Norman Brearley

Sir Norman Brearley, CBE, DSO, MC, AFC, FRAeS (1890 – 9 June 1989) was a commercial and military pilot and one of the pioneers of the airline industry within Australia.

Sir Norman Brearley
Norman Brearley in the 1920s
Born1890
Geelong, Victoria, Australia
Died9 June 1989
NationalityAustralian
OccupationPilot
TitleSir
Bust of Brearley at Perth Airport by sculptor Gerard Darwin

Early life

Born in Geelong, Victoria in 1890, Brearley moved to Western Australia in 1906.[1]

Aviation career

In April, 1915, after undertaking a 5-year apprenticeship as a mechanic, he worked his way to the United Kingdom and subsequently enlisted in the Royal Flying Corps.[2] Whilst flying in France during World War I he was badly wounded in October, 1916, and returned to Western Australia to recover.[2]

In 1921, Brearley founded Western Australian Airways Ltd.[1] In the same year, Brearley was issued with Australia's first civil pilot's licence, under the 1921 Air Navigation Regulations.[1] Despite his holding licence No. 2, licence No. 1 was not issued until the 1930s in honour of Amy Johnson's record flight from London to Australia.[1]

In 1927, Brearley opened the Perth Flying School at Maylands. He retired from commercial aviation in 1936 when he merged his airline with Australian National Airways.[2]

Later life

Brearley later served with the Royal Australian Air Force during World War II.[1]

Brearley was knighted in 1971. He died on 9 June 1989.[1]

References
  1. "Brearley Pilot's Licences, Treasures of the Battye Library". State Library of Western Australia. Archived from the original on 14 August 2011. Retrieved 15 July 2007.
  2. "Australia's First Airline Service". Spirits of Ansett. Archived from the original on 21 January 2013. Retrieved 15 July 2007.

Further reading
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