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I'll Lock Up
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- 5,927
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- Sydney Australia
Fasten your seatbelt, warns Peter FitzSimons -the story of flying boats in Sydney is one of intrigue and suspicion.
Peter Fitzsimons is a well known Aussie author and sports journalist. This appeared in the Sydney Morning Herald.
I know - there's just something about the water around here. It's just so very Eastern Suburbs. And yet, despite genteel appearances, that particular stretch of water in Rose Bay marks the spot where something that stunned all of Australia took place. You see, that is the spot where the famed Flying Boat Base used to be,
And now. picture the scene. It is the sunny afternoon of August 26,1949, and a big, beautiful Oantas Catalina VH~EAW has just arrived after a flight from Noumea.
Its well-heeled passengers are unloaded, the plane is cleaned and refuelled for its next trip to Lord Howe Island. As darkness descends, the giant planes rock gracefully on the swells caused by passing cruisers and late-night ferries, Soon, though, all falls quiet as Sydney sleeps and the only sound to be heard is the odd swish of a passing car and the tiny lap-lap sound of the harbour caressing the Catalina's floats until .. the plane explodes.
After an investigation. Bryan Monkton of rival flyingTrans Oceanic Airways was sensationally arrestedwith sabotage. Sydney was agog and followed theclosely. Monkton's alibi was that he and his wife hathat evening at their Bellevue Hill home with PG. Tthe most esteemed aviators in the country. Taylor Joan had left the Monktons at midnight, and his lawthat it would have been impossible for Monkton to home to Rose Bay and plant the device in time. Thand Monkton was acquitted. The crime remains un
At 2.22 am on that early morning of August 27, people as far away as Bondi and Darlinghurst suddenly sat bolt upright in their beds as what seemed to be a roll of dirty thunder blew through their bedroom windows. What was going on?
At Rose Bay, harbourside residents were nearly blown out of their beds by the shock waves, and looked out their windows to see. smoke on the water. fire in the sky. What had been the Qantas plane was now a massive ball of flame. The blaze remained so intense that tire-crews couldn't get close enough to do anything and it only sizzled out when the whole mess sank, 20 minutes after the explosion.
What had happened? Exactly. It was the very question Sydney would be asking for years to come. At least answer was provided when they got the remains to the surface and discovered a crude ignition device, alarm clock, a battery and a coil attached to a piece of wooden fruit crate in the engineer's compartment. The fuel flow had been smashed so that when the device triggered, the coil would throw a spark, igniting the fuel-filled cockpit. But who had done it?
After an investigation, Bryan Monkton of rival flying boat airline Trans Oceanic Airways was sensationally arrested and charged with sabotage. Sydney was agog and followed the 1950 trial closely. Monkton's alibi was that he and his wife had been dining that evening at their Bellevue Hill home with PG Taylor, one of the most esteemed aviators in the country (He later crossed the Pacific to Chile in 1951 via Easter Island - a former colleague of mine accompanied the flight) Taylor and his wife Joan had left the Monktons at midnight and his lawyers argued that it would have been impossible for Monkton to travel from his home to Rose Bay and plant the device in time. The jury agreed and Monkton was acquitted. The crime remains unsolved...
But I reckon someone out there knows the truth, and it must be time to 'fess up'!
With thanks to Matthew Holle of the Museum of Sydney who is curating the exhibition Flying Boats: Sydney's Golden Age From May 10, Admission: $10.
Peter Fitzsimons is a well known Aussie author and sports journalist. This appeared in the Sydney Morning Herald.
I know - there's just something about the water around here. It's just so very Eastern Suburbs. And yet, despite genteel appearances, that particular stretch of water in Rose Bay marks the spot where something that stunned all of Australia took place. You see, that is the spot where the famed Flying Boat Base used to be,
And now. picture the scene. It is the sunny afternoon of August 26,1949, and a big, beautiful Oantas Catalina VH~EAW has just arrived after a flight from Noumea.
Its well-heeled passengers are unloaded, the plane is cleaned and refuelled for its next trip to Lord Howe Island. As darkness descends, the giant planes rock gracefully on the swells caused by passing cruisers and late-night ferries, Soon, though, all falls quiet as Sydney sleeps and the only sound to be heard is the odd swish of a passing car and the tiny lap-lap sound of the harbour caressing the Catalina's floats until .. the plane explodes.
After an investigation. Bryan Monkton of rival flyingTrans Oceanic Airways was sensationally arrestedwith sabotage. Sydney was agog and followed theclosely. Monkton's alibi was that he and his wife hathat evening at their Bellevue Hill home with PG. Tthe most esteemed aviators in the country. Taylor Joan had left the Monktons at midnight, and his lawthat it would have been impossible for Monkton to home to Rose Bay and plant the device in time. Thand Monkton was acquitted. The crime remains un
At 2.22 am on that early morning of August 27, people as far away as Bondi and Darlinghurst suddenly sat bolt upright in their beds as what seemed to be a roll of dirty thunder blew through their bedroom windows. What was going on?
At Rose Bay, harbourside residents were nearly blown out of their beds by the shock waves, and looked out their windows to see. smoke on the water. fire in the sky. What had been the Qantas plane was now a massive ball of flame. The blaze remained so intense that tire-crews couldn't get close enough to do anything and it only sizzled out when the whole mess sank, 20 minutes after the explosion.
What had happened? Exactly. It was the very question Sydney would be asking for years to come. At least answer was provided when they got the remains to the surface and discovered a crude ignition device, alarm clock, a battery and a coil attached to a piece of wooden fruit crate in the engineer's compartment. The fuel flow had been smashed so that when the device triggered, the coil would throw a spark, igniting the fuel-filled cockpit. But who had done it?
After an investigation, Bryan Monkton of rival flying boat airline Trans Oceanic Airways was sensationally arrested and charged with sabotage. Sydney was agog and followed the 1950 trial closely. Monkton's alibi was that he and his wife had been dining that evening at their Bellevue Hill home with PG Taylor, one of the most esteemed aviators in the country (He later crossed the Pacific to Chile in 1951 via Easter Island - a former colleague of mine accompanied the flight) Taylor and his wife Joan had left the Monktons at midnight and his lawyers argued that it would have been impossible for Monkton to travel from his home to Rose Bay and plant the device in time. The jury agreed and Monkton was acquitted. The crime remains unsolved...
But I reckon someone out there knows the truth, and it must be time to 'fess up'!
With thanks to Matthew Holle of the Museum of Sydney who is curating the exhibition Flying Boats: Sydney's Golden Age From May 10, Admission: $10.
