Sir Norman Brearley, CBE,DSO,MC,AFC,FRAeS (22 December 1890 – 9 June 1989) was a commercial and military pilot and one of the pioneers of the airline industry within Australia.
In April 1915, after undertaking a 5-year apprenticeship as a mechanic, Brearley worked his way to the United Kingdom and subsequently enlisted in the Royal Flying Corps and trained as a pilot.[3] On the Western Front, he was posted initially to No. 6 Squadron, but transferred to No. 29 Squadron, where he flew Airco DH.2 scouts (including patrols flown alongside Sergeant James McCudden).[2] However, in November 1916 he was shot down and badly wounded, with bullets perforating both lungs: he landed in no man's land, but managed to crawl back to Allied lines.[2][4] He returned to Western Australia to recover.[3] He subsequently returned to Britain where he became a flying instructor, initially at Gosport and then as commander of the school of special flying at Lilbourne.[2][4]
Post-war
Following the end of hostilities, Brearley bought two Avro 504 aircraft (plus a spare engine), which he had shipped to Australia.[2] In 1921, he founded Western Australian Airways Ltd., based at Geraldton.[1] In the same year, he was issued with Australia's first civil pilot's licence, under the 1921 Air Navigation Regulations.[1] His licence was numbered as licence No. 2, but there was no licence No. 1 at the time: a licence of that number was not issued until 1930, when it was presented to Amy Johnson in honour of her record flight from London to Australia.[1]
In 1927, Brearley opened the Perth Flying School at Maylands. He retired from commercial aviation in 1936 when he merged his airline with Australian National Airways.[3]
Brearley was knighted in 1971. He died on 9 June 1989.[1][4]
Personal life
Brearley married Violet Claremont Stubbs at Christ Church, Claremont on 5 July 1917, when he was recovering from his injuries. She died in 1982, aged 85. The couple had a son and a daughter.[2][4]
Brearley, Sir Norman; Mayman, Ted (1971). Australian Aviator. Adelaide: Rigby. ISBN0-85179-227-8.
Bunbury, Bill (2007). "Brearley, Sir Norman (1890–1989)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Melbourne University Press. ISSN 1833-7538 – via National Centre of Biography, Australian National University.
Mayman, Ted (1979). "Sir Norman Brearley, the aviator". In Hunt, Lyall (ed.). Westralian Portraits. Nedlands: University of Western Australia Press. pp. 193–198. ISBN0-85564-157-6.
Tucker, Stuart (March 1990). "Sir Norman Brearley CBE, DSO, MC, AFC, FRAeS [obituary]". Cross and Cockade International. 21 (1): 53–54.
External links
"28. Group Capt. Sir Norman Brearley (1891–1989), aviator". Karrakatta Cemetery Historical Walk Trail 1. Metropolitan Cemeteries Board: Government of Western Australia. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
January 07, 2023
norman, brearley, fraes, december, 1890, june, 1989, commercial, military, pilot, pioneers, airline, industry, within, australia, 1920sborn, 1890, december, 1890geelong, victoria, australiadied9, june, 1989, 1989, aged, nationalityaustralianoccupationpilottitl. Sir Norman Brearley CBE DSO MC AFC FRAeS 22 December 1890 9 June 1989 was a commercial and military pilot and one of the pioneers of the airline industry within Australia Sir Norman BrearleyNorman Brearley in the 1920sBorn 1890 12 22 22 December 1890Geelong Victoria AustraliaDied9 June 1989 1989 06 09 aged 98 NationalityAustralianOccupationPilotTitleSirBust of Brearley at Perth Airport by sculptor Gerard Darwin Contents 1 Early life 2 Aviation career 2 1 First World War 2 2 Post war 3 Later life 4 Personal life 5 References 6 Further reading 7 External linksEarly life EditBorn in Geelong Victoria on 22 December 1890 Brearley moved to Perth Western Australia in 1906 1 2 Aviation career EditFirst World War Edit In April 1915 after undertaking a 5 year apprenticeship as a mechanic Brearley worked his way to the United Kingdom and subsequently enlisted in the Royal Flying Corps and trained as a pilot 3 On the Western Front he was posted initially to No 6 Squadron but transferred to No 29 Squadron where he flew Airco DH 2 scouts including patrols flown alongside Sergeant James McCudden 2 However in November 1916 he was shot down and badly wounded with bullets perforating both lungs he landed in no man s land but managed to crawl back to Allied lines 2 4 He returned to Western Australia to recover 3 He subsequently returned to Britain where he became a flying instructor initially at Gosport and then as commander of the school of special flying at Lilbourne 2 4 Post war Edit Following the end of hostilities Brearley bought two Avro 504 aircraft plus a spare engine which he had shipped to Australia 2 In 1921 he founded Western Australian Airways Ltd based at Geraldton 1 In the same year he was issued with Australia s first civil pilot s licence under the 1921 Air Navigation Regulations 1 His licence was numbered as licence No 2 but there was no licence No 1 at the time a licence of that number was not issued until 1930 when it was presented to Amy Johnson in honour of her record flight from London to Australia 1 In 1927 Brearley opened the Perth Flying School at Maylands He retired from commercial aviation in 1936 when he merged his airline with Australian National Airways 3 Later life EditBrearley later served with the Royal Australian Air Force during World War II commanding No 4 Service Flying Training School at Geraldton from October 1942 to March 1944 1 4 Brearley was knighted in 1971 He died on 9 June 1989 1 4 Personal life EditBrearley married Violet Claremont Stubbs at Christ Church Claremont on 5 July 1917 when he was recovering from his injuries She died in 1982 aged 85 The couple had a son and a daughter 2 4 References Edit a b c d e f Brearley Pilot s Licences Treasures of the Battye Library State Library of Western Australia Archived from the original on 12 August 2011 Retrieved 15 July 2007 a b c d e f Tucker 1990 a b c Australia s First Airline Service Spirits of Ansett Archived from the original on 21 January 2013 Retrieved 15 July 2007 a b c d e Bunbury 2007 Further reading EditBrearley Sir Norman Mayman Ted 1971 Australian Aviator Adelaide Rigby ISBN 0 85179 227 8 Bunbury Bill 2007 Brearley Sir Norman 1890 1989 Australian Dictionary of Biography Melbourne University Press ISSN 1833 7538 via National Centre of Biography Australian National University Mayman Ted 1979 Sir Norman Brearley the aviator In Hunt Lyall ed Westralian Portraits Nedlands University of Western Australia Press pp 193 198 ISBN 0 85564 157 6 Tucker Stuart March 1990 Sir Norman Brearley CBE DSO MC AFC FRAeS obituary Cross and Cockade International 21 1 53 54 External links Edit 28 Group Capt Sir Norman Brearley 1891 1989 aviator Karrakatta Cemetery Historical Walk Trail 1 Metropolitan Cemeteries Board Government of Western Australia Retrieved 1 February 2021 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Norman Brearley amp oldid 1093266055, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
