Young Norman Brearley was an engineering apprentice in the fledgling days of aviation, and when the first World War broke out it was his chance to learn to fly. He worked his way from Australia to London to join the Royal Flying Corps, and soon found that he had a flair for flying. By June 1915 he was patrolling over the Western Front, and after various adventures was shot down and badly wounded by a German pilot who was determined to kill him.

But wartime flying was only the prelude to his main achievement; that of founding Australia's first airline. Before leaving England he bought two war-surplus aircraft, which he used to introduce commercial flying to Western Australia, and in 1921 he won the first air mail contract.

Thrilling, fast-paced and authentic, Sir Norman Brearley's narrative is packed with the drama of pioneering the airways of Australia.

Hardback - 204 pages

Published 1971

Good condition - ex library copy, dust jacket shows edgewear and endpapers have a sellotape 'bleeding'