Lawrence James Wackett (5 results)

Hardcover. Condition: Fine. Dust Jacket Condition: Fine. 1st Edition. Original sky blue cloth boards, lettered gilt on spine. Illustrated dustwrapper, protected. Pp. xii, 241 including Foreword by Sir Robert Menzies [12th Prime Minister of Australia], List of Illustrations. -- Born Hermit Park near Townsville, scholarship to Townsville Grammar. Engineering, Duntroon, Point Cook, WW1, Palestine with 1 SQ. A.F.C. then to England with No.3 A.F.C., earning D.F.C. A.F.C. experiments First Battle Hamel. Back post war founding the Australian Aircraft. Industry; The Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation and WWII. Includes photographic illustrations, Index.

Hardcover. Condition: NF. Dust Jacket Condition: NF. Photos (illustrator). 1st. Who better of those from the early days of aircraft design and construction in Australia to relate that story than the man himself, Lawrence J Wackett? His autobiography is a tell-all account of the life and work of this famed name in Australian aviation. As a young lad growing up in Queensland he was interested in things mechanical and engineering, using the trools, equipment and books of his late father to extend his knowledge in these fields, with early aviation exploits gaining his attention. Late in 1912 he applied for entry to the just established Royal Military Collage at Duntroon. He was one of 30 successful applicants that year, the only one from Queensland -- proof of his qualities physical and interlecturally, At Duntroon he proved an excellent candidate in military matters while showing a high degree of aptitude for mechanical and scientific innovation. In his second year at the Military College his class volunteered for active service with the Australian WWI forces, the author being assigned to train as an artillery officer but, at that time, the opportinity to transfer to the newly formed Australian Flying Corps he immediately seized. That decision was to lay the foundation for Wackett's future in war and peace. His first active service was with he RFC in Egypt, later flying in France where his innovative technical ideas became apparent, one being paracuted supplies of ammunition to advancing troops in the latter part of the 1914-18 conflict. After WW1 Wackett returned to Australia and rejoined the military forces, being quickly appointed to engineering, design and construction responsibilites in the fledgling air corps, which marked the establishment of what became ther RAAF. His first design was a small flying boat, the Widgeon, which crashed on its first flight, repaired to re-emerge as an improved amphibious version. This aircraft was probably the first manufactured in Australia and made a number of record breakingf flights within Australia. However, with the Great Depression threatening, Australian Treasury policy of economic restraints determined that the RAAF Experimental Station he had established should be closed. This led to the cancellation of any efforts to create an Australian aircraft industry and resulted in his resignation from the RAAF, although he was its fifth ranking senior officer. Now was time to advance his ambition to develop such an induistry and his excellent biography covers his achievements in that field, including the subsequent design and construction of a number of aircraft for civil and military use. He will be best remembered for his influence in the establishment of the syndicate that created the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation which he led for many years and which, during WWII, built many combat and training aircraft for the RAAF and later jet military aircraft. By 1949 CAC had produced nearly 1000 military aircraft.and many aircraft engines. He ended his executive service with CAC in 1959. His biography covers all facets details of the difficulties encountered in acheiving his visionary industrial objectives. Other aspects of his busy and varied life, his sporting interests, hobbies and family details add a personal aspect this this memorable auto-biography of a remarkable Australian. In his foreword to the book former Australian Prime Minister, Sir Robert Menzies, describes the author as ".an Australian first and foremost, with unlimited belief in what Australians can do." First edition of 1972 from Angus and Robertson, 241 pages including index, illustrated with 30 b/w photos plus two art works. Blue hard covers with gilt spine titles are NF, text block also NF, no inscriptions. NF DJ has three sepia tone photos to front panel with Wackett familty coat-of-arms to rear panel.

241 S., Opbd. mit Su., Abb., leichte Lagerspuren. 35 Sprache: Englisch.

1st edition dust jacket Nice Copy octavo xii + 241pp., b/w plates, index, Story of the founder of the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation. Very nice copy in like unclipped dust jacket.

1st edition dust jacket Nice Copy octavo xii + 241pp., b/w plates, index, Story of the founder of the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation. Very nice copy in like unclipped dust jacket. Brian Hill's copy with his ownership stamp. Scarce.