Norman Brearley | |
|---|---|
| Sir | |
 Norman Brearley in the 1920s | |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
1890 Geelong, Victoria, Australia |
| Died | June 9, 1989 |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Occupation | Pilot |
Bust of Brearley at Perth Airport by sculptor Gerard Darwin
Sir Norman Brearley CBE was a commercial and military pilot and one of the pioneers of the airline industry within Australia.
Early life[]
Born in Geelong, Victoria in 1890, Brearley moved to Western Australia in 1906.[1]
Aviation career[]
In April, 1915, after undertaking a 5-year apprenticeship as a mechanic, he worked his way to the United Kingdom and subsequently enlisted in the Royal Flying Corps.[2] Whilst flying in France during World War I he was badly wounded in October, 1916, and returned to Western Australia to recover.[2]
In 1921, Brearley founded West Australian Airways Ltd.[1] In the same year, Brearley was issued with the first civil pilot's licence under the 1921 Air Navigation Regulations.[1] Despite his holding licence No. 2, licence No. 1 was not issued until the 1930s in honour of Amy Johnson's record flight from London to Australia.[1]
In 1927, Brearley opened the Perth Flying School at Maylands. He retired from commercial aviation in 1936 when he merged his airline with Australian National Airways.[2]
Later life[]
He later served with the Royal Australian Air Force during World War II.[1]
Brearley was knighted in 1971.[1]
Brearley died on 9 June 1989.[1]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 "Brearley Pilot's Licences, Treasures of the Battye Library" (in en-au). State Library of Western Australia. http://www.slwa.wa.gov.au/treasures/brearley/index.htm. Retrieved 2007-07-15.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Australia's First Airline Service" (in en-au). Spirits of Ansett. http://www.spiritsofansett.com/legends/brealey.htm. Retrieved 2007-07-15.
Further reading[]
- Brearley, Norman, Sir, and Mayman, Ted (1971) Australian aviator Adelaide, Rigby. ISBN 0-85179-227-8
- Mayman, Ted (1979). "Sir Norman Brearley, the aviator", in Hunt, Lyall (ed): Westralian Portraits. Nedlands: University of Western Australia Press, 193–198. ISBN 0-85564-157-6.
- Statesmen & Scholars And other fascinating Western Australians: A Tour Guide for the Karrakatta Cemetery Historical Walk Trail 1, page 8, at Metropolitan Cemeteries Board (WA).
The original article can be found at Norman Brearley and the edit history here.