In accordance with Smithy's wish, this plaque was placed under the nose of the Southern Cross by Friends of Smithy on Thursday 18th July 2024, exactly 89 years to the day after Smithy expressed his wish for such a plaque. Speaking on behalf of the Friends of Smithy, Ron Cuskelly addressed the participants and interested onlookers gathered in the forecourt of the Kingsford Smith Memorial at Brisbane Airport.

 

Today we put things right. It was exactly 89 years ago today on Thursday 18th July 1935 that Sir Charles Kingsford Smith flew the Southern Cross for the last time. It must have been a particularly melancholy day for Smithy as he said farewell to his wife, his infant son and his beloved aeroplane all on the same day, not knowing that he would never see any of them again. Not only was Smithy the greatest 'stick and rudder' pilot of his time but he was also a great preservationist, having made prior arrangements for the Southern Cross to have an honourable retirement in a museum. With Smithy about to depart for the United States by sea to collect his Lockheed Altair Lady Southern Cross for an attempt on the England to Australia record, he left it until the very last moment to surrender his beloved Old Bus to her new owners. On this day 89 years ago, Smithy took off from Mascot to deliver the aircraft to the nearby RAAF base at Richmond where the aircraft was to be cared for until a museum was ready to accept it. On arrival at Richmond, with due ceremony and the RAAF Band in attendance, Smithy handed over the Southern Cross to Archdale Parkhill, Minister of Defence. As described so eloquently by our mentor, aviation historian Ted Wixted; "From that moment it became the property, and the obligation, of the Australian nation." Soon after, Smithy departed Richmond by car to prepare to sail for New Zealand and Hawaii later that afternoon. As Smithy's ship was sailing, an article "specially written for The Sun by Sir Charles Kingsford Smith" appeared in Sydney's afternoon newspaper under the headline Smithy Bids Adieu. Smithy concluded the article with a wish that; "I want to put my own plaque of memory, of polished wood or brass, in the Southern Cross. I don't know how exactly what the wording will be, but it may be something like this: To my Faithful 'Old 'Bus,' in truly grateful memory and regard, from Her Boss." Sadly, Smithy departed Australia later that same day, never to return and with his last wish unfulfilled. Smithy and Tommy Pethybridge departed England on 6th November 1935 in the Lockheed Altair Lady Southern Cross in an attempt to beat the record to Australia. The aircraft was last sighted over Burma on the night of 8th November and is presumed to have crashed into the Gulf of Martaban with the loss of Smithy and Pethybridge. The final resting place of Smithy, Tommy Pethybridge and the Lady Southern Cross has never been positively established. Latter day aviation historians, while researching the history of the Southern Cross in retirement, rediscovered Smithy's unfulfilled wish that a plaque be placed in the aeroplane. While attempts at defining Smithy's final resting place have thus far been unsuccessful, we can at least fulfill his final wish, albeit 89 years late. Today we are fulfilling Smithy's wish for a plaque of memory to be displayed with his aeroplane. The plaque has been funded by Friends of Smithy and in observing Smithy's wish for "polished wood or brass", it has been decided that Smithy deserves nothing less than polished wood and brass! The Friends of Smithy are my fellow aviation historians Mick Raftery and Tim Kalina. Tim resides in Chicago, USA and regrets that he cannot be with us today. His participation represents the comradeship of American friends without whom Smithy's epic 1928 flight across the Pacific Ocean could not have been achieved. Standing in for Tim today is aviation photographer and engineer Bert van Drunick who once worked for Fokker in his homeland. I will now hand over to my learned colleague Mick Raftery to read a special message of greeting after which we will unveil the plaque and then carry it inside the memorial building and place it in front of the Southern Cross.

 

Mick Raftery read the following message from Charles Arthur Kingsford-Smith Jr., Smithy's son, now 91 years of age and living in Washington State, USA.

 

There aren’t many people now who remember seeing Smithy with his wonderful Southern Cross. Surprisingly, I’m one of them! I believe it was shortly after my second birthday in December, 1934, that my Dad took me, my mother, and a couple of friends for a ride in the famous plane. I remember standing between and behind the pilots and hanging on. Both the noise and the vibration were scary, and I was crying. My mother gave me a piece of chocolate and asked me to stop crying. Of course, that didn’t work because I discovered that crying meant chocolate! The particular moment I best remember was evidently when we were on the ground, not flying: my mental image is the moving propeller blades; that I could see them meant the engine was idling at slow revs. My family and I have visited The Old Bus in its permanent home several times, most recently in 2017. I’m both pleased and grateful for the care and affection it receives. Future generations of Aussies and many others can get an up-close look at the machine which made a major contribution in the development of world-spanning aviation. I also applaud aviation enthusiasts Mick Raftery, Ron Cuskelly, and Tim Kalina who today fulfilled my Dad's intent to install a plaque.

 

(It is noteworthy that Charles hyphenates his surname and refers to his father as Smithy.)

Mick Raftery also read Smithy's Ode to the Southern Cross as requested by Charles Jr.

 

Old faithful friend - a long adieu! These are poor words with which to tell Of all my pride, my joy in you. True to the end, you've served me well. I pity those who cannot see That heart and soul are housed within This thing of steel and wood - to me You live in every bolt and pin. And so, my staunch and steadfast steed, Your deep and mighty voice must cease. Faithful to death. If God will heed My prayer, dear pal, you'll rest in peace.

 

The Plaque ready for unveiling. (Picture: Maureen Cuskelly)

 

The plaque is unveiled by Mick Raftery (left) and Ron Cuskelly (right). (Picture: Bert van Drunick)

 

The underside of the plaque base. (Picture: Ron Cuskelly)

 

Read the newspaper article in which Smithy expresses his wish for a plaque

In Smithy's Words

Thanks to:

Benjamin Blundy of Seek Laser Industries for the wooden base.
Worssell & Co Pty Ltd for the plaque.
Bert van Drunick for photography.
Brisbane Airport Corporation staff
Gaynor Sipolis
Kevin Blazely
Matthew Parker Burton
Peter Doherty