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BLUEBIRD AND GREENBIRD

by Wal Bowles

 

On 13 May 1963 our crew was en route from Broken Hill to Tennant Creek in Hudson aircraft VH-AGE. Mike Wood thought it would be a good idea to get some aerial photographs of Donald Campbell’s world speed record attempt in his “Bluebird” on the dry bed of Lake Eyre. An airstrip had been graded onto the lake as part of Donald Campbell’s preparations and when we overflew, a very English voice, presumably Donald Campbell, invited us down for morning tea. Unfortunately the strip was unsuitable for a Lockheed Hudson aircraft, otherwise we would have accepted. We did, however, get some photographs of the Bluebird, even though surface conditions were not, apparently, suitable on the day for a land speed record attempt.

Wal Bowles
11th February 2003

 

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