Contacting the experts

Over the past few months some interesting people have viewed and commented on my blog. These people include Dr. Charles Eaton (the son of GpCpt Charles "Moth" Eaton) and Mrs Sally Douglas (daughter of GpCpt Eric Douglas) who were the men who found Anderson and Hitchcock in the Tanimi Desert and buried them where they lay beside their aircraft. Dr. Charles Eaton and Sally Douglas have provided a great deal of personal information from their father's diaries and log books. In 1929 "Moth" Eaton was a Flt Lt pilot and Eric Douglas was a Sgt pilot in the RAAF. "Moth" Eaton was incharge of five DH9A bi-planes sent to fly from Laverton RAAF to search for Anderson in the northern parts of Australia.

According to their log books they flew for up to five hours per day in very harsh conditions logging about 50 hrs flying for the whole trip. The aircraft had lots of spare parts and five mechanics to keep them flying. However it is worth noting that of the five aircraft three were destroyed or damaged beyond repair during the mission and only two returned to Point Cook. Even with all that support they lost most of their planes, so what chance did Anderson and Hitchcock have trying to do this on their own... None!!

Keith Anderson's Home in South Africa?

Could this be Keith Andersons "home" in South Africa? This is 2 Wigtown Rd, Green Point, Cape Town (Top and Middle Photo's). The home appears to have a recent (1960's) upper floor extension. There are Villas behind the house (bottom photo on "Sydney Street") and could have been one big complex on a large block of land. There is no reference to Wightown Villas on Google and locals say they dont know of any place called Wightown.

Peter Fitzsimons on Keith Anderson Link

http://vimeo.com/5899102

Southern Cross Minor Wreckage

Bert Hinkler's Avro Avian Cirus

Southern Cross on Display

Anzac Day 2011

As you may have noticed i have not writen in a while and that is because school exams and assignments have taken over. Thank goodness for holidays. We went to Queensland and visited The Southern Cross an display at Brisbane airport. The Southern Cross was named by Keith Anderson but sadley no-where is a reference to Keith Anderson and his input into this historic aircraft. We went to the Brisbane Museum at Southbank where two major exhibits from Keith Andersons eara are on display. One Bert Hinkler's historic flight in his Avro Avion from England to Australia in 1928 and two the original wreckage of the Southern Cross Minor of which Bill Lancaster died in 1933 attempted to fly from London to Cape Town. The name Southern Cross has a distinked conection to Keith Anderson.(see photos) Anzac Day 2011 was again celebrated at Tangalooma on Moreton Island off Brisbane at a beach setting. The dawn service was very cold and raining heavylily soaking our Scout uniforms anlong side numerous police, ambulance and returned servicemen listening to the War Memorial Broadcast on ABC radio and. The Australian flag was raised on the beach as reveille was played and we remembered those gallant servicemen who died.