GRAND LODGE
OF ANTIENT, FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS OF
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Early use of air travel by Freemasons
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passengers on the first flight for Masonic purposesThe first documented use of flight for Masonic purposes occurred on 6th November 1929, when a team of Grand Lodge Officers  flew from Parafield Aerodrome (just north of Adelaide) across Gulf St Vincent to Yorketown, for the purpose of taking part in the Installation meeting of Melville Lodge No. 36. 

The Junkers F13 plane "Mt Wedge" VH-UKW was piloted by Bro. O. Kenny. 

The passengers (from left to right) were AM Johnson SGW; CL Trevelion GStd; E Wilckens GDC; AB Jones SGD; HC Austin GSwdBr; OR Turner GStd and LF Axford SGD.

The plane departed Parafield at 4.10pm and after taking a course to Black Point on the opposite side of Gulf St Vincent then headed for Yorketown, landing at 4.55pm.  The plane reached a flying height of 3,500 feet and attained a maximum speed of 100 mph.  The return journey was later that evening, departing Yorketown at 10.15pm. 

air ticket issued for the flight from Parafield to YorketownThe flight ticket (No. 1624) issued by Eyre Peninsula Airways Limited shows that this was a charter flight.

Some concern was felt by various members of the Craft on this occasion.  The Grand Secretary was reported in 'The South Australian Freemason' magazine as having been "much concerned at the possible loss of the Grand Lodge regalia and  ... suggested that a buoy might be attached to the tin trunk." 

In 1930 W Hobba, Grand Inspector of Lodges, employed air travel to visit Lodges on Eyre Peninsula.  It is not recorded whether the same plane was used as in 1929. 

At that time country lodges were visited more usually by rail or road, in conditions that were often challenging.  For example, in one week in April 1928 the Grand Secretary accompanied by four Grand Officers visited the Eyre Peninsula lodges by car.  On 19 April the team sailed from Port Adelaide by the ship 'Minnipa' arriving the next morning at Port Lincoln, where their car was unloaded.  They then drove to Minnipa for the Consecration of Le Hunte Lodge No. 142 that same day, 20 April.  It is recorded that the Rev. JC Richmond acted as escort on the trip, and that "excepting the last 25 miles the padre knew every bump on the road; so did [they] of the back seat."  In the remainder of what was described at the time as "a strenuous but interesting trip" they returned "in the heat next day" to Port Lincoln for an Installation meeting.  The following day being Sunday was spent at leisure in Port Lincoln.  On Monday 23 April the team travelled to Tumby Bay to participate in another Installation, the next day to the lodge at Cleve, and on 25 April to Cowell where following an Installation and banquet the ship 'Quorna' was boarded for the overnight sailing to Wallaroo, driving the following day to Adelaide.  The report of the trip includes a heartfelt exclamation - "Oh, the roads!" 

The use of flight around 1930 must have been a great boon at a time when country road conditions were poor and travel by car was usually endured more than enjoyed.  

Parafield airport was established by the South Australian Government in October 1927, replacing an area at Albert Park (which ceased flying operations in 1928).  On 5 August 1929 the then "Adelaide Airport" (Parafield) was officially opened by the Governor of South Australia, Bro. Sir Alexander Hore-Ruthven (who became Grand Master of Masons of South Australia in 1930).  Parafield was used for commercial flights until the Adelaide Airport at West Beach opened in mid February 1955.  

On 23 November 1951 Lodge Aviation No.184 was consecrated.  There were 56 founding members.  Membership was not restricted, but as far as possible it had been decided that all foundation officers should be employed in some phase of the aircraft industry, or be serving or retired members of the RAAF. The Lodge met at the Enfield Lodge Hall, and closed more than a decade ago.  In 1982 the Lodge had 111 members, membership having peaked in the late 1960's.  The Lodge motto was "Hominem mercaturae ad astra incolumnes" (For men and merchandise a safe journey through the skies).  The Lodge had friendly relations with similarly named Lodges in Victoria, Queensland, New South Wales and Western Australia.
 
References:
"Grand Lodge Party Travel by Air", in 'The South Australian Freemason' of 10 November 1929, page 473.

Mander-Jones, E., "A History of Craft Masonry in South Australia 1884-1934", Adelaide 1976

"West Coast Impressions - with the Grand Secretary to the West Coast", in 'The South Australian Freemason' of 10 May 1928, pages 173-4

"List of known Junkers aircraft in Australian registration" - http://users.chariot.net.au/~theburfs/junkerslist.html (website accessed 14 March 2004):

 'Junkers F13, c/n 2044 - originally named Tannenmeise, this aircraft served with Eyre Peninsula Airways as VH-UKW, from June 25, 1929. Retaining the same registration it flew with Guinea Airways from 21st October, 1931. It crashed 11th November 1937. Repaired, to be destroyed during a Japanese air raid on January 21st, 1942. There is some question as to whether its remains are still at Alexishafen, New Guinea, today'

"VH-UKW  Junkers F.13   (c/n  2044)" -  history - http://www.edcoatescollection.com/ac1/austu/vhukw.html

"Parafield Airport, SA, Pictorial History" - http://users.chariot.net.au/~theburfs/parapage2.html (accessed 14 March 2004)
Dr Allan Robert Stanley Vickers (1901-1967) was a pioneer of the Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia, and a Freemason.   More information is given in the Australian Dictionary of Biography.

In March 1996 the South Australian Freemason magazine contained a feature article about present day use of air transport by Freemasonry in this jurisdiction.  Click HERE to read the article (pdf file)

http://www.freemasonrysaust.org.au/flight.html
03.2004, 09.07

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