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my-fathers-survival [2022/05/16 12:00]
sausage created
my-fathers-survival [2022/05/16 22:53] (current)
sausage [Final thoughts]
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 <WRAP center round box 80%> <WRAP center round box 80%>
-Judging from the ages of the men in this photo, I suspect them to be Mr. Wilson and Mr. Gorman (pilot Adrian Johnson in the middle). Though the plane pictured is a Cessna Skylane(?), not Piper. ​It is possible that their plane was not ready, and they posed in front of the Cessna, or the journalist reported the wrong plane due to similarities. Details yet to be confirmed.</​WRAP>​+Judging from the ages of the men in this photo, I suspect them to be Mr. Wilson and Mr. Gorman (pilot Adrian Johnson in the middle). Though the plane pictured ​here is a [[https://​www.austairdata.com.au/​component/​rsdirectory/​entry/​view/​9101:​vh-act-2|Cessna ​182B Skylane ​registered in 1961]], not the Piper from 1959Either ​the same men on a flight two years later, or the photo may be unrelated. Details yet to be confirmed.</​WRAP>​
  
 ===== Monday May 18, 1959 ===== ===== Monday May 18, 1959 =====
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 Mr Wilson was planning to arrive in Alice Springs to take delivery of 400 head of cattle. Mr Wilson was planning to arrive in Alice Springs to take delivery of 400 head of cattle.
  
-There was no radio on board or signalling equipment on board, but the plane contained plenty of food and water.+There was no radio or signalling equipment on board, but the plane contained plenty of food and water.
  
 The overnight temperature was 16.8C. Thankfully in a comfortable range. ​ The overnight temperature was 16.8C. Thankfully in a comfortable range. ​
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 On Tuesday the 19th, the weather was clear but the region was sodden and boggy. On Tuesday the 19th, the weather was clear but the region was sodden and boggy.
  
-At the time, there were seven aircraft searching in the northern part of South Australia when the plane was sighted from the air that afternoon (approx ​272123S1356425E), 23 miles (38 kilometres) north-east from Oodnadatta, and the men could be seen walking around the aircraft.+At the time, there were seven aircraft searching in the northern part of South Australia when the plane was sighted from the air that afternoon (approx ​[[https://​www.google.com.au/​maps/​place/​27%C2%B019'​30.0%22S+135%C2%B059'​14.4%22E/​@-27.325,​134.8667278,​8z/​data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:​0x88774185d1697a0!8m2!3d-27.325!4d135.9873333|S27°19.50'​ E135°59.24'​]]), 23 miles (38 kilometres) north-east from Oodnadatta, and the men could be seen walking around the aircraft.
  
-A DC3 plane was dispatched by the Department Of Civil Aviation and performed a supply drop of food, water, cigarettes and other supplies for the men, before turning to Macumba Station (approx ​270711S1354712E) where it dropped a note giving the location of the Piper.+A DC3 plane was dispatched by the Department Of Civil Aviation and performed a supply drop of food, water, cigarettes and other supplies for the men, before turning to Macumba Station (approx ​[[https://​www.google.com.au/​maps/​place/​27%C2%B003'​51.6%22S+135%C2%B041'​39.6%22E/​@-27.0643333,​135.1340306,​9z/​data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:​0xea8f1d09c1d29646!8m2!3d-27.0643333!4d135.6943333|S27°3.86'​ E135°41.66'​]]) where it dropped a note giving the location of the Piper.
  
-Mr Kempe of Macumba Station, seven miles (11 kilometres) away headed out to the site with a jeep and horses in case he got bogged due to the sodden ground. ​+MrKempe of Macumba Station, seven miles (11 kilometres) away headed out to the site with a jeep and horses in case he got bogged due to the sodden ground. ​
  
 A police party took enough fuel out to the location to enable the plane to be flown to Oodnadatta once ready. A police party took enough fuel out to the location to enable the plane to be flown to Oodnadatta once ready.
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 The morning of May 20, Mr. Wilson and Mr. Gorman were taken from Macumba Station to Oodnadatta in a car. The morning of May 20, Mr. Wilson and Mr. Gorman were taken from Macumba Station to Oodnadatta in a car.
  
-That afternoon, my father returned to the aircraft flew the plane to Oodnadatta. When he arrived, officials from the Civil Aviation Authority questioned him. There were two factors that made the journey difficult:+That afternoon, my father returned to the aircraft ​and flew the plane to Oodnadatta. When he arrived, officials from the Civil Aviation Authority questioned him. There were two factors that made the journey difficult:
  
   - The weather was the main factor for the difficultly,​ and;   - The weather was the main factor for the difficultly,​ and;
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 ===== Final thoughts ===== ===== Final thoughts =====
  
-If this story played out in the modern world, I'm sure it would have a melting pot of litigation, stress and psychological therapy. I'm of the option that regional men of that erausual faults aside were much more resilient and grounded. ​I know which I admire.+If this story played out in the modern world, I'm sure it would have been a melting pot of litigation, stress and psychological therapy. But they simply got on with the job. I'm of the option that regional men of that era (usual faults asidewere much more resilient and grounded ​than they are todayHow things have changed.
  
 ===== References ===== ===== References =====
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 Historical Weather Historical Weather
 http://​www.bom.gov.au/​climate/​data/​stations/​ http://​www.bom.gov.au/​climate/​data/​stations/​
 +
 +Flight route planner
 +https://​skyvector.com
 +
 +Historical registrations
 +https://​www.austairdata.com.au
  
 ===== Reference Airstrip codes and Coordinates ===== ===== Reference Airstrip codes and Coordinates =====
   - YSWG  ​   - YSWG  ​
   - YBHI  ​   - YBHI  ​
-  - 272123S1356425E ​ +  - S27°19.50'​ E135°59.24'​ 
-  - 270711S1354712E ​+  - S27°3.86'​ E135°41.66'​
   - YOOD  ​   - YOOD  ​
   - YBAS   - YBAS
my-fathers-survival.1652702454.txt.gz · Last modified: 2022/05/16 12:00 by sausage