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Rupert (Bob) Boulton's Early Aviator's Leather Flying Jacket:…
Sale Title:
Auction House:
Auction Location:
Melbourne
Date:
16-Feb-2010
Lot No.
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Description:
Rupert (Bob) Boulton's Early Aviator's Leather Flying Jacket: circa 1930, the three-quarter belted brown leather Jacket fully lined as worn by Bob Boulton, pioneer Australian Aviator. Label reads 'R Boulton'. The Jacket is accompanied by several Real Photograph Postcards of Alor Star and Penang, with handwritten notes verso (July 1934). Rupert Boulton Mbe worked in the aviation industry between 1926 and 1974, working first at the experimental air station of Wing Commander Wackett at Randwick, before joining Charles Kingsford Smith and Charles Ulm's fledgling Australian National Airways as one of 4 pilot engineer apprentices. In 1931 Boulton was second Pilot and Engineer on the 'First All- Australian Airmail Service to England'. Heavily overloaded with 54,530 articles of mail, 3 crew and 1 passenger, the plane crashed on take-off in Alor Star in the Malay States. The damage caused to a rice field cost the company $10 Malay. Kingsford Smith left Sydney on 30th Nov. in a relief Avro 10 (the Southern Star), arriving in Malaya on the 5th Dec. The mail was transferred, and Kingsford Smith, Allan and Boulton continued to the Uk in the Southern Star, arriving at Croydon Airport, London on 16th Dec. When Ana ceased operations, Boulton worked for Charles Ulm on his Trans-Tasman airmail services. In Dec. 1933, Faith in Australia left Richmond Nsw for New Zealand with Ulm (Pilot), Scotty Allan (Navigator) and Boulton (Engineer), as well as the first 2 women passengers to cross the Tasman by air. Boulton also crewed the first airmail service to and from New Guinea and Papua. For his participation on the pioneering airmail flights with Charles Ulm, and for services to aviation, Bob Boulton was awarded the Mbe in 1976. The Jacket was given to the present owners by Bob Boulton's widow Wyn Boulton. Accompanied by a letter explaining the provenance
Estimate:
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Price:
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Category:
Unclassified