Derrick Rolland interviewed by Rob Linn for the E.A. Crome aviation oral history project [sound recording]
- Bib ID:
- 3412102
- Format:
- Audio
- Author:
- Rolland, D, interviewee
- Online Version:
- National Library of Australia digitised item
- Access Conditions:
- Access open for research, personal copies and public use.
- Description:
-
- 2005
- 2 digital audio tapes (ca. 81 min.)
- Series:
- E.A. Crome aviation oral history project.
- Summary:
-
Derrick Rolland talks about how his interest in aviation began; joining the Air Training Corps at time of WWII; beginning RAAF training (1944); navigation training in Canada; not seeing active service due to the end of the war; giving up aviation after the war; his career in forestry (1946); postings; the role of aviation in forestry eg. eucalypt seeding, baiting of feral animals, fire bombing; his study of forestry and beginning of aerial work; the use of Sirkorsky helicopters; pilots he came to know and observe; Ben Buckley; his link with agricultural aviation and its more formal establishment from 1983; his pursuit of history through Aerial Agricultural Association [AAA] and its formation in 1958; aerial agriculture being an extension of Second World War training and technology; the first commercial operations (1947); pilot training courses in the 1960s; early pilots including Joh Bjelke Petersen, Basil Brown, David Gray, Hazelton, Colin Pay, Perkins, Robilliard, Schutt and Watson; types of planes used; high accident rate of Tiger Moths; Fletcher and Percival aircraft and move to turbine aircraft; skills of airmen and operations in which they were involved; dangers faced; improvement in safety; pioneering aerial agriculture in USA and New Zealand.
Rolland discusses commercial viability of early operations; improvement in commercial aspects; historical research into aerial agriculture; geographical spread of businesses and reach beyond Australia; formation of industry over 50 years; custom-built aircraft; interviewing agricultural pilots; government regulations; the pursuit of safety and economy; establishment of training facilities; Operation Spray Safe; ground crews and support staff; critical nature of agricultural aviation; government oversight of industry; the l role of Sir Donald Anderson; the role of AAA in liaising with government; early work with State governments; Tom Watson; involvement of farmers, graziers and other investors in the industry; environmental and economic difficulties; the nature of industry and willingness to move with the times; the most significant changes in industry; improvement in aircraft technology and move to safety; better communication and weather monitoring; public reaction to better practice in spraying; his earliest memories and the leap forward in aviation after Second World War; safety issues faced and how they impacted on work; John Hopton's photographic collection; his photographic collection; participating in the restoration of aircraft; final memories about those who were pivotal in Australian aviation before, during and immediately after the WWII.
- Notes:
-
- Recorded on Feb. 02, 2005 at Bright, Vic.
- Also available online http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-218651078
- Index/Finding Aid Note:
- Timed summary (3 p.) and corrected transcript (typescript, 39 leaves)
- Subject:
- Other authors/contributors:
- Linn, Rob, interviewer
- Related Records:
-
This belongs to the E.A. Crome aviation oral history project.
This collection contains 12 records. - Copyright:
-
In Copyright
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- Reason for copyright status:
- Until 2075 [Created/Published Date + 70 Years]
Copyright status was determined using the following information:
- Material type:
- Sound Recording
- Published status:
- Unpublished
- Creation date:
- 2005
Copyright status may not be correct if data in the record is incomplete or inaccurate. Other access conditions may also apply. For more information please see: Copyright in library collections.
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