Queensland Flying Corps
In September 1914, Thomas Macleod instigated the establishment of "Queensland Flying Corps" in Brisbane by appealing to the public in letters to the editor and enlisting "The Brisbane Courier" newspaper to establish a "Courier' Aeroplane Fund" to receive donations. The immediate mission of the fund was to acquire materials and build a shed and aeroplane for the Corps's own flying school; Queenslanders were to be trained to build and fly the machines. Applications to join what MacLeod himself more commonly referred to as the "Queensland Volunteer Flying Corps" or the "Volunteer Flying Corps: came in after he made a detailed accounting of donations to the fund in November 1914. In a letter published on or near 16 Dec. 1914 in several local newspapers, Macleod reported that the first work of what he was again calling the "Queensland Flying Corps" would consist of building two aeroplanes in contrast to plans of the Commonwealth to purchase machines for its school in Melbourne. Production of the first aeroplane was underway in May 1915. In June 1915, Macleod changed the organization's name to "Queensland Volunteer Flying Civilians."
The organization was begun by Thomas Macleod and was supported by public donations through an Aeroplane Fund established by "The Brisbane Courier." Arthur W. Jones, a trained pilot who had brought back a Caudron biplane from England in May 1913, was enlisted as chief construction officer and flying instructor. The number of members at any time is not known. Macleod maintained contact with the Australian Department of Defence, notifying it of his plans to establish the organization and then to change its name in 1915; he was wished every success. The Corps built a Caudron-type biplane powered by a 35 h.p. Anzani engine; it was christened "The Courier" at Hemmant on 22 Nov. 1915; the motor was started but no flight was made then. In February 1916, Macleod and five or six others from the "Queensland Volunteer Flying Corps" went to London with the intention of joining the Royal Flying Corps and, variously, in March and April 1916, it was reported that Macleod had received his commission. On 10 Feb. 1916, in Macleod's absence, a meeting of subscribers to the "Courier' Aeroplane Fund" decided that a board of control should offer the Corps's training services to the aviation school of the Commonwealth.
Our history of the "Flying Corps" emerges through Macleod's letters, advertisements, and the occasional article published in the "The Brisbane Courier" and the other local newspapers. According to Gibson, the volunteer organization was formed by Macleod and Jones to train pilots for overseas service in the Australian Flying Corps. We are not convinced that before any affiliation with the aviation school of the Commonwealth, if that occurred in 1916, that the plan was to train them for overseas service; we see the organization as more of one to provide readiness for local defense and to prepare constructors and pilots for wherever they were needed. Gibson also states that the "Courier" biplane was constructed under the supervision of T. Macleod. From Jones's background and position as chief construction officer he clearly would have supervised the "Courier's" construction.
Sources
- The Queenslander (Brisbane, Queensland), 30 May 1913 and 27 Nov. 1915; Daily Telegraph (Launceston, Tasmania), 31 May 1913; The Brisbane Courier (Brisbane, Queensland), 19 & 23 Sept. 1914; 3, 27 & 28 Nov. 1914; 8 & 23 Jan. 1915; 13 May 1915; 20 July 1915; 6 Aug. 1915; 23 & 27 Nov. 1915; 11 Feb. 1916; and 25 Mar. 1916. Maryborough Chronicle, Wide Bay and Burnett Advertiser (Queensland), 16 Dec. 1914; The Northern Miner (Charters Towers, Queensland), 21 Dec. 1914; Townsville Daily Bulletin (Townsville, Queensland), 15 Apr. 1916; Queensland Figaro (Brisbane, Queensland), 22 Apr. 1916. Also, Gibson, "Australia and Australians in Civil Aviation, An Index to Events" V.1, 45, 49, 52-53.
| Organization names | Queensland Flying Corps : Queensland Volunteer Flying Corps : Queensland Volunteer Flying Civilians |
|---|---|
| Entity type | |
| Country | Australia |
| City | Brisbane, Queensland |
| Affiliated with | |
| Scope | |
| Started aero | 1914 |
| Ended aero | 1916 or later |
| Keywords | |
| Key people | |
| Wikidata id |
- Address: Aeroplane was built at St. Paul's Hall, Leichardt Street, Spring Hill, Brisbane, after which it was moved to a hangar at Hemmant for testing (1915).
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