Guinea Airways

 

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The Early Days

Bob Gurney was born in Corowa, NSW on the 22nd of May 1906.  His family moved to Sydney and in 1925 he joined the RAAF and learned to fly at Point Cook under the instruction of Alan Cross. To get his hours up for a commercial pilot's license he barnstormed around the country and flew RAAF Wapiti’s  from Richmond with No 3 Squadron.  In 1929 he was approached by Alan Cross, then Guinea Airways manager, and asked to go to New Guinea.

Guinea Airways  1929 - 1936A Junkers G31 flying from Lae to Wau, taken from a Guinea Airways Ford Trimotor.

1933 photograph of Dr Ian Dickson’s baby Austin being unloaded at Wau from Guinea Airways Junkers G31 (VH-UOW) with chief pilot Bob Gurney standing on the fuselage. The hatch in the roof was made to carry large cargo.

During the 1920’s the Morobe goldfields in the Mandated  Territory of New Guinea were being developed. The only way to the goldfields was by foot from Salamaua on the coast or aeroplane from Lae, about 20 miles across the Huon gulf from Salamaua to the airstrip at Wau which was first used in 1927.   When Bob started with Guinea Airways in November 1929 he arrived with two other pilots to join the three already flying the two Junkers W/34’s and two DH Moths. At the beginning of 1931 the first Junkers G/31 was flown having arrived at Lae by ship. Guinea Airways owned one G/31 (VH-UOW) and operated two for Bulolo Gold Dredging Ltd (VH-UOU and VH-UOV), a third was added in 1934 (VH-URQ). Guinea Airways was flying in the equipment needed for gold dredging and at this time was carrying more freight than the rest of the world combined.

 

Bob not only flew large amounts of freight, he was also involved in  the  exploration of the interior of Papua and New Guinea doing aerial surveys and supply runs for the Leahy brothers, Ivan Champion, Jack Hides and Jim Taylor. 

 

1932 photograph at Mt Hagen of a Guinea Airways DH and chief pilot Bob Gurney (centre with goggles on forehead) and on his right Mick Leahy and Danny Leahy and on his left Jim Leahy, the others are German catholic missionaries.

 

 

 

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