Folks,
I was cleaning up my filing system (well trying to create one anyway) and thought you might be interested in some pictures of a discovery/recovery of a different kind to those I recently disputed / debated.
( if you look closely @@/? you will see no side scans or airfix kits are used in the following images)
This is the remains of Bristol Bulldog A12-7 which crashed in the Brisbane Ranges on 14 December 1936, piloted by Eric Reid.
Eric departed RAAF Laverton in the morning and flew out into western Victoria to undertake an altitude flight to measure atmospheric pressure and temperatures and on return from his flight he found the cloud base too thick to identify his location, he spiralled down to identify where he was and fonud himself in the centre of a tree lined gully.
Taking evasive action of a steep climb,the aircraft hit a lower wing to a tree and then stalled back into the scrub.
The aircraft was extensively damaged and Eric suffered wrist, leg and head injuries.
He was unable to free himself from the wreck and remained there for over 24 hours, a search was not mounted until the next day due to poor weather conditions and his wreck was spotted by two Hawker Demons.
A ground party of local farmers having become aware of the missing aircraft and having heard the aircraft overhead the area earlier the previous day, set off as party, led by Mrs Bird and Mrs Kerr (who had dreamt of the location of the wreck overnight) made their way up the ranges the next morning.
The Demon pilots returned to Laverton and returned in a Gypsy Moth and made their own way up the range to find the ground party at the crash site.
Eric Reid is alive and well today and enjoys and annual re-union with the Demon Pilot who spotted him and returned for his rescue.
He recently donated the Control column top to the local historical society.
The aircraft was written off by the RAAF and the only item recorded as being recovered is the engine due to the lack of access roads in the area.
regards
Mark Pilkington
Below are two photos of the wreck during the engine recovery, and one of the control column top on display
By: mark_pilkington - 24th March 2021 at 01:04
No – I am not aware of any link between the two – I suspect it will be a local identity like Thompsons Road is named after, I don’t think the Forrestry Officers knew of the pilots name and many of these roads were created and cut out in the bush long after the crash occured.
By: FoBR - 2nd February 2021 at 09:34
Do you know if Reids Rd in the north of the park is named after the pilot?
By: FoBR - 2nd February 2021 at 09:29
Mark, I think I spoke to you some time ago about this. I’ve been out of action for a long time with medical issues, and the lockdowns haven’t helped matters either. Can you please get in touch with me again via friends.brisbane.ranges@gmail.com. I’d like to discuss erecting an interpretation sign near the crash site in the park.
By: mark_pilkington - 19th September 2004 at 21:07
Elliott,
“Thanks for posting. Have you got any more assuie wreck pics? ‘Poochie’ perhaps?”
Sorry, not exactly sure what a ‘Poochie’ is :confused: unless you mean as in the Bulldog? (and yes I have many more pics of that both in situ and recovered, and can post some more of those if you are interested)?
In regards to other wrecks, I have’nt been to many, I have assisted other people in parts recoveries on a Beaufort and some Battle wrecks but unfortunately I left photography to others in those days and dont have any pics of those myself.
I have found and recovered the “remains” of Wirraways, Anson, P40, Boomerang and Wacketts sold off surplus to farmers etc but in most cases the items havent been that significant “historically” to bother photographing in situ so I only have “after” recovery pics like the fuselage frame posted elsewhere here.
but I will try to put some more of the bulldog up in the next day or so.
regards
Mark Pilkington
By: Whitley_Project - 19th September 2004 at 19:43
JV,
The parts have suffered 60 years of oxidation from lying in the bush, and have suffered shattered spar boxes etc in any case.
I dont think the parts could/would form anything but an “as-is” display, they could only form patterns for either a static or flying rebuild.
A full size flying replica with new welded steel tube frame is underway in the USA and I suspect that will be the only way we will see a third intact “Bulldog”, and one in the air (1x MkII in RAFM, 1x MkIVA in Finnish Air Museum and the Flying Replica project).
regards
Mark Pilkington
Great pics Mike
Thanks for posting. Have you got any more assuie wreck pics? ‘Poochie’ perhaps?
By: Stieglitz - 19th September 2004 at 16:23
Thanks Mark for that additional info.
Do you know if those reproductions are going to include a original enginetype for example a Bristol Jupiter (also maybe new built) or will they be powered by modern sources?
J.V.
By: mark_pilkington - 19th September 2004 at 15:42
JV,
The parts have suffered 60 years of oxidation from lying in the bush, and have suffered shattered spar boxes etc in any case.
I dont think the parts could/would form anything but an “as-is” display, they could only form patterns for either a static or flying rebuild.
A full size flying replica with new welded steel tube frame is underway in the USA and I suspect that will be the only way we will see a third intact “Bulldog”, and one in the air (1x MkII in RAFM, 1x MkIVA in Finnish Air Museum and the Flying Replica project).
regards
Mark Pilkington
By: Stieglitz - 19th September 2004 at 14:42
I do not think many people would be aware of these remains or the recovery.
I was certainly not aware of it. I am very pleased to see so many parts have been found of such a rare plane. I hope that those parts may raise from storage and used for a new project! 🙂
Greets,
J.V.
By: mark_pilkington - 19th September 2004 at 14:05
The remains of the aircraft were recovered in 1993, including a complete lower starboard wing (still with silver dope fabric remanents, fuel tank, partially complete upper port wing, and remains of the other two main planes, and fuselage remanents were recovered, the bulk of the fuselage was apparantly recovered following WW2, and many other parts were scavenged by locals once fire roads were cut into the ranges and the site become a favourite picnic spot in the 1950’s.
This is the first time I have published my photos’ or details of the recovery, the story of the crash is well documented in various books, the parts have since been donated to an Australian Museum and are currently in storage, however I do not think many people would be aware of these remains or the recovery.
regards
Mark Pilkington
By: mark_pilkington - 19th September 2004 at 13:49
(hmmm!! “attachment” works better when you try attaching little JPEGs rather than bloody big BitMaps!)
By: von Perthes - 19th September 2004 at 13:42
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September 19, 2004 at 1:40 pm