James Cuthbert Mercer (16 September 1886 – 30 June 1944) was a pioneer New Zealand aviator, establishing the country's first commercial airline, Air Travel (NZ) Ltd, in 1934 based around services operating between Hokitika and settlements in South Westland.
Mercer was born in Dunedin and when he left school, he worked as a bicycle and car mechanic. Mercer learned to fly while working as a mechanic at the Sockburn airport in Christchurch and became the Canterbury Aero Club's first instructor when it formed in 1928.[1]
CareerEdit
In 1934 Mercer set up Air Travel (NZ) Ltd, which became the first licensed airline to commence services in New Zealand with its inaugural flight on 18 December from Hokitika. Very shortly after the airline began delivering mail.[2] When the service began operating in 1934 along the West Coast, Mercer used a de Havilland Fox Moth.[3]
Mercer died in an aircrash in 1944 when the company's de Havilland Dragon ZK-AHT, piloted by Colin Lewis, crashed on Mount Hope, en route from Nelson to Westport.[2] He is buried in the Hokitika Cemetery.[4] In 1945, Air Travel (NZ) Ltd came under government control but continued until 1967 when the national air carrier NAC began flights into Hokitika. Eleven pilots flew for Air Travel (NZ) Ltd between 1934 and 1947.[2]
Information about New Zealand airlines and various publications 2010-05-05 at the Wayback Machine
October 19, 2023
bert, mercer, james, cuthbert, mercer, september, 1886, june, 1944, pioneer, zealand, aviator, establishing, country, first, commercial, airline, travel, 1934, based, around, services, operating, between, hokitika, settlements, south, westland, mercer, 1921, c. James Cuthbert Mercer 16 September 1886 30 June 1944 was a pioneer New Zealand aviator establishing the country s first commercial airline Air Travel NZ Ltd in 1934 based around services operating between Hokitika and settlements in South Westland Mercer in 1921 Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 3 Death and legacy 4 References 5 Further reading 6 External linksEarly life EditMercer was born in Dunedin and when he left school he worked as a bicycle and car mechanic Mercer learned to fly while working as a mechanic at the Sockburn airport in Christchurch and became the Canterbury Aero Club s first instructor when it formed in 1928 1 Career EditIn 1934 Mercer set up Air Travel NZ Ltd which became the first licensed airline to commence services in New Zealand with its inaugural flight on 18 December from Hokitika Very shortly after the airline began delivering mail 2 When the service began operating in 1934 along the West Coast Mercer used a de Havilland Fox Moth 3 Death and legacy Edit nbsp Headstone at Mercer s grave in Hokitika CemeteryMercer died in an aircrash in 1944 when the company s de Havilland Dragon ZK AHT piloted by Colin Lewis crashed on Mount Hope en route from Nelson to Westport 2 He is buried in the Hokitika Cemetery 4 In 1945 Air Travel NZ Ltd came under government control but continued until 1967 when the national air carrier NAC began flights into Hokitika Eleven pilots flew for Air Travel NZ Ltd between 1934 and 1947 2 References Edit King John Mercer James Cuthbert Dictionary of New Zealand Biography Ministry for Culture and Heritage a b c Waugh Richard 2009 New Zealand s First Airline Hoki to Haast ISBN 978 0 473 15937 5 Keith Michael 20 October 2017 Early aviation and true trailblazers Auckland War Memorial Museum Retrieved 12 January 2022 Cemetery enquiry Westland District Council Archived from the original on 18 October 2014 Retrieved 11 October 2014 Further reading EditWaugh Richard 1994 When the Coast is Clear ISBN 0 473 02851 4 External links EditInformation about New Zealand airlines and various publications Archived 2010 05 05 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bert Mercer amp oldid 1178964315, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
