The Paspaley Darwin to Rathmines Flight in the Grumman Mallard
In a recent event (11/7/19) hosted by AFA Victoria’s Catalina Branch, guest speaker Clive Carmichael gave a very interesting talk about his experiences as a young lad at Rathmines in the 1950s, together with his recent adventure in a Grumman Mallard. Here is his story…
I write as one of the eight people fortunate enough to experience the above trip, and fortunate we were! What a trip and what an experience.
I don’t know the details of how the idea was first established; the first I knew of it was one Saturday morning I received an email from the Rathmines Catalina Association advising the trip was going to happen plus a few of the details. A trip in a flying boat involving putting down, [alighting] and taking off from water. This just had to be something I would like to experience but was probably resigned to the thought it would never happen. I declared my interest having previously met Malcolm Burns through connections in airlines.
For me this would have all started in 1954 when, as an 18year old, I was called up for compulsory National Service, living in Ballarat in Victoria at that time. We were given medicals being asked to state our preference for Army, Navy or Air Force. My choice was the Air Force, being one of three selected. Of the remainder one got the Navy and the rest the Army. Rathmines was to become my home. In Australia it was the main base for all RAAF Catalina’s and personnel associated, during WW2. In 1954 the base was non-operational with only one Catalina left, the now famous Frigate Bird11.
Assigned to Technical Squadron, my training was to be that of Airframe Mechanic. To this end, there were a number of non-operational land-based aircraft as part of facilitating our training. In this squadron we were all apprenticed to the trades of Turning and Fitting prior to call up.
Since that time in 1954 I have always felt the RAAF were wanting in that there was so much history in that base and the seven or eight books I have since acquired attest to this. During my time at Rathmines we Nasho’s heard none of this. A chance to really inspire some of us was lost; to me a great pity. Of our superiors, many of them, both Officers and NCOs, were difficult. My guess is that in 1954 they did not want to be there any more than we did.
Losing my much-loved wife, now nearly 20 years ago, I was fortunate to team up with my now partner Bev whose daughter and family moved from Melbourne to, of all places, Kilaben Bay. This move has presented me with a number of opportunities to visit Rathmines, to “talk to the ghosts” also to keep up with many of the happenings at the base since 1954.
The Paspaley Pearling Company has its base in Darwin whereas the actual pearling operations are in the Broome area of WA. Before the trip started we were fortunate to be able to go through their “showrooms” to see in detail pearls and pearl shells in their natural form. A real eye opener!
Next morning an early start and take off from Darwin Airport was scheduled for 7.00 AM for the 4 hour flight to Mt Isa. Approaching Mt Isa we did a “touch and go on a big lake, as our pilot said, “Just for fun” Mt Isa itself has an extensive display of fossils, the main focus of our visit.
Next stop was Longreach to see the collection of various Qantas aircraft including a recently acquired Catalina, all from years gone by, allowing us to get “up close and personal” both inside and out. So extensive this could easily be the subject of a separate article. Late afternoon and a boat cruise on the Thompson River with our evening meal cooked in the open in “old bushie ‘traditions. Old Bill told us many stories of the outback and some of them may well be true. Overnight accommodation was at the Saltbush Retreat.
Hamilton Island was next, a popular tourist resort and developed accordingly. Some peoples cup of tea but I have a preference for things the way nature made them. This is what we got the next day at Whitehaven Beach, a short flight away having been given a low flight over the Barrier Reef. Advised beforehand we will be stepping out of the plane and into water, we dressed to allow for this but the water was little more than knee deep. From this really a lovely place and a water take off onwards to Fraser Island.
Again, putting down on the water, and some distance offshore, where an aluminium tinny stood by to take us ashore. Our home for the night was the Kingfisher Resort built with a view to fitting in with nature. On the East side, the beach is said to be ninety kilometres long. Our pilots were unhappy about leaving the Grumman anchored offshore so took it to nearby Hervey Bay for its overnight rest. The next morning we were off on a conducted four-wheel drive tour to Lake McKenzie which is said to be fed only with the rain which falls into it. Interesting to contemplate. Fraser Island too has history of being extensively used by the Australian Army for commando training in WW2.
Next morning, we are off again being ferried to Hervey Bay by two small Cessna type planes before our flight to Lake Macquarie and Rathmines. Arriving, the still existing concrete ramp from WW2 was used to drive the plane up onto the hard standing; the wheels being extended while the plane was still in the water. What a welcome we got here! Felt like VIPs as we emerged from the plane with maybe a hundred or more people waiting for this flight; many of them to do joy flights in the next couple of days of the Rathmines Festival.
So, we came to the end of a truly exciting trip. With only eight of us on board we all had a window seat rotating each day as we saw fit. Our host, Jenna Bolton, left us with nothing but the best in the way she had things organised and is to be commended. Our pilots too Dan, Jenna’s husband, and Andrew were very professional and they too are to be commended for their part. What more can I say? I would do it all again tomorrow!
- Clive Carmichael [Ex A 311309]
Note: For those of us more technically minded, the Grumman Mallard was originally designed in 1944 with 59 aircraft being built between 1946 and 1951. Originally powered by Pratt and Whitney R1340 radial engines, it was “soon established as a reliable, stable, strongly constructed aircraft and was liked by all that flew her”.
The Pratt and Whitney engines were eventually replaced with G-73 AT turbos’ plus associated engine instrumentation and modernised systems and four blade propellers plus updated avionics and navigation systems.
Above Left: This historical aircraft is currently on display (suspended) at the Powerhouse Museum in Sydney until 30 June 2020. (Image – MAAS)