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Was browsing through your site and came across
the photographs sent by Kevin McCarty showing a
propeller built at the Ipswich Railway Workshops
in Queensland, Australia, as well as an engine being
tested/run.Your caption suggested that the 1920
dates must have been a mistake if used in 1919 Air
Race.
I very recently purchased a book titled "Qantas
By George", the story of Qantas Engineer Mr. George
Roberts. In this book George relates the story of
when the Vimy came to his home town of Ipswich,
Queensland, when he was a 10 year old. This was
early in 1920.
The Vimy was flying south from Darwin, and had
to stop in Charleville, Queensland, with engine
and propeller trouble. Ispwich was a major industrial
centre for Queensland, so the engine and propeller
was sent therefor repair. "The Ipswich railway
workshops could build anything, anything at all.
The engine was removed and sent on a train to the
Ipswich Railway workshops, and they made new connecting
rods for the engine, which was a 12-cylinder Rolls
Royce Eagle VIII. With our father, Norm and I went
to see this engine being tested. I saw Ross Smith.
I met Bennett there too. I have a photograph, which
my father took, at the workshops. Ross Smith signed
our photograph." George Roberts.
I have scanned the page showing the Vimy photographs
and send as an attachment. I am a 37 year old Aircraft
Maintenance Engineer with Ansett Australia, and
I am very interested in the history of flight.
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The Vimy's damaged propeller
(bottom) and its replacement,
made from Queensland Maple.
Jim Bennett (top left) tests
the Vimy engine at the Ipswich railway workshops.
Ross Smith signed Bert Roberts' photograph, which
is dated February 3, 1920.
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