8x6 inch hand written letter signed by Russell Tapp
Captain Russell Brooke Tapp was a prominent British-Australian aviator who began his flying career in the Royal Air Force (RAF) during the First World War before becoming a foundational pilot for the Australian airline Qantas Airways.
RAF Service: During World War I, Russell Tapp served as a pilot with 20 Squadron RAF. He participated in offensive patrols and military operations on the Western Front
Tapp moved to Australia and joined the Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services (Qantas) in 1928. At the time, the young company employed fewer than 30 people and had only seven pilots on its roster
He was heavily involved in establishing early commercial flight networks, notably serving as a pilot on early Qantas airliners like the "Diana" biplane in 1930 and flying historical routes between Singapore and Australia
Darwin Flying Boat Crash: In April 1942, Tapp served as the first officer under Captain Lewis Ambrose on a Qantas flying boat that crashed and flipped upside down upon landing in Darwin Harbour. He heroically escaped the submerged wreck and repeatedly swam back inside the upside-down fuselage into 30 feet of water in an effort to rescue trapped passengers
The Double Sunrise Flights: On 29 June 1943, Captain Russell Tapp commanded the very first "Double Sunrise" flight. These crucial wartime operations used Consolidated PBY Catalina flying boats to fly non-stop between Perth, Australia, and Ceylon (now Sri Lanka). The flights lasted upwards of 27 to 32 hours over enemy-patrolled waters, requiring complete radio silence. Passengers and crew earned their name because they witnessed the sun rise twice while airborne
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