The Early Days of MAF Australia – as written by an eye witness
MAF Australia recently received a beautiful letter off one of our long time supporters, 96 year old Barry S. Barry’s family have been involved with MAF Australia since the very beginning and below he relays some wonderful memories of those pioneer days. In his letter, Barry also included a MAF brochure from 1956:
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Dear Friends,
Greetings and thank you for the magnificent 2018 Calendar. My brother Leo was one of the founders of MAF Australia, shortly after WW2 during which he served with the RAAF 20 Squadron.
The other foundation members as I recollect were Harry Hartwig, Vic Ambrose, Ed Lumsden and Alex Friend (W.A.).
After the war Leo worked for Trans Australia Airlines (TAA) as a certified Ground Engineer.
When the need arose for a suitable aircraft to do a preliminary study (or survey) of work for the aircraft in Northern Australia, a De Havilland Tiger Moth was chosen (there was not much choice). So this was purchased in bits and pieces from the Disposals Commission, fuselage and wings were bought at “give away” prices and assembled under Leo’s supervision at Essendon (I think Leo got “time off” from TAA to do this).
All this assembly work had to be done correctly to the Dept. of Civil Aviation Standards and I remember my mother making the seat cushions!
Alex Friend from WA was one of the helpers to assemble the Tiger, and eventually Leo and Alex did a test flight over Melbourne from Essendon in I think mid 1949. Alex and Harry Hartwig made the initial survey flight over Northern Australia after a commemorative service at Essendon, conducted by the Rev. Arrowsmith, before the two pioneers took off. The take off was very long due to the extra fuel tanks and I remember Leo saying to me “I wondered if they were able to leave the ground”. Well they DID leave the ground after a few nail biting moments and so began the first official flight of MAF. It was a special day.
Enclosed is a small leaflet from my collection dated 1958, which I am sure will be of interest to all at MAF.
Sincerely and in the Lord’s service,
Barry S.
p.s. Please excuse the writing, I will be 96 in November!
(Published with permission from the author.)