According to my train buddy* G, the longest ever recorded chicken flight lasted for 13 seconds. Ironic then, that one of Australia's most unsung aviators drew his early inspiration from experiments with measuring chook** wingspan relative to their flight!
A world exclusive wasn't what I expected when I saw this sign at Minlaton on South Australia's York Peninsula. But the Red Devil, a Bristol M.1C Military Monoplane from a limited 1918 run of only 125 fast fighter planes designed to assist the Allies during World War I is believed to be the only one left of its kind. In the WORLD!
A world exclusive wasn't what I expected when I saw this sign at Minlaton on South Australia's York Peninsula. But the Red Devil, a Bristol M.1C Military Monoplane from a limited 1918 run of only 125 fast fighter planes designed to assist the Allies during World War I is believed to be the only one left of its kind. In the WORLD!
The Red Devil |
Young Harry flew to England at his own expense to join the Royal Flying Corps following the outbreak of World War I, and was soon regularly flying air raids to France before becoming Captain, Flight Commander then instructor and decorated war hero****.
So I reckon Captain Harry's reported 1919 statement that the Red Devil was one of the three fastest in the world is made on pretty good authority!
Captain Butler's triumphant – and now legendary - return to Minlaton in the Red Devil on 6th August 1919 in a 110 kmh gale wearing an inflated tyre tube in lieu of life-jacket is also believed to be the first airmail delivery over water in the Southern Hemisphere.
A Scale Model of the Red Devil |
Harry wasn't in his beloved Red Devil on 11th January 1922 when engine failure at low altitude and the ensuing crash into a field just outside Minlaton left him critically injured and unable to continue to fly professionally. An undiagnosed cerebral abscess finally caused his death on 29 July 1924.
After languishing in an Adelaide shed for a number of years, the Red Devil was sold by Mrs Butler to Mr C Miller – who, after extensive restoration, attended a number of races and exhibitions. Only one other pilot – a Mr C Kleinig – ever flew the Red Devil, which was never involved in an accident.
The Crash Site |
After languishing in an Adelaide shed for a number of years, the Red Devil was sold by Mrs Butler to Mr C Miller – who, after extensive restoration, attended a number of races and exhibitions. Only one other pilot – a Mr C Kleinig – ever flew the Red Devil, which was never involved in an accident.
The fully restored Red Devil is housed on Minlaton's main street in a protective hangar - a must-see for those, who like me, find this forgotten chapter of Australia's aviation history fascinating. And just up the road, if you can tear yourself away from exhibits such as the Rocking Bath and Magic Flute – fit over the nose to play – a whole room at the Minlaton National Trust Museum is dedicated to Captain Harry Butler. A small booklet – 'The Harry Butler Story'- to which I am indebted for much of the information in this story, is available for purchase.
Memorial Plaque at Crash Site |
But the Red Devil remains a tangible link to another time and place – a place where aviation was in its infancy, a war changed the world forever, and a boy from Koolywurtie became a hero.
*train buddy – best friend fellow commuter
**chook = chicken. Is it just us Aussies who call them chooks??
***Koolywurtie – a small Yorke Peninsula farming locality near Minlaton
****Captain Harry was awarded the Airforce Cross in 1918
Surely chickens can fly for longer than that!....Can't they....??
ReplyDeleteLove your blog! Just stopped by from the Friday blog hop. I’m following you now and hope you’ll stop by my blog sometime too! Have a lovely weekend.
Jill @ Creating my way to Success
http://www.jembellish.blogspot.com/
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@Jill - Welcome! DOn't think I've seen a chook fly for more than 5 seconds, let along 13! But ... maybe I've just been looking at the wrong chooks ...
ReplyDeleteI think 'chook' is a British word. I never heard it used in conversation before I moved to NZ.
ReplyDeleteGreat info, btw. Nice post.
A very interesting story. I had never heard of an aviator called Harry Butler before.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful post. Lots of adventures as usual in your story.
ReplyDeleteanother pleasant read!
ReplyDeletei love learning new things.
lovely pictures, to. :)
havea great sunday/monday/week!!!
big hugs!
betty xx
What a fascinating story. I love the adventuresome characters you share with us. I hope you have a great weekend. Blessings...Mary
ReplyDeleteLove your blog! Something different. Stopping by from the Blog Entourage weekend blog hop. Looking forward to reading more.
ReplyDeleteIt is a really good looking plane, I like the style!
ReplyDelete@bettyl - It's used all the time in OZ, just didn't know where it originated!!
ReplyDelete@diane b - Neither had I! That's what's so great about OZ exploration!!
@Sailor - well, keep on coming back for more!!
@Betty - Sunday night now!! And learning new things? I vowed to learn all about OZ before seriously exploring other countries - looks like I'll still be here for a while yet ...
@Mary - It'd be a shame for characters like Harry to fall into oblivion ... so doing the best I can to make sure it doesn't happen!!
@Divine in Mind - welcome!! And come back anytime with comments like that!!!
@Alessandra - yep, they don't make 'em like that any more, more's the pity!!
I must have had an important life involving aviation around the time of the Red Devil because I gather stories from that period. Especially those first fighter planes. I can always see me sitting in the cockpit wearing my helmet and goggles and the typical scarf flying in the wind. Only I was a man that life. This is a spiffy looking red one.
ReplyDeleteI know I read this post before and thought I commented. Sometimes I write and leave and it doesn't get printed. ugh My life is always in a rush. Thanks for following my A-Z even though I know dance isn't your cup of tea. :)
Love and peace
It's always been my dream to visit Australia, but it's so far and I'm afraid of flying. It would take at least two days to get there from here. This article is very interesting, maybe I should consider flying:) I found you through my friend alessandrazecchini and I'm following you from Trapani, Sicily.
ReplyDelete@Manzanita - from the French revolution to the early days of aviation! My my, you HAVE had exciting lives!!
ReplyDelete@Ciccia - welcome, and thank you! I know the distance is huge - but the rewards of visiting OZ are so great!! Keep visiting my blog and I'll give you a virtual tour!!
I've read about Harry Butler and was thrilled to find this post and read about your adventures and see his plane restored. Sweet! Thank you!
ReplyDelete@Wendy - you and not many others!! Hope this means more awareness - it'd be a shame if he was forgotten ...
ReplyDelete