A man among mavericks
Subtitle: the story of Lester Brain
By: Neil Cadigan.
Contributors: Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Publisher: ABC Books for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Published: 2008
Place of publication: Sydney
Language: eng
Number of pages: 238
ISBN-13: 9780733320965
Subjects: Brain, Lester Joseph, -- 1903-1980; Qantas Airways -- History; Air pilots -- Australia -- Biography; Aeronautics -- Australia -- History
Genres: Biography.
Description: "Lester Brain was a true pioneer of Australia's aviation history. Grabbing a long-forgotten transcript of an interview with Lester, Neil Cadigan set off on a journey following the path of Lester Brain, traversing the unpredictable terrain of Australia, visiting places like Broome, Alice Springs, Camooweal, Cloncurry, Brisbane and Longreach. He discovered a man whose amazing flying adventures read like a boys own annual. From prospecting for gold reefs in the Tanami Desert to rescuing the hapless aviators Keith Anderson and Robert Hitchock whose aircraft, the Kookaburra, went missing while searching for Charles Kingsford Smith and Charles Ulm. In 1929 he was rated the best aviator in Australia, taught many of the country's greatest achieving pilots, rescued survivors during a Japanese attack on Broome during World War II, took the controls for inaugural mail and flying-boat services for Qantas, and contributed more towards the world renowned safety record of Qantas in its formative three decades than any other aviator"--Provided by publisher.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. 235-238).