There is an article in the latest Classic Wings magazine about a flight
of three RAF Vickers Wellesley that broke records on a flight to
Australia in 1938.
One of the pilots was a Flt/Lt R T Gething.
The article states:
"The first serious accident occurred on November 28, 1938 when the
engine of L2638 failed shortly after takeoff, at a height of 340 metres,
forcing the Wellesley to land in a field 3 km outside of Windsor. Flt/Lt
Gething made a silent approach, and a hard landing, narrowly missing
Jack Drayton who was ploughing. Drayton was somewhat deaf and did not
notice the aircraft's imminent arrival until his horse bolted ......"
Can anyone confirm that this is the same R T Gething who was GFA
secretary in the early seventies? I knew he was ex-RAF, but don't know
anything of his military history. Was he a glider pilot during his
service days, or did the Wellesley event, if the same R T Gething,
inspire him to take it up when he came to live in Aus? I seem to recall
he owned the Dart 17 in his gliding days.
Or if anyone can remember in which AG his obituary was printed, its
probably all in there. You tend to forget a lot of things with advancing
years. Now what's my wife's name again ....
Cheers,
Leigh Bunting
Colonel Light Gardens
South Australia
<Open Windows and let the bugs in>
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