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Thomas Peel Drury - Department of Civil Aviation Examiner of Airmen
Arrived Planet Earth February 4th 1917 - Departed August 14th 1984
Tom decided when he was young lad that wanted to be a pilot and took flying lessons whenever his finances permitted but - as with so many aspirants during the Depression years - his ambition to become a pilot could
never have been fulfilled except for the intervention of the Second World War
Tom Drury joined the RAAF and was fortunate enough to be one of twelve in a course of 220 to be chosen as trainee pilots
After initial training he converted onto Ansons and then did a flying instructor’s course at Camden in New South Wales on Airspeed Oxfords
He then spent two years at Bundaberg as a flying instructor on Ansons and later flew in New Guinea Morotai and the Philippines and Borneo in C47’s
Drury ended the war years in New Guinea as a flight lieutenant and returned to Australia in 1946
Following his enlistment in 1943 Tom was employed on instructional and transport flying during which he accumulated a total of 1661 hours of flying time -
He also completed 1200 hours of civil flying before joining the Department of Civil Aviation in 1949
On 16th April 1952 Tom was a passenger in Drover aircraft VH-DHA - operated by the Department of Civil Aviation - that was on route from Wewak to Momote on Manus Island
Over the Bismark Sea and when approximately 110 miles from Manus Island a portion of the propeller on the port side engine suddenly became detached and pierced the fuselage causing severe injuries to the Captain and the almost immediate loss of the remaining two engines
The Captain directed Drury to take over the piloting of the aircraft which had commenced to descend towards the sea from a height of approximately 2,000 feet
Although he had not previously flown a Drover aircraft Tom immediately went to the aid of the stricken pilot and released his safety harness and assisted him clear of the cockpit
With only seconds remaining before the aircraft would hit the water Tom took over control of the aircraft and displayed exceptional flying skill succeeding in regaining control of the 3-engine Drover and carried out a successful ditching onto the sea
Tom Drury’s initiative and coolness undoubtedly averted a total disaster and contributed materially to saving the lives of the pilot and other passengers of the aircraft in extremely adverse circumstances
During the next 30-odd years Tom was involved with the then DCA mainly as an examiner of airman and was instrumental in organising and running the annual Archerfield based "Warana" and "Hinkler" air-races that were held from the late 1960's through to the mid 70's where navigation by visual DR (dead reckoning) was the only allowable form of navigation - all electronic navigation aids were covered for the duration of the race
Tom was also involved initially in the 9-day around Queensland "Hinkler Bicentennial Air-Race" event that was to be run in 1988 as part of our National Celebrations however he was unable to make it to what would be the last of the Queensland based air-races
He died at his Pittsworth (QLD) property on August 14th 1984
Credits.. http://www.auforn.com/Bill_Chalker_4.htm
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