During a stormy afternoon on 19 February 1937, a Stinson aircraft travelling between Brisbane and Sydney crashed into the Lamington Ranges killing four of the seven on board outright and sparking a search that failed to turn up any wreckage.
Nine days after the crash, Beaudesert grazier Bernard O'Reilly set out on foot to find the Stinson wreckage. Through his superior bush skills he found the crash site and, to his surprise, two survivors in desperate need of medical attention. After making them comfortable, he left them to organise a rescue party.
The details of this famous moment in Queensland history are contained in the Inquest file of the Stinson plane crash and is one of Queensland State Archives' most requested records. As such, its popularity was causing the records to deteriorate.
In order to prevent further damage to this file, the Reprography Unit of Preservation Services digitised the 252 pages. The sheer size of the file prevents it from being shown on the website in its entirety. However, visitors to Queensland State Archives at Runcorn can view the entire file on computers in the Public Search Room.
The original file has been wrapped to provide additional physical protection and stored in the environmentally controlled repositories at QSA to ensure its continued preservation.
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Witness statement made by Francis Edward Buchanan (PDF 1.7MB)
A licensed pilot and Beaudesert resident whom recounts his search for wreckage, opinion of flight path, and local weather conditions. Dated: 23rd March 1937 |
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Medical Certificates of the Cause of Death for:
(PDF 686KB) |
| Coroner’s Information Sheet for Reginald Haslem Boyden (PDF 449KB) |
| Coroner’s Information Sheet for William Walden Fountain (PDF 457KB) |
| Coroner’s Information Sheet for James Ronald Nairne Graham (PDF 441KB) |
| Coroner’s Information Sheet for William (James) Guthrie Westray (PDF 460KB) |
| Witness statement made by Joseph Robert Binstead
(PDF 4MB) Survivor, describes the events leading up to, during and after the plane crashed. Dated: 30th March 1937 |
| Witness statement made by Charles Francis Hughes
(PDF 236KB) The dentist who made the characteristic dentures for Mr. Graham which led to the positive identification of his remains. Dated: 30th March 1937 |
| Witness statement made by John Seymour Proud
(PDF 3.2MB) Survivor, describing the events leading up to, during and after the plane crashed. Dated: 31st March 1937 |
| Witness statement made by Alfonso Bernard O’Reilly
(PDF 2.8MB) Beaudesert resident who was responsible for finding the crash site describes his search. Dated: 31st March 1937 |
| Witness statement made by Alfonso Bernard O’Reilly (continued)
(PDF 1.5MB) Beaudesert resident who was responsible for finding the crash site describes the rescue effort. Dated: 1st April 1937 |
| Witness statement made by Keith Allison Virtue
(PDF 1.1MB) Superintendent employed Airlines of Australia explains the operation of the altimeter aboard the Stinson aircraft and the usual altitudes achieved for the flight. Dated: 2nd April 1937 |
| Coroners statement of closure of inquest
(PDF 389KB) Dated: 2nd April 1937 |
| Certificate of Particulars – Inquest of Death: Reginald Haslem Boyden (PDF 399KB) |
| Certificate of Particulars – Inquest of Death: Beverly George Merivale Shepherd (PDF 323KB) |
| Certificate of Particulars – Inquest of Death: William Walden Fountain (PDF 319KB) |
| Certificate of Particulars – Inquest of Death: James Ronald Nairne Graham (PDF 327KB) |
| Certificate of Particulars – Inquest of Death: James Guthrie Westray (PDF 365KB) |
| Map of crash area - colour (PDF 2.9MB) |
| Photograph of interior of plane (PDF 213KB) |
| Photograph of William Walden Fountain and associated documents (PDF 229KB) |
| Photograph of James Guthrie Westray and associated documents (PDF 139KB) |
| Pilot's flight report (PDF 304KB) Dated: 19th February 1937 |
| Harmony book (PDF 407KB) |
| Flight register (PDF 693KB) |
| Brief witness statements of flight path of plane (PDF 1.6MB) |
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