Published on Tuesday, 7 December 2021 at 9:29:00 AM
MMA marked the start of a new era by presenting its first-ever Gold Pass to Anglican Bishop John Frewer. His Eminence had realised that air travel could allow him to minister to his flock over the vast distances of Western Australia. Throughout the 1950s the DC.3 had been MMA’s reliable workhorse, but WA was entering a boom period in mining and agriculture, it needed an update.
The 29 December 1959 saw the arrival of MMA’s first Fokker F27 Friendship. Powered by twin turbo-prop engines, it seated 40 passengers and reduced the Geraldton to Perth flight time to just one hour. MMA’s first Friendship was flown to Geraldton by Captain Syd Goddard, who “got his wings” in Geraldton at the No. 4 Service Flying Training School. Captain Syd Goddard was accompanied by Captain Alex Whitlam for this historic flight. VH-MMS remained in Australian service with MMA and Ansett until retired in 1987. During that period, VH-MMS ferried 1,854,518 passengers.
The booklet 100 years of Air Services from Geraldton 1921-2021 was launched at Geraldton Regional Library on Friday 03 December 2021.
Photo caption: p 15279, VH-MMS Fokker F27 Friendship, 29 December 1959, courtesy of Nigel K. Daw.
Caption by Gary Warner.
Snapshots is an initiative of the Geraldton Regional Library. For more information, or to donate a historical photo or slide to the Library, contact Heritage Services at the Geraldton Regional Library on 9956 6659 or library@cgg.wa.gov.au
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