Photographs of memorials and commemorations of the first England to Australia flight [PRG 1701/2/1-9] • Photograph
England-Australia Air Race monument, Darwin.
The commemorative obelisk marking the landing point and final destination of the victorious crew of the Vickers Vimy G-EAOU aircraft in Port Darwin, Northern Territory, at the end of the 1919 England to Australia Air Race. Plaque reads: 'Erected by the Commonwealth of Australia to commemorate the landing at Port Darwin of the first aerial flight from England 10th December 1919'. A plaque on the opposite side of the monument gives the names of the winning crew members: 'Captain Sir Ross Smith KBE, MC, OFC, AFC. Australian Flying Corps. AIF. Lieutenant Sir Keith Smith KBE. Sergeant JM Bennett APM, Australian Flying Corps, AIF, Sergeant WH Shiers AFM, Australian Flying Corps. AIF'. The monument was unveiled in 1923.
Ross and Keith Smith memorial stone, Enfield.
Unveiling ceremony of the monument at Enfield Airfield for Ross and Kieth Smith and crew. Senator Keith Laught is giving a speech, and members of the official party are seated at a table next to the monument, with a Lions Club Enfield banner in the background. The memorial stone features a plaque with inscription: 'Pioneer aviators Capt. Sir Ross Smith and Lieut. Sir Keith Smith, residents of this district, with crew members Lieut. J.M. Bennett & Lieut. W.H. Shiers, at this spot terminated the first England to Australia flight on March 23rd 1920. Unveiled by Senator K.A. Laught in the presence of W.H. Shiers, on Feb. 19th 1966. Erected by the Lions Club of Enfield'. See also B 17702/1.
Ross and Keith Smith memorial stone and plaque, Enfield.
Close view of the plaque on the memorial stone at Enfield, commemorating Ross and Kieth Smith and crew. Inscription: 'Pioneer aviators Capt. Sir Ross Smith and Lieut. Sir Keith Smith, residents of this district, with crew members Lieut. J.M. Bennett & Lieut. W.H. Shiers, at this spot terminated the first England to Australia flight on March 23rd 1920. Unveiled by Senator K.A. Laught in the presence of W.H. Shiers, on Feb. 19th 1966. Erected by the Lions Club of Enfield'. See also B 17702/1. Smaller print copy also available.
Ross and Keith Smith monument, Enfield.
View of the memorial for Ross and Keith Smith and crew at Enfield. In the foreground is a signpost in the shape of an aircraft propeller, with text 'Sir Ross & Keith Smith, first flight England to Australia landing site 1919'. In the background is the memorial stone and plaque, unveiled on 19 February 1966. See also B 17702/1.
Aerial view, Adelaide.
Aerial view of Adelaide city, showing Adelaide Oval, River Torrens, Torrens Parade Grounds, Railway Station, Government House, and North Terrace.
Statue of the Vickers Vimy G-EAOU crew.
Sandstone wall depicting effigies of the Vickers Vimy G-EAOU crew, Captain Sir Ross Smith, Lieutenant Sir Keith Smith, Lieutenant James Mallett Bennett, and Lieutenant Walter Henry Shiers. Located at the building housing the Vickers Vimy G-EAOU aircraft at Adelaide Airport, West Beach, South Australia. Caption: 'Lady Smith, widow of the late Sir Keith Smith, with Mr W.A.A. Peters, then acting State Manager, BP Australia Limited, and Mr E.C. Acres, President, Royal Aero Club of South Australia'. Keith Smith's widow Anita (formerly Crawford, nee Schmidt) died in 1986.
Vickers Vimy replica, G-AWAU.
Men dragging a replica of the Vickers Vimy aircraft, G-AWAU, at Paris Airport for the Paris Airshow in June 1969. An airworthy Vimy replica was built in 1969 by the Vintage Aircraft Flying Association at Brooklands, England. In the background is an F-BRMG Socata Rallye Commodore 180 aircraft, and an F-WTSS SUD-BAC Concorde.
Speech at an outdoor ceremony.
A man standing on a small stage with a microphone, giving a speech to a group assembled in a park. Possibly a commemoration service marking the anniversary of the first England to Australia aerial flight in 1919.
Captain 'Nobby' Buckley and Lady Smith.
Captain Noble Sydney Douglas ('Nobby') Buckley (b.1908-d.1981), a pioneer aviator and president of the Aero Club at Parafield, in conversation with Lady Anita Smith, widow of Keith Smith.