Man Among Mavericks, A: Lester Brain – Australia’s Greatest Aviator

AVIATION 

“Lester Brain was a true pioneer of Australia’s aviation history. Grabbing a long-forgotten transcript of an interview with Lester, Neil Cadigan set off on a journey following the path of Lester Brain, traversing the unpredictable terrain of Australia, visiting places like Broome, Alice Springs, Camooweal, Cloncurry, Brisbane and Longreach. He discovered a man whose amazing flying adventures read like a boys own annual. From prospecting for gold reefs in the Tanami Desert to rescuing the hapless aviators Keith Anderson and Robert Hitchock whose aircraft, the Kookaburra, went missing while searching for Charles Kingsford Smith and Charles Ulm. In 1929 he was rated the best aviator in Australia, taught many of the country’s greatest achieving pilots, rescued survivors during a Japanese attack on Broome during World War II, took the controls for inaugural mail and flying-boat services for Qantas, and contributed more towards the world renowned safety record of Qantas in its formative three decades than any other aviator.”

xi, 238 p., [8] p. of plates : ill. (some col.), ports. ; 23 cm. First Edition.  #130523