Today’s something different again. Here’s the postwar painting entitled ‘Bomber Crash’ by Australian Frank Hinder, who was working with the Camouflage Wing of the Royal Australian Engineers during World War Two. At first it seems to be a semi-abstract fire image, the details become evident as the picture is read. Held in the Australian War…
Tag: Australia
The SLV’s Dutchmen
Currently on at the State Library of Victoria (re-opening today) is the ‘Velvet, Iron, Ashes’ exhibition, which among several other great things contains an excellent selection of items relating to the 1934 MacRobertson air race. The display includes a newsreel highlights, and the promotional poster (seen above) as well as one of the many route…
Bonny Bonney
There’s been a few ‘Google doodles‘ featuring aviators to date, and a current one features Australian Aviatrix Lores Bonney. Maude Rose ‘Lores’ Bonney, (20 November 1897 – 24 February 1994) was the first woman to fly solo from Australia to England. The image is, in fact, animated, and the background to the story of the…
Get A Pilot Husband
Today’s cover illustration, The Australian magazine Woman’s Day and Home, November 20, 1950. Often unintentional ironies appear in coverline clashes in magazines, but this one has also become slightly more intense with time. A little serious insight to the reality behind being a ‘cover star’. Doug Morrison writes “Old friend Max Garroway 2nd from right….
Vimy Ere – Here!
Today a slightly detailed and slightly-serifed set of letters, almost an abstract design. Because also today, 100 years ago, four young men lifted off in their aircraft from Hounslow aerodrome near London at 8 am on 12 November 1919, and headed to their homeland, Australia, literally on the other side of the world. They’d just…
Adams’ Prang
Australian official war artist Dennis Adams was in a Short Stirling heavy bomber that crashed (‘prang’ in the vernacular of the time) on 16-17 July 1944. He survived (two of the crew didn’t) and is seen here examining the inverted nose of the bomber a week afterwards. Adams head and left leg were injured, and…
Tractor Parts
‘Tractor build’ isn’t a great advert for aircraft, but the other way? A CAC Wirraway presented anonymously on a brochure for tractor spark plugs. ‘Aircraft Quality’ may be the advert, but certified for aircraft use usually meant prices exponentially greater than for land transport. It’s a ‘Publicity Brochure – H.V. McKay Massey Harris, Spark Plugs,…
Non-British Bulldogs
An advertisement from The Aeroplane, 1932, by Bristol Aircraft. (Notice the logotype, discussed earlier here, bottom centre.) A neat design, the monochrome printing leads to an unanswered query – which nine countries? Some of the flags are identifiable – several are confused as they are all arranged vertically, not horizontally – and only readable with…
French Ivan
A strong cover design for a paperback in French – ‘Poursuite dans l’Atlantique’ (‘Atlantic Pursuit’) by Ivan Southall by éditions Gérard & C°, 1960. The original book is a rarely seen fictional work by Australian Short Sunderland pilot veteran and later author, translated soon after publication into French. English language details here. Somewhat surprising, to…
Wing Way
Today’s Poster. Ronald Clayton Skate (Aust., 1913-1990). Wing Your Way With ANA c1950s. Colour process lithograph, signed in image upper right, 96 x 61.7cm. Stains, repaired tears, minor perforations. Linen-backed. Text continues “Australia’s most experienced airline.” Held in NLA. Australian National Airways (ANA) ran from 1936 to 1957 until its merger with Ansett. . Item…
A Year of Aviation Illustration & Art 