IT'S a largely untold story that showcases the Upper Hunter’s generous contributions to The Great War effort.
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During the course of World War I, individuals and the local community funded an estimated seven gift aircraft to the Australian Flying Corps.
These aircraft all cost a total of £2700.
One was presented on behalf of the entire Upper Hunter District on May 15, 1917.
The Airco DH5 had ‘The Upper Hunter Battleplane’ inscribed on it. Another Airco DH5 was donated a month earlier, on April 12, by the Women of NSW and others.
A replica of that aircraft is owned by legendary film director Sir Peter Jackson, who has worked on the highly-popular trilogies Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit.
A spokesperson for The Vintage Aviator museum in Wellington, New Zealand, confirmed the airworthy replica was in their possession.
“This aircraft is painted in the colours of a Great War presentation or gift aircraft and the group ‘donating’ this aircraft back in the day was the Women of New South Wales, hence it was given the name ‘New South Wales No. 14 Women’s Battleplane,’” the spokesperson said.
“The aircraft was built in the USA and is a replica machine powered by a modern engine.”
The spokesperson said Mr Jackson was unable to comment because of his current work “on another major film”.
A Bristol Fighter F.2B was also donated by Mrs C.H. Macintyre, of Kayuga Station, Muswellbrook, on January 31, 1917.
Famous Australian Ace and Aviator Sir Ross Smith, who served in Palestine and Syria, shot down 11 Germans in this particular aircraft.
For a time, Mr Smith was the personal pilot of Thomas Edward Lawrence (“Lawrence of Arabia”).
During his extensive war service, he was twice awarded the Military Cross and received the Distinguished Flying Cross three times, as well as the Air Force Cross.
He is also known as the first person to fly from England to Australia, along with his brother Keith.
Another Upper Hunter family to fund aircrafts was the White family of Belltrees. They donated a Bristol Fighter F.2B and Royal aircraft factory SE5a.
The Bristol Fighter was the first aircraft donated by NSW and it served in the Middle East.
In addition to these, the NSW Government supplied more aircrafts to the Battleplane fund on a one-for-one basis.
This meant that a total of about 11 aircraft carried inscriptions of the Upper Hunter and surrounding areas throughout World War 1.
