PHOTO GALLERY INDEX

1930 -1932 Built as a Lockheed Sirius
1934 Converted to a Lockheed Altair
June 1934 Loading on to the Mariposa
17 July 1934 Unloading from the Mariposa
July - October 1934 Flying in Australia
21 October 1934 - Fiji The Pacific Flight
24 October 1934 - Naselai Beach The Pacific Flight
29 October 1934 - Hawaii The Pacific Flight
4 November 1934 - Oakland The Pacific Flight
4 November 1934 - Los Angeles The Pacific Flight
14 November 1934 - Burbank To the Lockheed factory for repairs and storage
7 October 1935 On to the British Register as G-ADUS
Artefacts Lady Southern Cross Artefacts

 

 

SIRIUS NR118W
Sirius NR118W at Burbank.
(Picture: Lockheed) 7
Sirius NR118W at Burbank.
(Picture: Lockheed) 8
The instrument panel of Sirius NR118W.
(Picture: Tim Kalina Collection) 117
Sirius NR118W during testing at Burbank.
(Picture: Tim Kalina Collection) 119
Sirius NR118W at Burbank with George Hutchinson in the cockpit.
(Picture: Tim Kalina Collection) 112
Sirius NR118W at Burbank with George Hutchinson in the cockpit.
(Picture: Tim Kalina Collection) 116
Sirius NR118W at Burbank with George Hutchinson on the wing.
(Picture: Tim Kalina Collection) 118
ALTAIR X-118W
Smithy and Mary arriving in Los Angeles on the Monterey on 19 May 1934.
(Picture: Tim Kalina Collection) 195
Smithy with Carl B. Squier of Lockheed and Fred G. Davies of the General Petroleum Corp. at Long Beach on 19 May 1934.
(Picture: Tim Kalina Collection) 71
Smithy with Altair X-118W named ANZAC.
(Picture: Tim Kalina Collection) 9
Smithy inspecting the Altair's undercarriage.
(Picture: Tim Kalina Collection) 10
Smithy with the Altair at Burbank.
(Picture: Tim Kalina Collection) 185
Altair X-118W named ANZAC.
(Picture: Lockheed) 4
LOADING ON TO THE MARIPOSA
The Altair on the dock at Long Beach.
(Picture: Tim Kalina Collection) 177
The Altair being loaded on to the Mariposa at Long Beach.
(Picture: Tim Kalina Collection) 178
The Altair being loaded on to the Mariposa at Long Beach.
(Picture: Tim Kalina Collection) 179
The Altair being loaded on to the Mariposa at Long Beach.
(Picture: Tim Kalina Collection) 180
The ANZAC on the Sports Deck of the Mariposa in Los Angeles Harbor at Long Beach.
(Picture: by Permission of the National Library of Australia) 47
A scaled silhouette of the Altair superimposed on a deck plan of the Mariposa.
(Artwork prepared by Tim Kalina) 67
Smithy and Mary with the Altair on the Sports Deck of the Mariposa at Long Beach.
(Picture: Tim Kalina Collection) 142
The Passenger List of Voyage #16 of the Mariposa that brought Smithy, Mary and the Altair to Australia.
(Picture: Tim Kalina Collection)
Captain W.R. Meyer of the S.S. Mariposa at the commissioning of the ship into the USNR.
(Picture: Tim Kalina Collection) 203
UNLOADING FROM THE MARIPOSA
The ANZAC on the Sports Deck of the Mariposa in Sydney Harbour on 16 July 1934.
(Picture: Tim Kalina Collection) 161
The page for the 17th July 1934 from the log book of the floating crane Titan.
(Courtesy National Archives of Australia: C3527/1,2 via Tim Kalina) 57
The Altair being unloaded from the Mariposa in Sydney on 17 July 1934.
(Picture: Alan Evans © Tim Kalina Collection) 77
The Altair being unloaded from the Mariposa in Sydney on 17 July 1934.
(Picture: Alan Evans © Tim Kalina Collection) 78
The Altair being unloaded from the Mariposa in Sydney on 17 July 1934.
(Picture: Alan Evans © Tim Kalina Collection) 79
The Altair being unloaded from the Mariposa in Sydney on 17 July 1934.
(Picture: Alan Evans © Tim Kalina Collection) 80
The Altair being unloaded from the Mariposa in Sydney on 17 July 1934.
(Picture: Alan Evans © Tim Kalina Collection) 81
The Altair being unloaded from the Mariposa in Sydney on 17 July 1934.
(Picture: Alan Evans © Tim Kalina Collection) 82
The Altair being unloaded from the Mariposa in Sydney on 17 July 1934.
(Picture: Alan Evans © Tim Kalina Collection) 83
The Altair being unloaded from the Mariposa in Sydney on 17 July 1934.
(Picture: Alan Evans © Tim Kalina Collection) 84
The Altair being unloaded from the Mariposa in Sydney on 17 July 1934.
(Picture: Alan Evans © Tim Kalina Collection) 90
The Altair being unloaded from the Mariposa in Sydney on 17 July 1934.
(Picture: Alan Evans © Tim Kalina Collection) 91
The Altair being taken to Anderson Park by barge on 17 July 1934.
(Picture: Alan Evans © Tim Kalina Collection) 85
The Altair being brought ashore at Anderson Park on 17 July 1934.
(Picture: Alan Evans © Tim Kalina Collection) 86
Smithy and P.G. Taylor with the Altair at Anderson Park in Sydney. This photograph has been autographed by Smithy.
(Picture: Tim Kalina Collection) 72
Smithy and P.G. Taylor at Anderson Park on 17 July 1934.
(Picture: Alan Evans © Tim Kalina Collection) 88
Smithy and P.G. Taylor at Anderson Park on 17 July 1934.
(Picture: Alan Evans © Tim Kalina Collection) 89
The Altair ready for take-off at Anderson Park on 17 July 1934.
(Picture: Alan Evans © Tim Kalina Collection) 87
ALTAIR VH-USB IN AUSTRALIA
The Altair at Mascot in July 1934 with the tailwheel fairing fitted.
(Picture: Sport and General and Central News) 144
The Altair at Mascot in July 1934 after application of the name Lady Southern Cross.
(Picture: by Permission of Fairfax Syndication) 129
The Altair is given a liberal coating of Johnsons Wax, presumably at Mascot prior to the Centenary Air Race.
(Picture: via Jim Grant) 43
Altair VH-USB Lady Southern Cross at Essendon in August 1934.
(Picture: Ben Dannecker Collection) 170
Altair VH-USB Lady Southern Cross probably at Essendon in September 1934.
(Picture: Tim Kalina Collection) 202
The Lady Southern Cross arriving in Perth.
(Picture: by Permission of the National Library of Australia) 46
Altair VH-USB Lady Southern Cross in Australia.
(Picture: Ed Coates Collection) 45
P.G. Taylor and Smithy at Mascot on 11 September 1934.
(Picture: Tim Kalina Collection) 166
The Altair undergoing undercarriage repairs at Mascot in September 1934.
(Picture: Mitchell Library, State Library of NSW - Ref: ON 204/Box 63/5) 12
The Altair undergoing undercarriage repairs at Mascot in September 1934.
(Picture: Mitchell Library, State Library of NSW - Ref: ON 204/Box 63/6) 13
The Lady Southern Cross meets up with the Southern Cross at Cloncurry on 29th September 1934.
(Picture: Queensland Air Museum Q158/7 via Charles Fotherington) 66
The Altair surrounded by spectators in Cloncurry. The photo was taken while the aircraft was en route to England for the start of the Centenary Air Race.
(Picture: Roderick Collection, Northern Territory Library PH0110/0025) 64
Tommy Pethybridge working on the attachment brackets for the replacement cowling at Mascot.
(Picture: Mitchell Library, State Library of NSW - Ref: ON 204/Box 31/36) 14
Cowling repairs in progress at Mascot.
(Picture: Mitchell Library, State Library of NSW - Ref: ON 204/Box 31/41) 15
P.G. Taylor preparing to depart from Mascot.
(Picture: State Library of NSW - Ref: ON 388/Box 074/Item 222) 200
FIJI
Letter written by P.G. Taylor on the day of departure for Fiji.
(Picture: Phil Vabre Collection) 74
Altair VH-USB in Albert Park, Suva.
(Picture: Tim Kalina Collection) 159
Altair VH-USB in Albert Park, Suva.
(Picture: Tim Kalina Collection) 156
Altair VH-USB in Albert Park, Suva.
(Picture: Tim Kalina Collection) 120
Smithy and P.G. Taylor in Albert Park, Suva.
(Picture: Tim Kalina Collection) 121
A panoramic view of Albert Park, Suva in July 2023.
(Picture: Ron Cuskelly)
FIJI - NASELAI BEACH
Altair VH-USB on Naselai Beach, Fiji.
(Picture: Tim Kalina Collection) 122
Altair VH-USB on Naselai Beach, Fiji.
(Picture: Tim Kalina Collection) 123
Altair VH-USB on Naselai Beach, Fiji.
(Picture: Tim Kalina Collection) 124
Altair VH-USB on Naselai Beach, Fiji.
(Picture: Tim Kalina Collection) 125
Altair VH-USB on Naselai Beach, Fiji.
(Picture: Tim Kalina Collection) 126
Altair VH-USB on Naselai Beach, Fiji.
(Picture: Tim Kalina Collection) 127
HAWAII
The welcoming committee at Wheeler Field.
(Picture: Tim Kalina Collection) 132
Altair VH-USB arriving at Wheeler Field.
(Picture: Hawaii Aviation Preservation Society) 94
Altair VH-USB arriving at Wheeler Field.
(Picture: Tim Kalina Collection) 102
Altair VH-USB arriving at Wheeler Field.
(Picture: Tim Kalina Collection) 103
Smithy and P.G. Taylor are greeted on their arrival at Wheeler Field.
(Picture: Tim Kalina Collection) 60
Smithy and P.G. Taylor are greeted on their arrival at Wheeler Field.
(Picture: Tim Kalina Collection) 165
Smithy and P.G. Taylor on arrival at Wheeler Field.
(Picture: Jerry P.B. Morelock, Cmdr. USN Ret.) 96
Smithy and P.G. Taylor are surrounded by spectators at Wheeler Field.
(Picture: Tim Kalina Collection) 58
Smithy is interviewed by radio station KGU Honolulu.
(Picture: Tim Kalina Collection) 183
Altair VH-USB surrounded by spectators at Wheeler Field.
(Picture: Tim Kalina Collection) 63
Altair VH-USB arriving at Wheeler Field.
(Picture: Tim Kalina Collection) 134
Altair VH-USB arriving at Wheeler Field.
(Picture: Tim Kalina Collection) 135
Altair VH-USB arriving at Wheeler Field.
(Picture: Tim Kalina Collection) 136
A weary Smithy and P.G. Taylor arriving at Wheeler Field.
(Picture: by Permission of the National Library of Australia) 53
Altair VH-USB arriving at Wheeler Field.
(Picture: Tim Kalina Collection) 115
Smithy and P.G. Taylor arriving at Wheeler Field.
(Picture: Tim Kalina Collection) 158
Smithy and P.G. Taylor arriving at Wheeler Field.
(Picture: Tim Kalina Collection) 157
The cargo manifest for the arrival in Hawaii.
(Source: Hawai'i State Archives) 198
P.G. Taylor with Smithy at Wheeler Field.
(Picture: Tim Kalina Collection) 197
P.G. Taylor with Smithy, at Wheeler Field.
(Picture: Tim Kalina Collection) 32
P.G. Taylor and Smithy pose with Altair VH-USB at Wheeler Field.
(Picture: Jerry P.B. Morelock, Cmdr. USN Ret.) 100
P.G. Taylor and Smithy pose with Altair VH-USB at Wheeler Field.
(Picture: Tim Kalina Collection) 113
Smithy at Wheeler Field.
(Picture: Tim Kalina Collection) 137
Smithy at Wheeler Field.
(Picture: Tim Kalina Collection) 138
Smithy having breakfast at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel.
(Picture: Tim Kalina Collection) 201
Bill Taylor and his Leica camera at Wheeler Field.
(Picture: Tim Kalina Collection) 140
Smithy poses with a ukulele at Wheeler Field.
(Picture: Tim Kalina Collection) 139
Postcards signed by Smithy and P.G. Taylor in Hawaii.
(Tim Kalina Collection) 34
Radiogram sent from Suva by Captain Mullins and Tommy Pethybridge to Smithy and P.G. Taylor at Wheeler Field, Hawaii.
(Tim Kalina Collection) 153
Radiogram warning Smithy of possible legal action on arrival Oakland.
(Tim Kalina Collection) 145
Altair VH-USB over Oahu.
(Picture: Tim Kalina Collection) 130
Altair VH-USB over Oahu.
(Picture: Tim Kalina Collection) 133
Altair VH-USB over Wheeler Field.
(Picture: Tim Kalina Collection) 131
Fuel tank repairs at Wheeler Field.
(Picture: Tim Kalina Collection) 18
Fuel tank repairs at Wheeler Field.
(Picture: Tim Kalina Collection) 19
Fuel tank repairs at Wheeler Field.
(Picture: Tim Kalina Collection) 20
Fuel tank repairs at Wheeler Field.
(Picture: Tim Kalina Collection) 105
Fuel tank repairs at Wheeler Field.
(Picture: Tim Kalina Collection) 154
Fuel tank repairs at Wheeler Field.
(Picture: Tim Kalina Collection) 181
Detail of underwing registration markings.
(Picture: Tim Kalina Collection) 24
Altair VH-USB prepares to depart Wheeler Field.
(Picture: Tim Kalina Collection) 21
Altair VH-USB prepares to depart Wheeler Field.
(Picture: Tim Kalina Collection) 22
Altair VH-USB prepares to depart Wheeler Field.
(Picture: Tim Kalina Collection) 23
Altair VH-USB inside a USAAC hangar at Wheeler Field.
(Picture: Jerry P.B. Morelock, Cmdr. USN Ret.) 97
Altair VH-USB at Wheeler Field.
(Picture: Jerry P.B. Morelock, Cmdr. USN Ret.) 98
Altair VH-USB at Wheeler Field.
(Picture: Jerry P.B. Morelock, Cmdr. USN Ret.) 101
Altair VH-USB at Wheeler Field.
(Picture: Tim Kalina Collection) 141
Smithy and Bill Taylor with the Mayor of Honolulu at Wheeler Field.
(Picture: Tim Kalina Collection) 182
Altair VH-USB taxying at Wheeler Field.
(Picture: Damian Waters Collection) 93
Smithy in the cockpit at Wheeler Field.
(Picture: Tim Kalina Collection) 44
Smithy in the cockpit at Wheeler Field.
(Picture: Tim Kalina Collection) 110
Altair VH-USB under tow by USAAC personnel at Wheeler Field.
(Picture: Jerry P.B. Morelock, Cmdr. USN Ret.) 99
Altair VH-USB departing Wheeler Field.
(Picture: Tim Kalina Collection) 111
Altair VH-USB departing Wheeler Field.
(Picture: Tim Kalina Collection) 155
Altair VH-USB departing Wheeler Field.
(Picture: Tim Kalina Collection) 25
Altair VH-USB departing Wheeler Field.
(Picture: USAF via Tim Kalina Collection) 35
Altair VH-USB departing Wheeler Field.
(Picture: Tim Kalina Collection) 61
Altair VH-USB departing Wheeler Field.
(Picture: Tim Kalina Collection) 26
Altair VH-USB departing Wheeler Field.
(Picture: Tim Kalina Collection) 65
The source of the Hawaiian music which charmed P.G. Taylor.
(Picture: Tim Kalina Collection) 27
Altair VH-USB departing Wheeler Field.
(Picture: Hawaii Aviation Preservation Society) 95
Altair VH-USB departing Wheeler Field.
(Picture: Tim Kalina Collection) 106
Altair VH-USB departing Wheeler Field.
(Picture: Tim Kalina Collection) 107
Altair VH-USB departing Wheeler Field.
(Picture: Tim Kalina Collection) 184
Additional images can be found on the Hawaii Aviation website.
OAKLAND
Smithy taxies the Lady Southern Cross on arrival at Oakland.
(Picture: Tim Kalina Collection) 163
Smithy taxies the Lady Southern Cross on arrival at Oakland.
(Picture: by Permission of the National Library of Australia) 50
Smithy and P.G. Taylor are welcomed to Oakland.
(Picture: Tim Kalina Collection) 143
Smithy and P.G. Taylor are welcomed to Oakland.
(Picture: Tim Kalina Collection) 171
Smithy and P.G. Taylor congratulate one another soon after arriving at Oakland.
(Picture: Tim Kalina Collection) 70
Smithy and P.G. Taylor soon after arriving at Oakland.
(Picture: Tim Kalina Collection) 92
P.G. Taylor and Smithy on the wing of the Lady Southern Cross on arrival at Oakland.
(Picture: by Permission of the National Library of Australia) 49
Altair VH-USB soon after arriving at Oakland.
(Picture: Tim Kalina Collection) 69
Smithy and P.G. Taylor are welcomed to Oakland.
(Picture: Tim Kalina Collection) 128
Smithy after arriving at Oakland.
(Picture: Tim Kalina Collection) 168
Smithy after arriving at Oakland.
(Picture: Tim Kalina Collection) 167
Letter carried by Smithy on the trans-Pacific flight.
(Picture: Tim Kalina Collection) 175
Altair VH-USB at the U.S. Naval Air Station at Oakland on 4 November 1934.
(Picture: William T. Larkins) 41
Altair VH-USB at the U.S. Naval Air Station at Oakland on 4 November 1934.
(Picture: Tim Kalina Collection) 146
Altair VH-USB at the U.S. Naval Air Station at Oakland on 4 November 1934.
(Picture: Tim Kalina Collection) 147
Altair VH-USB at the U.S. Naval Air Station at Oakland on 4 November 1934.
(Picture: Tim Kalina Collection) 148
Altair VH-USB at the U.S. Naval Air Station at Oakland on 4 November 1934.
(Picture: Tim Kalina Collection) 149
Altair VH-USB at the U.S. Naval Air Station at Oakland on 4 November 1934.
(Picture: Tim Kalina Collection) 150
LOS ANGELES MUNICIPAL - MINES FIELD, INGLEWOOD
Smithy mobbed by welcoming admirers at Mines Field on 4 November 1934.
(Picture: Lockheed via Tim Kalina Collection) 186
Altair VH-USB being pushed into Hangar 3 at Mines Field on 4 November 1934.
(Picture: Tim Kalina Collection) 187
Altair VH-USB in Hangar 3 at Mines Field in November 1934.
(Picture: Tim Kalina Collection) 188
Altair VH-USB in Hangar 3 at Mines Field in November 1934.
(Picture: Tim Kalina Collection) 190
Altair VH-USB in Hangar 3 at Mines Field in November 1934.
(Picture: Tim Kalina Collection) 191
Altair VH-USB in Hangar 3 at Mines Field in November 1934.
(Picture: Tim Kalina Collection) 189
Altair VH-USB in Hangar 3 at Mines Field in November 1934.
(Picture: Tim Kalina Collection) 192
Hangar 3 at Los Angeles Municipal Airport (Mines Field) circa 1939.
(Picture: Tim Kalina Collection) 193
Smithy addressing the American nation on 4 November 1934.
(Picture: Tim Kalina Collection) 162
Smithy being measured for a new suit in Los Angeles on 5 November 1934.
(Picture: Tim Kalina Collection) 169
BURBANK
Altair VH-USB after landing at Burbank.
(Picture: Lockheed) 29
Altair VH-USB after landing at Burbank.
(Picture: Lockheed) 28
Smithy waves from the cockpit of Altair VH-USB after landing at Burbank.
(Picture: Lockheed via Tim Kalina Collection) 174
Smithy with the Lady Southern Cross at Burbank.
(Picture: Lockheed) 30
The Lady Southern Cross at the Lockheed factory in Burbank.
(Picture: Lockheed) 108
Altair VH-USB back in the U.S.A.
(Picture: Lockheed) 2
Smithy poses with the Lady Southern Cross.
(Picture: Lockheed) 3
Smithy at the Lockheed factory in Burbank.
(Picture: Lockheed) 5
Altair VH-USB returns to her birthplace.
(Picture: Lockheed) 6
Altair VH-USB returns to her birthplace.
(Picture: Tim Kalina Collection) 160
Smithy with film star and international humorist Will Rogers.
(Picture: Tim Kalina Collection) 59
Smithy with film star Myrna Loy and Paramount executive Al Kaufman.
(Picture: Tim Kalina Collection) 196
Smithy with Henry and Mary Walker at Cincinnati on 22DEC34.
(Picture: Cincinnati Times-Star) 194
Bob Boulton, Tommy Pethybridge and Bud Morriss with the Lady Southern Cross at Burbank.
(Picture: Associated Press) 172
Smithy arriving in Los Angeles on the Monterey on 10 August 1935.
(Picture: Tim Kalina Collection) 164
Smithy eating his lunch atop the Lady Southern Cross while it was being overhauled by Lockheed at Burbank.
(Picture: by Permission of the National Library of Australia) 48
A freshly overhauled Lady Southern Cross at Burbank.
(Picture: John Oder Collection) 36
A freshly overhauled Lady Southern Cross at Burbank.
(Picture: Tim Kalina Collection) 39
A freshly overhauled Lady Southern Cross at Burbank.
(Picture: Tim Kalina Collection) 109
A freshly overhauled Lady Southern Cross at Burbank.
(Picture: Tim Kalina Collection) 151
A freshly overhauled Lady Southern Cross at Burbank.
(Picture: Tim Kalina Collection) 152
G-ADUS
The Lady Southern Cross is brougfht ashore at Allhallows in the Thames Estuary.
(Picture: Unknown source) 199
The Lady Southern Cross at Croydon, three days after being re-registered G-ADUS.
(Picture: Alamy/Smith Archive) 173
Smithy poses with the Lady Southern Cross, now G-ADUS.
(Picture: Tim Kalina Collection) 40
Flown cover carried by the Lady Southern Cross on the aborted England-Australia record attempt which departed Lympne on 23 October 1935.
(Picture: Phil Vabre Collection) 75/76
Smithy is farewelled from Lympne, England.
(Picture: Tim Kalina Collection) 73
LADY SOUTHERN CROSS ARTEFACTS
The un-restored starboard undercarriage unit from the Lady Southern Cross.
(Picture: by Permission of the National Library of Australia) 52
The restored starboard undercarriage unit from the Lady Southern Cross.
(Picture: by Permission of the National Library of Australia) 51
The starboard undercarriage unit at The Powerhouse Museum, Sydney.
(Picture: Powerhouse Museum) 42
The broken attachment of the starboard undercarriage unit photographed at the Powerhouse Museum, Sydney on 14 November 2009.
(Picture: Mick Raftery) 37
The data plate on the starboard undercarriage unit photographed at the Powerhouse Museum, Sydney on 14 November 2009.
(Picture: Mick Raftery) 38
A Pioneer Instruments Fuel Flow Gauge from the Lady Southern Cross held by the National Library of Australia in Canberra. This artefact was removed in Australia.
(Picture: Commissioned by Tim Kalina by Permission of the National Library of Australia) 68
A section of wooden skin from the Lady Southern Cross held by the National Library of Australia in Canberra. This artefact was removed in Australia.
(Picture: Commissioned by Tim Kalina by Permission of the National Library of Australia) 55
This plaque is displayed in the terminal building at Archerfield Airport in Brisbane, Australia. Archerfield was the departure point for the trans-Pacific flight. This photograph was taken in September 2003.
(Picture: Ron Cuskelly) 62

 

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