SOURCE:  THE ADVOCATE

22.2.35                    Coffs Aerodrome – Expenditure of Loans (upkeep for Duke’s visit)

                                http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article189053097

10.1.36                    Plane Down at Digger’s Headland – a Hazardous Landing (Reece aboard)

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article189056476

COFFS AERODROME

7.4.36                      Electric Lighting (and telephone) http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article189057574

17.4.36                    Important Developments (Beacon) http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article189057643

8.5.36                      Big Race Landing Spot http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article189057898

15.5.36                    For Hight [sic] Night Flying http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article189057998

16.6.36                    Air Mails- Preparation of ‘dromes (including Evans Head)

 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article189058354

5.6.36                      Flying at 78 (Dr D’Arcy – Bishop of Armagh (I)

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article189058190

21.7.36                    Aeroplane Works (C. Hbr a possibility) http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article189058775

1.9.36                      Aircraft Factory NOT for C. Hbr. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article189059198

2.10.36                    Air Race (plans)  http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article189059518

3.11.36                    Night Landing Tonight (Fuellers alerted -didn’t occur)

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article189059763

10.11.36                  Official Visit http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article189059825

8.12.36                    Air Race – 15.12.36  30 starters http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article189060174

18.12.36                  The Light Beacon http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article189060288

18.12.36                  Air Race http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article189060288

15.1.37                    Civil Aviation Board – advises Com. Control

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article187835226

12.2.37                    Night Lighting Scheme (for night flying) http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article187835600

                                  ----------------------------------------------------

23.2.37                    Stinson Missing (Rex Boydon co-pilot) http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article187835714

26.2.37                    Lost Stinson                  “  lived at Korora http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article187835767

2.3.37                      Stinson Found-( Macpherson Ranges) 2 survivors – J. S. Proud, J. R. Binstead

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article187835794

5.3.37                      Burial of Victims (wreaths dropped) http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article187835807

9.4.37                      Pigeon Post – pioneers of airmail http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article187836137

13.4.37                    S. M. Herald makes misleading statements re aerodrome

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article187836336

4.6.37                      C. Hbr Aerodrome – Improvement well advanced

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article187836851

27.7.37                    C. Hbr Aero Club affiliates with North Coast Clubs  Coffs as a Flying Base?

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article187837485

6.8.37                      Emergency Landing place for Empire Flying Boats (harbour & drome ?) 

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article187837587

Flying Boat coming – Cutty Sark http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article187837598

10.8.37                    A Narrow Escape – (H. Lovett)

9.10.37                    Flying Scholarship (competitors) http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article187837598

15.10.37                  Dowd Wins £25 worth of Instruction http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article187838460

29.10.37                  Big Douglas (Forced Night Landing Tuesday)

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article187838613

Aerodrome for Coffs. (1928, September 21). Coffs Harbour Advocate (NSW : 1907 - 1942; 1946 - 1954), p. 1

Compiled by Cec. Vost: 

an avro. biplane, in 1920 was the first aircraft to land in Coff’s Harbour.

It landed on the Jetty Beach and took passengers, from off the beach for a circuit around the town and land again on the beach. Lieutenant Bird was the pilot and he charged £5  (pounds) per trip.

Ansie Gordon an ex farmer from Bonville was his first passenger, amongst others to enjoy a flight was George H. who later on took out patent rights on a flying machine and built a machine on his farm. He rigged up a gadget with wires going from the farm house to the outhouse way down the back, to assist in getting the machine airborne. He then attempted a take off. He travelled along the wires in the machine, but failed to get adequate flying speed, and, as a result he crashed his machine and put himself off work for about 3 weeks.

When George went for his flight with Lieutenant Bird he was settled into the front cockpit, however when taxiing along the beach for a take off, he threw his heavy hob nailed boots out of the cockpit and on to the beach.

As his boots flew out into space, he bellowed out to his wife, as loud as he possibly could, “Look after my boots, Mammy, I can swim better without them” You know where the will is kept”.

 2/. beach, Mammy hurried along to met him with his boots. The first question she asked George, when she handed him back his boots was, What did you say when you threw your boots out George”. “I couldn’t hear you for the noise of the plane. She added by way of explanation.

                This, Ray, is an eye witness account of the the incident as he states is correct.

                Have a nice night. I am sorry I am not fit enough to be present.

                                                Regards

                                                                                Cec Vost.