Aircraft that have flown under the Sydney Harbour Bridge

[Guest Glenn]

My Dad just told me that he heard on the radio that during the war a Lancaster flew under the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

 

Seeing as it's the bridge's 75th anniversary I thought I'd do some searching and post some info here about the Lancaster and other aircraft that have flown under the bridge.

 

It is reported that in 1943 a flight of 24 RAAF Wirraways flew under the Sydney Harbour Bridge, with one of the pilots changing his flight path at the last moment to go over the top of the Bridge only just clearing it in time.There is another story of the Americans flying under the Harbour Bridge, with one Kittyhawk flying under in about February 1942 and two Kittyhawks in May 1942. Again in May 1942, the Dutch flew three aircraft of the 18 Squadron NEI-AF under the Bridge in formation and then circled back to do another flight under the Bridge in a single line.

 

On 22 October 1943, Flight Lieutenant Peter Isaacson and his crew flew the huge Australian Lancaster, Q for Queenie, under the Harbour Bridge during a tour around Australia to raise funds for the war effort.

Found this interesting article here http://www.neswa.org.au/Library/Airforce/sydney.htm

 

This is a small part of it

 

On a beautiful Sunday in the month of May I942, two US 'Kittyhawks' flew under the Sydney Harbour Bridge. I was in Elizabeth Bay at the time, or near there, and saw them. Traffic on the bridge came to a full stop and people were excited. The following day it was the main item of conversation - everybody thought that it was a great stunt. Nobody had done that before!So on the following Wednesday or Thursday when five aircraft of KLM and KNILM were being prepared for the final flight to Wagga Wagga, we were also talking about it.

 

We were to make a short flight over Sydney for a final check of the aircraft. Some people of the ground staff suggested that it would be nice to come along for the short flight, so at the end close to fifty people, ground staff personnel, waiters and waitresses from the restaurant at the airport as well as kitchenstaff, were taken on board ready for take off. Then one of the pilots suggested that we could do better than the two US Kittyhawks and all five planes fly in formation under the bridge. A KLM radio-operator, Joe Muller (he had previously been shot down at Carnot Bay, W.A., with KLM Captain Ivan Smirnoff in the DC3 PK-AFV "Pelikaan") was asked to go to the control-tower to ask permission to fly under the bridge. Watching from the tarmac we could see Joe Muller talking to the personnel in the control-tower. After a few minutes he came out to the walkway alongside the tower, Joe Muller looked in our direction and then raised his thumb in what we took to be the ‘OK’ signal. And off we went...

 

I do not remember which Captains were in charge of the five aircraft, but I went with KLM Captain Jan van Balkom, and then there were KLM Captains Dirk Rab, Pieter Deenik and perhaps E.J.G.Te Roller. Also KNILM Captains 'Fiets' van Messel, Eddy Dunlop and others, as well as radio-officers and engineers of both KLM and KNILM. Radio-officer Joe Muller and some others stayed behind.

 

The five aircraft took off and eventually took up formation approaching the bridge from the Sydney Heads. Still in formation we flew under the bridge, pulled up, made a wide turn and then flew in single line again under the bridge and then returned to Kingsford Smith Airport.

 

After we landed and taxied to the ramp, there was hell to pay! Anybody with some kind of authority was there. It then became clear that Joe Muller had not asked for permission to fly under the bridge. He explained to us that his thumbs-up signal only meant that the aircraft looked fine! The authorities did not have much to nail us down with, but we heard later that an order had been issued, forbidding to fly under the bridge and that anyone doing so, would be fined one hundred pounds ($200) for every person aboard.

 

And that was it. The five aircraft took off again - this time with only a skeleton crew on board - destination Wagga Wagga. The others, amongst which myself, returned to the City wondering what we would do next?

And who could forget the incident a few years ago

 

A former flight instructor and Griffith University graduate is being investigated after flying a plane under the Sydney Harbour Bridge on Saturday.Authorities were baffled as to why Louise Campbell, 23, of Geebung on Brisbane's north side, carried out the brazen stunt – which could result in a two-year jail term.

 

Two investigators were interviewing Ms Campbell yesterday in the first stage of a joint inquiry with the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.

 

CASA spokesman Peter Gibson said Ms Campbell faced serious charges and could lose her licence.

 

"If she was found guilty of reckless and dangerous flying – that carries a maximum two-year jail penalty," Mr Gibson said.

 

Ms Campbell was believed to be flying the single-engined Gazelle with the plane's owner, Sunshine Coast aerial photographer Peter Bellingham, as a passenger.

 

Mr Gibson said it was illegal to fly under the bridge where the carriageway is 59m above the water.

 

He said only police and emergency aircraft were allowed to fly under the bridge.

 

Ms Campbell took off from Bankstown airport and followed a scenic flight route that was supposed to end at the Opera House.

 

Pilots must contact air traffic control to gain permission to fly the route, and can request to do a circle over the water before they return to the airport.

 

Ms Campbell told police she did not know flying under the bridge was illegal.

 

Mr Gibson said Ms Campbell was a commercial pilot as well as an ultralight pilot and should have known better.

 

"She must have understood the reasons why she shouldn't have flown under the bridge," Mr Gibson said.

 

Ms Campbell drove back from Sydney on Monday.

 

She refused to comment when approached yesterday. Her boyfriend said she was seeking legal advice from a specialist aviation lawyer.

 

Ms Campbell obtained her commercial pilot licence in June 2001 through Griffith's School of Aviation and Arena Aviation. She was awarded Arena Student of the Year Award in 2001.

 

As an instructor she worked at Redcliffe's Australian Air Flying School until February this year.

 

Since then she has worked as a charter pilot for Mr Bellingham's aerial photography company.

 

Mr Bellingham did not wish to comment.

 

The Federal Government had previously identified the Sydney Harbour Bridge as a top terrorist target and NSW police have employed 24-hour security guards for the bridge since November last year.

 

A spokesman for federal Transport Minister John Anderson said it was impossible to prevent aircraft from flying near the Harbour Bridge. Instead the Federal Government was controlling aircraft licences.

 

"By July 1 all pilots will be issued photographic licences, to replace paper licences," he said.

 

"All current and future licences will involve background checking by a number of intelligence agencies including ASIO."

 

A spokesman for Attorney-General Philip Ruddock said the Government was concerned with any breach of security, but this incident was a breach of regulations.

[TAA Student Pilot]

The last one got off unscathed, she started crying and said" I didn't know" and they let her off. If it had been a bloke he'd have been jailed, so much for all being equal.

 

 

[TAA Matt]

Glenn,

 

Did you realise your post was posted at 7.47?

 

 

[Guest Glenn]

Glenn,Did you realise your post was posted at 7.47?

7:47 has been popping up a lot. I've often looked at a clock and it has said 7:47, 7:37 etc... :shock:

 

Didn't know? :roll: :roll: