the mainstay of the wartime operations after the Catalinas was Lancastrians. Liberators were added later.

I have been a reader of AG from the very beginning and know accuracy in the information contained in its articles is considered to be important.

JOHN HUDSON FYSH,WAMBERAL, NSW